In 2022, the TV landscape saw patient Zero, a series titled Kidney, and the production Two Hills garner significant recognition from the Film and Television Producers Association. The awards highlighted the strength of Canadian and American streaming and broadcast productions within the industry, underscoring how major dramas can resonate with audiences across online platforms and traditional channels alike. This trio of projects contributed to a broader conversation about storytelling, production scale, and the evolving way viewers discover and engage with serialized content in North America.
Specifically, the series “Zero Patient” earned a top honor in the Best Online Series category for that year. The win signaled a notable achievement for projects released through online channels, illustrating the growing prestige and audience reach of streaming formats within the region. The recognition reflected the quality of writing, production values, and performances that carried the show through competition with other acclaimed online titles, reinforcing its place in contemporary television discourse.
Olga Filipuk, the producer of the series, expressed pride in the acknowledgment as well as relief at the visibility this award brings to bold, challenging material. The remarks highlighted how courage in subject matter can pave the way for meaningful storytelling on channels with wide penetration. Her reflections also pointed to the broader impact such accolades have on a program’s trajectory, including increased opportunities for broader distribution and audience engagement across major networks in Canada and the United States.
Meanwhile, the Two Hills project emerged as a leader among multi-episode online series with a total run exceeding twelve episodes. This achievement not only demonstrated stamina in long-form storytelling but also showcased the capacity of digital platforms to support more ambitious formats. The achievement aligns with a broader industry trend toward sustained narratives that reward ongoing viewership and deeper character development, a model increasingly embraced by streaming services and traditional broadcasters alike in North America.
Beyond these accomplishments, the agency noted the mini-series Nomination, directed by Nadezhda Mikhalkova, as a standout in the category of Best Online Miniseries. The win underscored the value of concise, high-impact storytelling and the ability of shorter formats to captivate audiences while delivering tightly crafted narratives. This recognition complements the rising importance of diverse formats in the North American market, where audiences increasingly seek both serialized and compact viewing experiences that fit modern viewing habits.
In another stride for the year, the Kidney project — featuring a prominent cast led by Lyubov Aksenova — was selected as the Best Comedy Series, while the animation field celebrated Three Cats as the best animated series. These selections illustrate the breadth of taste across Canadian and American viewers, spanning comedic storytelling and animated approaches to genre, tone, and audience appeal. The season thus showcased a balance of humor, innovation, and visual storytelling that contributes to a varied and vibrant television ecosystem in the region.
Earlier in 2022, critics highlighted a trio of top series that helped define the year in Russian film criticism, including the Petersburg entry 1703, the HIV-focused drama Patient Zero, and Valery Todorovsky’s contribution Nadvoe. This broader critical conversation reflected how regional narratives and global productions influence perceptions of quality, risk-taking, and cultural relevance within the international television market. The year thus stood out for its mix of provocative subjects, strong performances, and a willingness to push boundaries across formats and streaming models, resonating with audiences across Canada and the United States.