The documentary film The Last Out, which follows three Cuban baseball players who leave their families and risk exile to chase their dreams of playing in the United States, was the winner of the Award for Outstanding Business and Economy Documentary at the 44th annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards. The film directed by Michael Gassert and Sami Khan, had its broadcast premiere as part of season 35 of American Documentary’s long-running series POV on PBS last year, and was an official selection at the Tribeca Film Festival.
Emmy Award and Oscar nominated director Khan, director Michael Gassert, and producer/cinematographer Jonathan Miller accepted the award at the ceremony, which was held at the Palladium Times Square Theater in Manhattan, presented by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS).
Set at the shadowy nexus of the migrant trail and pro sports, The Last Out chronicles their harrowing journey, from immigration obstacles to the broken promises of dubious agents. Against all odds, these young athletes try to hold onto their hope while fighting for a better life for their families.
The Last Out has garnered acclaim across the festival circuit having received numerous awards including Tribeca Film Festival’s Special Jury Mention Best New Documentary Director and the Audience Award from Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival. It is the 47th Emmy Award for POV, currently celebrating its 36th anniversary as America’s longest running documentary series.
“All of us at American Documentary are overjoyed and collectively celebrate Sami Khan and the film team behind The Last Out for their Emmy award. Khan’s film offers not only a rare look at the intersection of professional sports and migration but a humanistic perspective of the lives impacted. We’re proud to have been able to present The Last Out on POV as we remain committed to bringing authentic and beautifully told stories like Khan’s to our audiences,” said Erika Dilday, executive director of American Documentary and executive producer of POV and America ReFramed.
American Documentary received eight News & Documentary Emmy Award nominations for films featured in POV seasons 34 and 35 and America ReFramed's 10th season. Nominations included America ReFramed's film Sapelo, and POV's Accepted, Delikado, The Last Out, Let the Little Light Shine, Wuhan Wuhan and two nominations for Not Going Quietly.
POV films and projects have won 47 Emmy® Awards, 27 George Foster Peabody Awards, 15 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards, three Academy Awards and the first-ever George Polk Documentary Film Award and the Prix Italia, since its launch in 1988. The POV series has been honored with a Special News & Documentary Emmy Award for Excellence in Television Documentary Filmmaking, three IDA Awards for Best Curated Series and the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) Award for Corporate Commitment to Diversity.
