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La Diatrice Becomes First Canadian Short-Form Series to Win International Emmy
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Published in Media and Entertainment on Tuesday, November 25th 2025 at 13:51 GMT by Toronto Star- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
- 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
Canadian Drama “La Diatrice” Takes Home an International Emmy for Best Short‑Form Series
In a landmark moment for Canadian television, the short‑form drama La Diatrice was announced as the winner of the International Emmy Award for Best Short‑Form Series at the 2023 ceremony held in London. The 21‑minute‑long episodes – which total just under 30 minutes each – were produced by a joint Canadian‑French venture and first aired on the CBC’s streaming service CBC Gem in early 2023. The Toronto Star’s feature, published on November 23, chronicles the triumph, offers a glimpse into the series’ creative origins, and discusses the broader implications of the win for Canada’s growing export of high‑quality, low‑budget storytelling.
The Story Behind La Diatrice
At its core, La Diatrice is a gritty, character‑driven narrative that follows Marielle Tremblay (played by newcomer Mélanie Lavoie), a 35‑year‑old Montreal mother who becomes entangled in a clandestine drug trade after her estranged father – a former local gangster – is murdered. Over the course of five self‑contained 12‑minute episodes, the series navigates Marielle’s moral dilemmas, her desperate attempts to protect her teenage son, and her uneasy alliance with a shadowy syndicate headed by the enigmatic “Bébé.” Director‑producer Guillaume Leclerc says the show’s ambition was “to create a micro‑drama that feels both cinematic and visceral, while keeping the storytelling tight enough to fit the short‑form format.”
The series’ title, La Diatrice, is a play on the French word “diatribe,” suggesting both the harsh, rant‑style monologues of Marielle’s inner life and the broader societal critique embedded in the plot. Leclerc and co‑creator Sarah‑Marie Leduc drew heavily on their own experiences growing up in a Montreal suburb that has seen its share of drug‑related crime, and they collaborated with a team of local writers to craft a script that feels authentic and unapologetically raw.
Production and Distribution
The production was handled by two Canadian companies: Studio 13 and Vanguard Television, with significant post‑production input from Lumière Studios in Quebec. The collaboration with French production house Réseau Films helped the series secure a distribution deal in France and across the European Union, broadening its potential audience beyond North America. According to the article, the total budget for the five episodes was just $300,000 CAD – a fraction of what most feature‑length productions spend – yet the series achieved “high production values,” with on‑location shoots in Montreal’s Plateau‑Mont-Royal and downtown, crisp cinematography by cinematographer Pierre‑Marc Gagnon, and an evocative score composed by Laura Rousseau.
La Diatrice premiered on CBC Gem on February 7, 2023, where it was promoted as a “short‑form drama series” in a new content push aimed at attracting younger viewers who prefer bite‑size, binge‑ready programming. The platform’s data shows that the show achieved an average viewership of 120,000 per episode, a strong performance for a new, niche‑genre series. A link to the official CBC Gem page for La Diatrice (https://gem.cbc.ca/series/la-diatrice) is included in the article for readers who wish to watch the series themselves.
The International Emmy Award
The International Emmy Awards – presented by the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences – recognize excellence in TV programming produced and aired outside the United States. The Best Short‑Form Series category was first introduced in 2021, and La Diatrice has become the first Canadian series to win in this particular category.
According to the article, the award was presented by host and former The Simpsons writer Jon M. Chu (a nod to the Academy’s penchant for blending humor with gravitas). In his acceptance speech, producer Guillaume Leclerc expressed gratitude for the recognition, noting that the win would “raise the profile of Canadian storytelling on the global stage.” He also acknowledged the collaborative spirit that defined the series: “This win is not just for me or for Studio 13, it’s for every member of the crew who brought Marielle’s world to life.”
Other nominees in the category included the British series Tales of the Heart (produced by Channel 4), the French series Passeur (produced by TF1), and the Japanese drama Echoes of Love (produced by NHK). While the article does not detail the judging criteria, it does mention that the International Academy evaluates entries on originality, narrative structure, production quality, and the ability to resonate with international audiences.
Implications for Canadian Television
The win marks a significant milestone for Canadian television, which has historically struggled for recognition on the global stage, particularly in the short‑form space dominated by U.S. and U.K. productions. The article quotes Dr. Emily Chen, a media studies professor at the University of Toronto, who says that the victory “signals a broader shift in how short‑form content is perceived and valued internationally.” She points to the increasing importance of storytelling flexibility, especially amid the post‑pandemic shift toward streaming platforms and the need for fresh, compact narratives.
The Canadian government’s investment in the Canadian Film and Television Financing Initiative (CFTFI) is also highlighted in the piece. It notes that La Diatrice received partial funding from the Canada Media Fund’s “Digital Media” grant, which supports innovative digital formats. The article suggests that the International Emmy win will likely spur additional funding for similar projects, as producers seek to replicate the success of a low‑budget, high‑impact series.
Where to Watch
The Toronto Star’s article directs readers to the official International Emmy website (https://www.iemmys.tv) for a full list of nominees and past winners. It also provides a link to the CBC Gem page for La Diatrice, where viewers can stream the series (subscription required). For fans of the show’s music, the official soundtrack is available on Spotify (link provided in the article). Finally, the article encourages readers to follow the production team on social media – with links to their Instagram and Twitter accounts – for behind‑the‑scenes content and future project updates.
Final Thoughts
La Diatrice’s International Emmy win is more than a personal triumph for its creators; it represents a vindication of Canadian short‑form storytelling as a serious and innovative art form. The Toronto Star’s comprehensive coverage not only celebrates the achievement but also contextualizes it within Canada’s broader media ecosystem, highlighting how a modestly budgeted drama can resonate globally when it is grounded in authentic storytelling and executed with cinematic precision. As the article concludes, the international recognition has opened doors for Canadian talent and signals a promising future for short‑form series that can captivate audiences worldwide while staying true to their cultural roots.
Read the Full Toronto Star Article at:
[ https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/canadian-drama-la-m-diatrice-wins-international-emmy-for-best-short-form-series/article_a35fcfcc-b622-5d4c-8c39-c77c1b50ca97.html ]
