The Association for International Broadcasting (AIB) launched its twelfth annual festival of factual TV, radio and online productions – the AIBs – on 4 April at MIPTV.
These awards, run by the non-profit global trade association for international broadcasting, are recognised as the pre-eminent celebration of documentaries and other factual genres from across the globe.
Over the past 11 years, the AIBs have rewarded the storytellers who have reported on significant issues to global audiences. According to AIB, the winners have ‘sought out the truth, challenging those with power and influence, and their investigations have often been undertaken in difficult and dangerous situations, sometimes in remote parts of the world, where establishing the facts is not straightforward.’
“Winning an AIB represents the pinnacle of achievement for factual programme makers,” said Simon Spanswick, chief executive of the AIB.
“Each year we see the most remarkable stories told and extraordinary facts uncovered. Because this festival is a truly global celebration, we are privileged to see work from every continent, from broadcasters and production companies large and small.
“The competition is incredibly strong each year and this contributes to the outstanding nature of the AIBs.”
Past television winners have covered subjects as varied as refugee crises in Africa and the Middle East to war crimes in South Asia, and the high price of cheap food in Western Europe to narrowly averted nuclear disaster in Japan.
In 2016, the AIBS offers 17 categories. In television, there is journalism, short form journalism, domestic current affairs documentary, international current affairs documentary, investigative documentary, specialist programme, science, children’s factual, short feature and sport.
In radio, the categories are split into journalism, current affairs documentary, investigative documentary and creative feature .
There is also an online production award, and two on-air talent categories – TV personality and radio personality.
The AIBs 2016 are open for entry until 30 June. In September, the international panel of judges will assess the work and the results will be announced in London on 2 November at the AIB’s award dinner.
theaibs.tv.
