SOUTH CAROLINA: South Carolina ETV’s ‘Downing of a Flag’ nominated for Peabody Award
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Downing of a Flag, a two-hour, two-part documentary film that focuses on the history of the Confederate Battle flag and its impact on the people, politics and perceptions of South Carolina and beyond, has been nominated to receive a prestigious Peabody Award.
As a Peabody Awards Nominee, Downing of a Flag joins the ranks of the best storytelling in broadcasting and digital media. Out of nearly 1,300 entries, 60 are chosen as Nominees and 30 are selected as Winners. Final award Winners will be announced by Peabody in June 2022.
Respected for its integrity and revered for its standards of excellence, the Peabody Award is an honor for television, podcast/radio, and digital media. Chosen each year by a diverse Board of Jurors through unanimous vote, Peabody Awards are given in the categories of entertainment, documentary, news, podcast/radio, arts, children’s and youth, public service, and multimedia programming.
Being a Peabody Award Nominee is an opportunity to celebrate everyone involved with the making of Downing of a Flag and the issues it addresses—from the talent both in front of and behind the camera, to the studios and networks that helped bring it to life.
With firsthand interviews featuring various perspectives and a wealth of historical footage, Downing of a Flag traces the symbol’s controversial relationship with the Palmetto State, the South and the nation, exploring its true meaning and how a racially-motivated 2015 church shooting, which killed State Senator Rev. Clementa Pinckney and eight black parishioners, served as the catalyst for the flag’s long-debated removal.
A co-production between South Carolina ETV (SCETV), Strategic Films and Susie Films, Downing of a Flag features interviews with current and former political figures, activists, and historians. This production was made possible with funding from Dominion Energy, Synovus, the ETV Endowment, and Eastern Distribution, Inc.
In 2021, SCETV and the ETV Endowment of South Carolina hosted a series of community engagement events across the state to celebrate the national release of the documentary. At each event, select segments of the film were shown, and a panel discussed the segments with audience members.
As a Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)-distributed project, Downing of a Flag is available for streaming on the PBS app and on PBS.org. Viewers who wish to engage with the film online can do so on social media by following and liking @DowningOfAFlag on Facebook and Instagram.
For more information on SCETV, visit www.scetv.org.
QUOTES:
“Being nominated for such a prestigious award allows SCETV to help celebrate the hard work of the partners that helped to make the film happen. The nomination also elevates the story of this multifaceted issue in South Carolina history that Downing of a Flag tells. We are deeply honored by this recognition.” –SCETV President and CEO Anthony Padgett
“Working collaboratively with Strategic Films and Susie Films to bring this important story to life was an important moment in my professional career. It is an honor to be nominated and considered for a Peabody Award.” –Downing of a Flag Executive Producer and SCETV Director of National Content and Regional Operations Don Godish
“On behalf of our entire production team, sincere thanks to the Peabody Board of Jurors for nominating Downing of a Flag. Many believed the ceremonial furling of the Confederate battle flag in the summer of 2015 marked the final chapter of an extended, controversial period in American history. It has not. The story remains as timely today as it ever has.” –Downing of a Flag Director and Susie Films President Scott Galloway
“We are grateful to the Peabody Board of Jurors for the prestigious honor of being nominated for a Peabody Award. I’m humbled, proud, and blessed to be a part of the team that developed the concept, partnered with great organizations like SCETV and Susie Films, and produced a film that illuminates a story that is part of the arc of democracy’s progress in our country and at the heart of what it means to be an American.” –Downing of a Flag Executive Producer and Founder/CEO of Strategic Films Duane Cooper
FAST FACTS:
- Downing of a Flag is a two-hour, two-part documentary about the history of the Confederate Battle flag, its 2015 removal from the South Carolina State House grounds and the impact of its removal on the nation.
- Out of nearly 1,300 entries, the documentary film has been nominated as one of 60 programs to receive a prestigious Peabody Award, with the final 30 award Winners being announced by Peabody in June 2022.
- The project is distributed nationally by PBS, which means viewers can stream the show on the PBS app and on PBS.org.
- Downing of a Flag is a co-production between SCETV, Strategic Films and Susie Films.
Original production funding for Downing of a Flag was provided by:
–scetv.org
