FRONTLINE Wins Two Emmy Awards

Two FRONTLINE (PBS) documentaries, Abacus: Small Enough to Jail and Mosul, won Emmy Awards on October 1, 2018 at the 39th Annual News & Documentary Emmys.

Abacus: Small Enough to Jail, which was honored with an Emmy in the Outstanding Business & Economic Documentary category, chronicled the Chinese-American Sung family’s fight to clear their names after their small bank in New York City’s Chinatown became the only U.S. bank indicted for mortgage fraud related to the 2008 financial crisis. From acclaimed director Steve James, producers Mark Mitten and Julie Goldman, and co-producers Fenell Doremus and Nick Verbitsky, the documentary followed how the bank’s indictment and subsequent trial forced the Sung family to defend themselves — and their bank’s legacy in the Chinatown community — over the course of a five-year legal battle. The documentary was also nominated for an Academy Award earlier this year.

Mosul, which was recognized with an Emmy for Outstanding Cinematography: Documentary – offered an extraordinary, inside look at the brutal battle to drive ISIS out of Iraq’s second- largest city — which some military commanders described as the deadliest urban combat since World War II. Filmed on the ground by director Olivier Sarbil over the course of the nine-month fight, produced and co-directed by James Jones, and produced by Dan Edge, Mosul is a stunning look at the high cost of the Iraqi Army’s victory over ISIS in the city. The documentary also received an Overseas Press Club Award earlier this year.

“We are pleased by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ recognition of our journalism,” says Raney Aronson-Rath, executive producer of FRONTLINE. “Our producers are dedicated to telling the toughest stories of our time with fairness and integrity, and it’s an honor to see their work acknowledged in this way. We remain tremendously thankful to PBS, CPB, WGBH and our viewers for their unwavering support.”

With seven wins, PBS was the most decorated network of the night. Read the full list of winners here. Including this year’s wins, FRONTLINE has earned 91 Emmy Awards to date. You can watch the winning FRONTLINE documentaries below.

Outstanding Business & Economic Documentary

Abacus: Small Enough to Jail: The little-known story of the only U.S. bank criminally prosecuted for mortgage fraud in relation to the 2008 financial crisis. (Credits)

 

Outstanding Cinematography: Documentary

Mosul: The story of four young Iraqi soldiers tasked with leading the fight against ISIS in Mosul. (Credits)

This story was updated on October 2, 2018 to include a link to and additional information from the official News & Documentary Emmys press release listing the night’s winners.