Noah Media Group has just won an Emmy® Award for its short documentary, ‘One-Armed Wonder: The Extraordinary Story of Jimmy Hasty.‘ This isn’t just another sports documentary; it’s a heartfelt narrative that spotlights a truly remarkable individual, Jimmy Hasty, who defied the odds and lived life on his own terms.
At the 45th Annual Sports Emmy® Awards at Lincoln Center in New York, director Richard Milway and Noah Media Group’s CEO, John McKenna, accepted the award for Outstanding Short Documentary. Produced with UEFA for Uefa.TV, ‘One-Armed Wonder’ is part of the ‘Extraordinary Stories’ series, which delves into captivating, lesser-known tales from UEFA competition history.
Jimmy Hasty’s story resonates deeply, especially within the disability community. Born in Belfast, Hasty lost his left arm in a childhood accident. But instead of being defined by this loss, he went on to become a football legend with Dundalk FC. Leading his team to their first league title in thirty years, Hasty also played a pivotal role in their historic victory as the first Irish team to win away from home in European competition. Tragically, his life was cut short at 38 when loyalist paramilitaries killed him during the Troubles.
‘One-Armed Wonder’ goes beyond the football field. The documentary brings Jimmy’s story to life through interviews with his widow, sons, and former teammates, interweaving rarely-seen archive footage and heartfelt reconstructions. It’s a story of resilience, community, and the profound impact one individual can have.
For those of us in the disability community, Hasty’s life is not just an inspiration but a powerful example of living authentically and pursuing one’s passions despite societal and physical challenges. His story underscores the importance of representation and visibility in media, showing that our lives are rich, complex, and worthy of recognition.
This Emmy® win is a crowning achievement for Noah Media Group, following their recent BAFTA nomination for ‘Hatton‘ (NMG for Sky Documentaries) and numerous other accolades, including ‘Sports Documentary of the Year‘ at the Broadcast Sport Awards 2023. Their impressive portfolio also includes ‘Amputating Alice,’ which won ‘Best Television Documentary’ at the British Sports Journalism Awards 2023, and co-founder Gabriel Clarke’s recognition as ‘Best Broadcast Journalist‘ at the same awards.
John McKenna, CEO of Noah Media Group, expressed his pride and excitement: “Our first Emmy win as a company is an incredible acknowledgement for all involved in this beautiful film and also the wider Noah Media Group team.
To win in the Outstanding Short Documentary category perfectly illustrates the levels the whole company is working to across all our films, always striving to deliver incredible stories to the highest possible levels.
It is incredibly rewarding to see our focus on storytelling delivering these accolades. I can’t wait to see the team’s work launch in the coming months, beginning with the premiere of Checkpoint Zoo at TriBeCa next month.
I am so proud of what our talented team continues to achieve.”
And the momentum doesn’t stop here. Next up for Noah is the world premiere of ‘Checkpoint Zoo‘ at the TriBeCa Film Festival on June 6th. This documentary, co-produced with Ghost Robot and directed by Joshua Zeman, promises to continue Noah’s tradition of compelling storytelling.
So, here’s to Noah Media Group for shining a light on the remarkable and often overlooked stories in sports history. If ‘One-Armed Wonder’ is anything to go by, their upcoming projects are sure to keep us enthralled. Jimmy Hasty’s legacy reminds us that our stories, with all their challenges and triumphs, are important and deserve to be told with dignity and respect.
