KBS ‘Sacred Objects’ Wins SIGNIS Special Prize at 78th Prix Italia

KBS's large-scale documentary series ‘Sacred Objects’ has received the SIGNIS Special Prize at the Prix Italia. It was selected as a winner at the 78th Prix Italia awards ceremony held in L'Aquila, Italy, on October 2 local time. This year, 226 programs from 83 broadcasting and media organizations in 52 countries were submitted to the Prix Italia. ‘Sacred Objects’, which aired in March, is a work that visits sacred objects around the world to deal with the essence of faith and life contained in different religions and cultures.

Competition of 226 works from 52 countries... Selected through separate SIGNIS judging

According to KBS, ‘Sacred Objects’ won the SIGNIS Special Prize at the awards ceremony held in L'Aquila on October 2. The production was led by PDs Kim Dong-il, Lee Song-eun, and Kim Eun-gon. The production team attended the ceremony and expressed their feelings, saying, “We are moved to receive such a glorious award. We will continue to work hard to create good programs and repay the value of the precious license fees.” Local media introduced the work as a program that reflects on the meaning of life.

The Prix Italia is an international broadcasting award founded in 1948 by the Italian public broadcaster RAI. It selects excellent works in the fields of radio, podcast, television, and digital media content. The event, marking its 78th year, was held in L'Aquila from September 28 to October 2. L'Aquila is a city designated as the ‘2026 Italian Capital of Culture’. This year's submissions included 226 programs from 83 broadcasting and media organizations in 52 countries. Among these, the main prizes were judged by 64 jurors representing 38 broadcasters from 31 countries.

The SIGNIS Special Prize is selected separately from the main Prix Italia judging. A separate jury composed of experts from SIGNIS decides the winning works, and this award has been presented at the Prix Italia since 1977. KBS stated that ‘Sacred Objects’ was recognized for its artistic quality on the international stage as a work that captures universal human stories beyond the boundaries of religion and culture.

A journey weaving four episodes with four keywords

‘Sacred Objects’ is a four-part documentary broadcast in March as a large-scale project for the founding anniversary of KBS. Using ‘Covenant’, ‘Invitation’, ‘Word’, and ‘Heart’ as keywords for each episode, it searches for sacred objects passed down around the world. Rather than staying at an explanation of the sacred objects, the structure deals with the traditions surrounding them and the lives of the people who believe in and protect them. KBS introduced it as a work that examines the essence of faith and life within different religions and cultures.

The broadcast schedule followed starting with episode 1 ‘Covenant’ on March 3. Episode 2 ‘Invitation’ aired on March 4, episode 3 ‘Word’ on March 5, and episode 4 ‘Heart’ was presented to viewers on March 12. Each episode developed its story by following different regions and sacred objects. In Ethiopia, it covered the traditions and festivals surrounding the Ark of the Covenant, which has been kept sacred for a long time, and in Italy, it shed light on the meaning of suffering through the Shroud, which is passed down as the Shroud of Jesus.

The work also features the Word of Islam and the Kṣitigarbha of Japan. KBS explained that through these subjects, the values of faith, comfort, and love are placed at the center of the story, even if religions and cultures differ. The introductory materials before the broadcast stated that it highlights the journey of people suffering all over the world finding comfort and hope through their respective religions. It was introduced as being planned so that not only people with religion but also those without faith can think about the meaning and direction of life.

The story of a boy trying to protect the Ethiopian Tabot

Episode 1 ‘Covenant’ covered the story of the Abuna Yemata Guh Church in the Tigray Region of northern Ethiopia and a thirteen-year-old boy named Kibrom. In the church, located on a cliff at an altitude of 2,580m, a ‘Tabot’, a replica of the Ark of the Covenant which is said to have been received by Moses from God, has been passed down. Despite being a replica, it cannot be seen carelessly by anyone other than priests, and Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church believers have respected the Tabot as being the same as the Ark of the Covenant.

Kibrom, who was born and raised in the church, dreamed of becoming a priest. The church is a place that can only be reached by climbing a steep cliff, and the broadcast captured the boy happily viewing the time he meets God while climbing that path. Kibrom wanted to become a priest to protect the Tabot and help his family and village. However, civil war and poverty made it difficult for him to continue his priestly studies. Since 2020, a civil war has continued between the Ethiopian government forces and rebels, and the broadcast conveyed the situation where residents continue to experience fear and pain even after the gunfire has stopped.

Kibrom's mother explained the reason she wants her son to become a priest. She said, “During the war, we had nothing, so I begged everywhere I took the child. I can never forget the pain of that time. That is why I want Kibrom to be a priest. Because a priest can teach and properly guide those who are suffering.” Kibrom's older brother, who had walked the path of a priest first, left for the city to earn money, and the family sold sheep to prepare for tuition. After completing two years of priestly studies, Kibrom became a deacon. He was at the stage where he could become a formal priest after completing theological studies and church service.

The Shroud of Turin and stories of different religions

Episode 2 ‘Invitation’ unfolded the story centered on the Shroud at the Turin Cathedral in Italy. The Shroud, considered a controversial yet mysterious sacred object in Catholicism, is passed down as the Shroud of Jesus. Sister Maria, who is visually impaired, stood in front of the Shroud. Living in a community at the Saint Gaetano Convent in Turin, she prays with other nuns, helps with laundry and cleaning, and performs Holy Communion for those with physical disabilities. The broadcast captured the stories of faith, suffering, and love surrounding the Shroud along with this nun's life.

The content introduced by KBS before the broadcast also included the story of a boy nurturing his dream of becoming a priest at an Ethiopian cliff church, a young Muslim man in Türkiye wounded by domestic violence, and the bereaved family who lost a daughter in the October 29 Itaewon Crowd Crush. The stories of individuals with different religions and living environments were composed by connecting them to sacred objects. The program dealt with faith, comfort, and love through various subjects, including the Word of Islam and the Kṣitigarbha of Japan.

KBS stated that through this award, it will continue to present high-quality content that offers deep perspectives and new topics to viewers. The ‘Sacred Objects’ production team also expressed in their acceptance speech that they will continue to make good programs to repay the value of the license fees. After being broadcast four times from March 3 to 12, the work received the SIGNIS Special Prize at the Prix Italia awards ceremony held in L'Aquila on October 2.

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