When future historians come to consider the last year and are seeking a summary of what Big Questions were exercising humankind, a good starting point would be the list of this year’s awards recipients. Racial justice, Black Lives Matter, the economic colonisation of developing nations, (inter)cultural identity and, of course, COVID all figure – so too do love, family, community, reconciliation, resilience and joy! And it was this potent mixture and what it says about the human spirit in these unprecedented times that inspired and vitalised our judges this year.
Reflecting on this, the Chair of the Sandford St Martin Trust, the Rt Revd Helen-Ann Hartley, Bishop of Ripon said: “During a year when so many of us were stuck in one place, great broadcasting played a critical role. This year’s winners have all helped audiences to engage with and experience the world, creating space for us to share in a public conversation about values and what it’s like to be alive today.”
You can read more about this year’s winners and runners-up below.
Click here to see all the entries shortlisted for a 2021 Award or meet our 2021 Judges here.
Journalism Award: Hidden Children of the Church
BBC Religion and Ethics for BBC Radio 4
After decades during which the Catholic Church rarely acknowledged the fact that supposedly ‘celibate’ priests were fathering children, the scale and impact of these secretive births is coming to light. In this remarkable and moving piece of radio journalism, three now-grown-up children of priests – describe their childhoods typified by secrets, shame and separation from their fathers.
Our judges said “a great example of original journalism… The producer obviously realised what a strong story he had on his hands and had the confidence to let the contributors and the material breathe.” To great and memorable effect.
Radio/Audio Award: The Paddle Out
Falling Tree Productions for BBC World Service
“The sight of dozens of surfers circled together and floating beyond the breakwater will always mean one thing – that another surfer has died. A paddle-out is a way of honouring someone who’s had a love for the ocean. It’s a practice which has become entwined with surf’s cherished culture.” During a year when so many people have lost so much, The Paddle Out, both moved and consoled our judges. Hugely impressed by the carefully considered, evocative quality of the production techniques used, they found themselves going back to the audio to listen to it again and recommending it others. They said “(This is) a programme for our time about finding spirituality, god and those big existentialist questions but also, ultimately, about camaraderie. A lot of love went into that programme.”
Children’s Award: Sol
Paper Owl Films for TG4, SG4 and BBC Alba
When his beloved grandmother dies, Sol’s world is plunged into darkness and he must undertake an epic and urgent quest to find light again.
While in some ways this animation is a simple story about grieving, told through the eyes of a young boy for a young audience, it’s ultimately an uplifting film and a very relevant and carefully judged resource to help children and families cope with different aspects of grief – which seems particularly on point this year. Our judges called it “perfectly pitched” and one said “I can’t think of a subject more relevant than death, loss and grief given the year we have all had. And the mission to stop the darkness and let the light in is a lesson, and a purpose that all children will understand.” Watch the trailer here.
Radio Times Readers’ Award: It’s A Sin
Red Production Company for Channel 4 and HBO
Ritchie, Roscoe and Colin are young lads, strangers at first, leaving home at 18 and heading off to London in 1981 with hope and ambition and joy… and walking straight into a virus that most of the world ignores. Year by year, episode by episode, crossing the whole decade, their lives change as the mystery of that illness starts as a rumour, then a threat, then a terror, and then something that binds them together in the fight.
Perhaps it’s not so surprising that Radio Times readers so enthusiastically embraced a series that celebrates friendship, love and what family and community amidst the confusion and misinformation of a horrible epidemic. But It’s a Sin is much more than a metaphor for our time.
The Guardian said “It is (writer Russell T) Davies’s great gift to be able to create real, flawed, entirely credible bundles of humanity and make it clear, without even momentary preachiness, how much they have to lose.” Ultimately “It’s A Sin” nudges its audience gently towards compassion, empathy and understanding. And it reminds us to remember with joy those who have been lost before their time. We think this is why it was chosen by audiences as their Sandford St Martin Award winner this year.
