Shall we Check it out? (Gal pažiūrim?)

In this episode, International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences member Aistė Ptakauskė discusses the International Emmy-nominated documentary Louis Theroux: The Settlers. Returning to the West Bank more than a decade after his first visit, Theroux examines the rise of the Israeli settler movement in the aftermath of the 7 October attacks and explores its growing influence on life in the region. Joining Aistė is Michael Munnik, Senior Lecturer at Cardiff University and former CBC journalist. Together, they unpack the documentary’s key revelations, Theroux’s filmmaking approach, and the wider questions it raises about media, religion, politics, and conflict. They also make their predictions for which documentary will take home the International Emmy Award in 2026.

In this episode of "Shall We Check It Out?", Aistė Ptakauskė is joined by Pola Hempowicz, former Channel Manager at Comedy Central Poland, regular juror for the International Emmy Awards and the Asian Academy Creative Awards, and fellow member of the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.Together, they discuss "La Médiatrice", a Canadian comedy that won the International Emmy Award for Best Short-Form Series produced outside the United States. In addition, the conversation explores the unique challenges of creating truly great comedy, and why, when it is done well, comedy is sacred.

International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences member Aistė Ptakauskė and Head of Digital Culture, Communication and Media Research Group at Kaunas University of Technology, Prof. Šarūnas Paunksnis discuss the allure and impact of the most‑watched Hindi OTT film in India at the start of 2024, “Amar Singh Chamkila.”

International Emmy® juror and media powerhouse Aiste Ptakauske joins forces with Michael Hingson, a global diversity and inclusion expert and #1 New York Times bestselling author of “Thunder Dog: The True Story of a Blind Man, a Guide Dog & the Triumph of Trust”, to dive deep into the International Emmy Award–winning mini-series “Lost Boys and Fairies” and unpack why accurate representation on screen is not merely optional, but essential.

Aiste Ptakauske sits down with a fellow member of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Philip Kalin-Hajdu, to discuss "Shaolin Heroes", an adventure reality format that clinched the International Emmy Award, outshining global juggernauts like “Big Brother,” “Love is Blind,” and “Masked Singer.” What is so special about this format and what is its cultural significance?

Member of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Aiste Ptakauske explores the critically acclaimed political thriller The Diplomat with Nina and Sean Murray, a husband‑and‑wife team who—very much like the central characters of the show—spent the better part of their careers in the U.S. diplomatic service. They discuss what the show gets right, where it stretches reality, and how both diplomacy and writing about it works in practice.

In this episode, Aistė Ptakauskė—member of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences—sits down with Lithuanian crime writer Daina Kleponė to dive into the gripping world of the International Emmy-winning German crime thriller Dear Child (Liebes Kind). Released on Netflix in late 2023, it quickly became the platform’s most-watched non-English series and won the 2024 International Emmy Award as the best Mini-Series produced outside the United States. Listen to Aistė and Daina discuss what makes this series so compelling, and why it resonates with audiences worldwide.

ENGLISH TRANSCRIPT OF THE EPISODE IS AVAILABLE AT THIS LINK.

In this episode, Aistė Ptakauskė—member of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences—teams up with Žilvaras Zinkevičius, Head of Public Relations and Communications for the Baltic States at GO3, to dive into Brawn: The Impossible Formula 1 Story. This International Emmy-winning documentary series reveals one of the most dramatic and challenging seasons in Formula 1 history. Discover why this story continues to captivate sports fans worldwide.

ENGLISH TRANSCRIPT OF THE EPISODE IS AVAILABLE AT THIS LINK.

In this episode, Aistė Ptakauskė—member of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences—sits down with concert pianist and piano teacher Eglė Andrejevaitė to explore Jakub Piątek’s documentary Pianoforte. Awarded the International Emmy in 2024 for Best Arts Programming, the film offers a gripping, behind-the-scenes look at the prestigious International Federic Chopin Piano Competition, told through the eyes of its contestants. In this conversation, Aistė and Eglė explore what makes this documentary deserving of one of the highest honors in the global television industry.

ENGLISH TRANSCRIPT OF THE EPISODE IS AVAILABLE AT THIS LINK.

In this episode, Aistė Ptakauskė—member of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences—explores the International Emmy Award-winning short-form series Point of No Return. Each episode of the series tackles urgent global issues, from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and illegal migrants in the U.S. and the U.K. to the war in Ukraine and Indigenous climate activism.

This conversation focuses on Episode 2 of the series: Japan: The Utopia of AI and Robots. The episode reveals how AI in Japan is replacing caregivers in nursing homes, partners in personal relationships, and even Buddhist monks at Kodaiji Temple.

Is Japan an outlier or a glimpse into our collective future? To unpack this, Aistė is joined by Doctor of Technology Ingrida Leščauskienė.

ENGLISH TRANSCRIPT OF THE EPISODE IS AVAILABLE AT THIS LINK.