Since 2018, Sargent-Disc has been proud to support The Edinburgh TV Festival, sponsoring workshops, receptions and, alongside our parent company Cast & Crew, the prestigious Edinburgh TV Awards.
With this year’s Festival marking the end of an era in Edinburgh, it’s a natural moment to reflect on the role it has played within the industry and those who have had the opportunity to be part of it.
For almost five decades, the Festival has provided a platform for some of television’s most influential voices, helping shape debate around the biggest challenges and opportunities facing the industry. From the globally recognised MacTaggart Lecture to thought-provoking panel discussions, networking events and the Edinburgh TV Awards, it has become a fixture in the television calendar and a place where important industry conversations take place.
This year’s MacTaggart Lecture offered another reminder of the Festival’s unique role within the industry. Pedro Pina, YouTube’s vice president in EMEA, discussed the relationship between television and digital platforms prompted debate about how audiences consume content and what the future of viewing may look like. Whether opinions differed or aligned, it demonstrated the Festival’s continued ability to bring important industry conversations into focus and encourage thoughtful discussion about the opportunities ahead.
The Festival doesn’t just bring the industry together, it helps open doors into it through the work of the TV Foundation, which supports and develops the next generation of industry talent. It was through the TV Foundation that Immy Mohr from our Sales & Marketing team attended the Festival for the first time.
“It was early in my career and my first role within the industry that I was asked to go to Edinburgh through the TV Foundation. At the time, I never imagined I would find myself in rooms filled with some of television’s most accomplished professionals. While meeting industry leaders was inspiring, what stayed with me most was connecting with others who were also at the beginning of their careers. It provided a rare opportunity to learn, build confidence and gain a broader understanding of an industry that extends far beyond our own day-to-day roles.” – Immy Mohr
Over the years, the Festival has continued to provide that same mix of insight, debate and connection. Whether attending workshops, listening to the MacTaggart Lecture, celebrating excellence at the Edinburgh TV Awards or simply catching up with colleagues and friends from across the industry, it has always been an event that offers something valuable.
At Sargent-Disc our connection with the Festival has also extended beyond sponsorship. Sargent-Disc Director Laurence Sargent has twice chaired the Edinburgh TV Awards voting panel, helping oversee the process of recognising the creativity and achievements that continue to shape the television industry.
“The Edinburgh TV Festival has long provided a valuable opportunity for the industry to celebrate achievement, support emerging talent and discuss the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of television. Through Sargent-Disc and Cast & Crew, we are proud to support productions with creative tools and operational efficiencies that help bring great ideas to life. It’s particularly meaningful that both Cast & Crew and the Festival were founded in 1976, reflecting a shared legacy of supporting the people and organisations that make our industry so special.” – Laurence Sargent
This year’s Awards celebrated a broad range of content, from major international productions such as The Pitt to UK dramas, documentaries, entertainment formats and factual programmes. The BBC was named Broadcaster of the Year, while The Celebrity Traitors continued its success by winning Best Entertainment or Reality Series. As part of Sargent-Disc’s longstanding connection with the Festival, Laurence Sargent was honoured to present the Best Drama Award, which was awarded to What It Feels Like for a Girl. The winners reflected many of the themes shaping television today, including changing audience tastes and emerging talent, with awards for emerging talent and innovative storytelling, highlighting the creativity and diversity that continue to drive the industry forward.
Full List of Winners:
Broadcaster of the Year – BBC
Production Group of the Year – ITV Studios
Small Indie of the Year – Candour Productions
Agency of the Year – The Foundry
Best Visualised Podcast – Game’s Gone – The Steve Bracknall Podcast
Best Branded Entertainment – The Cancer Detectives: Finding the Cures
Best Drama – What It Feels Like for a Girl
Best Documentary – Breaking Ranks: Inside Israel’s War (Exposure)
Best TV Actor – Drama – Rose Ayling-Ellis in Code of Silence
Best TV Actor – Comedy – Oliver Savell in Changing Ends
Production Company of the Year – Twofour
Climate Storytelling Award – Dirty Business
Best Entertainment or Reality Series – The Celebrity Traitors
Best International Drama – The Pitt
Breakthrough Performance – Ellis Howard in What It Feels Like for a Girl
While the Festival’s location may be changing, the role it has played in bringing people together, supporting new talent and driving important industry conversations remains as relevant as ever.
We would like to thank the organisers, partners and wider Festival community for the role they have played in supporting the television industry and developing future talent.
