“Elections from around the world: Central America, Guatemala” wins Excellence Award at the 40th ATP Award TV Grand Prix!

The program “From Elections Around the World: Central America, Guatemala,” directed by Tatsuya Sano, won the Excellence Award in the Information/Variety category at the 40th ATP Award TV Grand Prix!

ATP Official Website

What is the ATP Award TV Grand Prix? Held once a year, the judges are creators of television programs and other video content, who select outstanding works from their unique perspectives. The awards were established in 1984 as the only awards in Japan in which the producers and directors of the production companies themselves serve as judges to select outstanding works, in order to enhance the social function of production companies, which are important players in Japan’s video content industry, and to respond to the passion and spirit of each and every production staff member working there. Works are accepted in three core genres: documentary, information/variety, and drama, and the top prize Grand Prix will be awarded.

“From Elections Around the World: Central America, Guatemala”

NHK General TV 29-minute program First broadcast date: Aug 26, 2023

The world is full of “elections.” Democracy is currently in a state of flux. This is why we ask “What is democracy?” in a very cheerful manner. The setting is Guatemala! A village where many indigenous Mayans live. We follow the village for a week until the day of the village mayoral election! The only road in the village is jammed with election cars! Furthermore, alcohol is not allowed on the day before or on the day of the election. This is to prevent people from getting drunk and being unable to vote, voting for the wrong party, or getting into fights. The candidates’ campaign promises are also unique, including the “construction of a graveyard apartment building.” It is different from Japan in every sense. What kind of democracy will we see?

[Director] Tatsuya Sano, Kenji Nakamura

[Producer] Tatsuya Sano, Toshimoto Uchida