In honors, Richard Gadd (“Half Man”) and Natasha Lyonne (“Poker Face,” “Russian Doll”) were among the big winners at this year’s Italian Global Series Festival, which wrapped July 11. The two received the Breakthrough Storyteller Award and the Maximo Excellence Award respectively, which they had picked up in person earlier last week at awards ceremonies held in Rimini Italy’s ornate Teatro Galli.
Announced Saturday the Italian Global Series prizewinners for TV shows, Marco Bellocchio’s HBO Venice-showcased “Portobello” swept three top awards, and Sally Wainwright a double for “Riot Women.”
The whole point of the festival however is to shine a larger international light on series and creators who are not so well known. Here, Italy pulled its weight with prizes to “La legge di Lidia Poët” and “I casi di Teresa Battaglia – Figlia della cenere.”
Plaudits also shone more light on Irish-U.K. series “Leonard and Hungry Paul,” the French series “Laura’s Treatment” and Chilean soccer fandom series “Raza Brava.”
Further awards went to Sweden’s “Burden of Justice,” and German show “The Flaws,” as well as “Secret Service,” for which British actor Rafe Spall scopped best drama-actor.