Read the Radio Times interview with Russell T Davies, here.
2021 Runners Up
TV/Video: Exposed: The Church’s Darkest Secrets
Top Hat Productions for BBC Two
The story of the decades-long pursuit of Bishop Peter Ball by the individuals determined to bring him to justice, and the cover-up that went to the highest levels of the Church of England. Our judges said: “A very brave and important film (that) exposes a wider failure of society to be honest about this subject which is central to our humanity.”
Journalism: Witness: Buddha in Africa
A Momento Film and Thinking String Media for Al Jazeera English
Enock Alu is a teenager from a rural village growing up between the contrasting worlds of his traditional African culture and the strict discipline of the Confucian, Buddhist value system of the Chinese school he attends in Malawi. Set against the backdrop of China’s global rise and influence in Africa, the film is a subtle exploration of the forces of cultural soft power on the identity and imagination of an African boy and his school friends growing up between two cultures. Our judges said: “Excellent story – colonialism through the back door… aid at the price of accepting a different culture and religion.”
Children’s: My Best Friend Married a Warrior
Aisha and best friend Jamillah were going to be “influencers in a hijab – British Kylie Jenners” but after making a decision that would be seen as a betrayal, Aisha finds herself alone. Our judges said: “…a very strong production that tackled and highlighted issues within UK society that rarely get addressed, the setting was great, the little clues were creative. It was well thought out and showed a different narrative to what is often shown in the media. It was bold, original and impactful.”
Radio/Audio Joint Runners Up:
The Deadly Saris
Documentary on One for RTÉ Radio 1
Radha and Helen were in their early teens in 1993, interested in adventures and boys. One day, while hanging out in Dublin city centre, they heard a sound that would change just about everything: their notion of adventure, their clothes and their attitudes to boys. That sound was singing accompanied by drums and finger cymbals. It was coming from a group of very good-looking young men with shaved heads and wearing saffron: Hare Krishnas. Our judges said: “Deceptively simple it was a very clever idea…. Filled with lightness and brightness and girls giggling but delivering such a breadth of information…Prismatic in the perspectives it shared.”
The Punch
Just Radio Ltd for BBC Radio 4
Aged 19, Jacob Dunne threw a single punch in a drunken brawl outside a pub in Nottingham. His victim, James Hodgkinson, died in hospital nine days later. Jacob was convicted of manslaughter. Now 27, Jacob has a young family, and has recently gained a first class degree in criminology. But it was only after taking part in a process of restorative justice that he began to turn his life around. Meeting face-to-face with the parents of the young man he killed had a profound impact on both sides. The resulting relationship has changed Jacob’s life in all kinds of unexpected ways. Our judges said: “What struck me most was the sense of immediacy and the intense honesty of the characters. Joan and Jacob – and their spiritual transformation. What a story!”
Trustees’ Content Awards
The Sandford St Martin Trustees’ Award recognises individuals, programmes or organisations who have made an outstanding contribution through broadcasting to the public understanding of religion. For 2021 the trustees decided that rather than be given to a particular or single recipient, they would like to recognise some of the exceptional work and innovation of broadcasters and content-makers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. To do so they devised two new categories: the Trustees’ Content Award and the Trustees’ Community Award.
They were inundated with many truly excellent and inspirational entries and nominations. After a long, multi-staged and at times difficult judging process, the trustees chose two overall winners in each of the categories. They are:
TRUSTEES’ CONTENT AWARD:
BURNLEY CRISIS: BBC News for BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 4 and BBC 5Live
RAMADAN IN LOCKDOWN: Clockwork Films for Channel 4
TRUSTEES’ COMMUNITY AWARD
PSALM 23: UK Jewish Film for YouTube
RADIO WANNO: Radio Wanno x HMP Wandsworth chaplaincy team
In addition to these the Trustees would like to highly commend a further fourteen entries. Details of them all can be found here.
