David Osit and Malika Zouhali-Worrall’s film—now streaming on pov.org—documents a father’s loss and storytelling through a video game
New York, N.Y. — Oct. 6, 2017 — PBS’s POV (Point of View), American television’s longest-running independent documentary series, took home the Outstanding Arts and Culture Documentary trophy at the 38th Annual News & Documentary Emmy® Awards last night. Filmmakers David Osit and Malika Zouhali-Worrall accepted the award for their film Thank You for Playing. The film follows Ryan Green, who creates a video game to document his experiences raising his young son Joel, who is diagnosed with terminal cancer. This was the fourth consecutive year that a POV film received an honor from the awards showcase. The prizes were presented by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) at a ceremony at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall in New York City. PBS won 12 awards in total, more than any other network.
“Congratulations to all our nominees, and we are thrilled David and Malika are being celebrated for their heartrending work,” said Justine Nagan, executive producer/executive director of POV/American Documentary. “Their film is thoughtful and pioneering. It’s exciting that it was awarded in the Arts category as it both poignantly illustrates how creativity can help heal and features video game creation as the medium for that creativity. ”
“This was a special night for American Documentary,” said POV and America ReFramed executive producer Chris White. “With 14 nominations between POV and America ReFramed, the ceremony was an affirmation of powerful independent storytelling. We’re proud to bring these films to PBS and WORLD Channel, and so grateful to the Green family for sharing their story with us and public media audiences.”
This brings POV’s total News & Documentary Emmy® Awards to 37. The winning film, as well as several other nominees, are now streaming at www.pbs.org/pov/video. The full list of winners of the 38th Annual News and Documentary Emmy® Awards is available at www.emmyonline.tv.
About Thank You for Playing:
When Ryan Green, a video game programmer, learns that his young son Joel has cancer, he and his wife begin documenting their emotional journey with a poetic video game. Thank You for Playing follows Ryan and his family over two years creating “That Dragon, Cancer,” which evolves from a cathartic exercise into a critically acclaimed work of art that sets the gaming industry abuzz. Lauded as “unimaginably intimate” by The New Yorker, the film is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the unique ways that art and technology can help us share profound experiences. A co-production of American Documentary | POV and ITVS. Thank you for Playing was included in the Official Selection of the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival.
Credits: Directors/Producers/Editors: David Osit, Malika Zouhali-Worrall; Cinematographer/Composer: David Osit; Animation: Ryan Cousins, Ryan Green, Josh Larson; Original Game Score: Jon Hillman; Consulting Editor: Eric Daniel Metzgar; Executive Producers: Sally Jo Fifer, Simon Kilmurry, Chris White
POV Series Credits: Executive Producers: Justine Nagan, Chris White; Vice President, Content Strategy: Eliza Licht; Associate Producer: Nicole Tsien; Coordinating Producer: Nikki Heyman
Credits
Directors/Producers/Editors: David Osit, Malika Zouhali-Worrall; Cinematographer/Composer: David Osit; Animation: Ryan Cousins, Ryan Green, Josh Larson; Original Game Score: Jon Hillman; Consulting Editor: Eric Daniel Metzgar; Executive Producers: Sally Jo Fifer, Simon Kilmurry, Chris White
POV Series Credits: Executive Producers: Justine Nagan, Chris White; Vice President, Content Strategy: Eliza Licht; Associate Producer: Nicole Tsien; Coordinating Producer: Nikki Heyman
