The Open University’s Broadcasts and Partnerships team is celebrating after two OU/BBC co-productions won accolades at the Broadcast Awards in the heart of London’s Mayfair recently.
The event was staged at Park Lane’s JW Marriott Grosvenor House where it was revealed that ‘Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland’ and ‘Inside Our Autistic Minds’, won at the prestigious Broadcast Awards.
The first of which won ‘Best Documentary Series’ and was made with the support of OU Academic consultant Dr Philip O’Sullivan, from the Faculty of Arts and Social Studies.
Twenty-five years on from a peace agreement being reached, Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland shares intimate, unheard testimonies from all sides of the conflict.
The judges said: “Personal, powerful and raw. This series presented an outstanding unravelling of a known story from a new perspective, which meant audiences were bound to learn something new.
“The interviews and archive balanced the ordinary everyday with wide-reaching political events and were expertly woven throughout the series.”
Further information and behind-the-scenes interviews with the documentary makers can be found on the OU’s Broadcast site OU Connect and the series can be viewed on VideoFinder.
There was further celebration when the team won the ‘Best Specialist Factual Programme’ for Inside Our Autistic Minds presented by Chris Packham.
The academic consultants were Professor Kieron Sheehy and Fiona Henry, from the Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies.
In the programme Chris immersed himself in the everyday experiences of autistic people to learn about and illustrate the unique way in which they see the world, helping them connect with their friends and family in a new, more authentic way.
The judges described this film as, “a testament to inspired storytelling” and “a compelling example of education seamlessly intertwining with emotional engagement”.
One judge said: “Chris’s deeply personal connection adds a moving and enlightening dimension. This programme has left an indelible mark and prompted a transformative shift in my perspective.”
Clips from the series have already been used for teaching and feature in E320 and D811.
Supporting content and further information about the series can be found on OU Connect. The series can be viewed on VideoFinder.
