We’re thrilled to have won the prestigious MIP SDG Award for our commitment to climate action and the environment. Silverback Films and Studio Silverback have been recognised for our work and support of the UN goals directed at ‘climate action’ and the conservation of ‘life below water’ and ‘life on land.’ The award was presented to Jonnie Hughes, Director at Studio Silverback at MIPTV in Cannes today (18th April) by Caroline Petit of the United Nations.

Established in association with the United Nations in support of their Decade of Action campaign, the award recognises media companies for their action and contribution to delivering against the UN’s 17 SDGs. The presentation in the Palais des Festivals was followed by a special on-stage interview with Jonnie covering both the craft behind, and the purpose driving, our globally impactful features and series. This includes Silverback Films’ productions; Our Planet (Netflix), David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet (Netflix), The Hunt and The Mating Game (BBC One), seven Disneynature features (Disney+), and the recently launched Wild Isles (BBC), as well as Studio Silverback’s The Earthshot Prize: Repairing Our Planet, led by Earthshot Prize founder Prince William; and YouTube original series Seat at the Table, which saw YouTube creator Jack Harries collate personal stories from those directly affected by climate change globally and present them at the Cop 26 in Glasgow.  

Jonnie Hughes said: “We’re proud to receive this award for our work in supporting the SDGs. At Silverback, our mission is to combine powerful storytelling with world-class cinematography to reveal the urgent truth of our changing planet to a global audience as well as the opportunity we have for a sustainable future. “We see that to drive real change, we must tackle the communications challenge. Through our wildlife series and features, our purpose-driven films, and our multi-media projects, we have been working to tell the story of sustainability in a new way and to achieve more through collaboration. “It’s a huge task, but we’ve already made progress and we’re grateful to MIPTV and the United Nations for recognising our contribution so far.”

Caroline Petit, deputy director of the United Nations Regional Information Centre, said: “This annual award recognises the creative programming of Silverback that reaches millions of viewers worldwide. “It also demonstrates the television and media industry’s increasing commitment to generate innovative content on the topic of sustainability. This award is timely as 2023 must be a year of game-changing climate action. “Both the audio-visual and licencing industries have the power to be agents of change as they are in direct contact with consumers and viewers. They can appeal to the public to change their daily habits and ensure that we work together to create a better and more sustainable society.”

“This astonishing body of work and sense of purpose is crucial to recognise” said RX France Entertainment Division Director & Director of MIPTV Lucy Smith. “Silverback’s work has consistently conveyed not only the diversity and richness of the natural world in astonishing detail, but their storytelling engages audiences globally about the urgent environmental challenges faced and encourages sustainable choices.”