The hugely popular sketch show What if? from production outfit Shelter grabbed Best Comedy at this year’s BANFF World Media Festival (10-13 June). With the prestigious BANFF World Media Award, What if? seems to be on track to duplicate the international success of Shelter’s Benidorm Bastards, which won both a Golden Rose and an Emmy.
What if? was - together with deMensen’s In Laughing Memory – selected for the festival’s Comedy Programmes category. For What if?, it’s definitely not the first international recognition: the successful format was nominated for a Golden Rose earlier this year. Canadian commercial broadcaster V alsor recently picked up the rights to the show from German distributor Red Arrow International, which had previously sold Benidorm Bastards to over 20 territories. What if? was originally produced for commercial broadcaster VMMA.
Producer Tim Van Aelst of Shelter commented that ‘it gives us tremendous pleasure that we’re now also getting worldwide recognition with What If? We feel strengthened in our creative endeavours and this award is another encouragement to make the second season equally successful.’ Read the interview with Tim Van Aelst in Flanders (i)
The Banff World Media Awards – affectionately known as the Rockies – is an internationally-recognised awards programme celebrating the very best in international television and digital media production. The Rockies awards ceremonies and galas have honoured some of the biggest names in the industry, including Ricky Gervais, Lisa Kudrow, David Attenborough, William Shatner, Barry Humphries and John Cleese.