Germany snags three International Emmy awards

German television productions took home three International Emmys in New York on Monday night, including one of the most prestigious prizes in the industry, the best drama award.

"Deutschland 83," a Cold War thriller about an East German spy who infiltrates the West German army to steal NATO secrets, snagged the award after the series garnered praise from critics and was sold on to 38 international broadcasters.

It was also the first German-language series to air on US television.

"Our show is about a divided nation which eventually tore down the wall and reunited peacefully," Jörg Winger, the show's co-creator and executive producer, said. "It shows that even the most immense differences can be overcome."

Anna Winger, the other co-creator of "Deutschland 83," tweeted a photo of the cast backstage at Monday's awards ceremony, celebrating their prize.

German actress Christaine Paul won the best actress award for her role in "Unterm Radar" ("Under the Radar"), a story of a judge whose life is turned upside down when her daughter is suspected of planning a bomb attack in Berlin.

"We have to remember what we are - that we're human beings and please don't have fear and don't be afraid from terrorism attacks," Paul said. "You must remember that we all belong together and have to fight against the real problems of the world."

The third Emmy awarded to a German television production went to the documentary film "Krieg der Lügen" ("War of Lies"). The documentary, which began as a film school project, centers on an Iraqi refugee in the run-up to the Iraq war whose information on weapons of mass destruction was used by the US to justify the 2003 invasion.

"No German film festival wanted to show this film," director Matthias Bittner said. "Finally you end in the US, which this film is actually all about."

dm/tj (dpa, AP)