Sydney, May 23: The Australian Federal Police has secured a Gold award at the 2025 New York Festivals Radio Awards for its gripping podcast Search Among the Sunflowers, which documents the AFP’s decade-long investigation into the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17.
The five-part series, released ahead of the tragedy’s 10th anniversary, took top honours in the Narrative/Documentary Podcast category, triumphing over 21 other international finalists. The podcast explores the AFP’s role in the complex recovery and investigative operations that followed the fatal missile attack over eastern Ukraine, which claimed 298 lives, including 38 Australians.
The award comes as international accountability efforts reach a historic milestone. In a landmark decision, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Council found Russia responsible for the incident — the first time such a finding has been made in the Council’s 80-year history. The case was brought forward by Australia and the Netherlands.
The podcast, produced over 18 months, draws on personal stories from family members, AFP officers, diplomats and investigators, weaving together the emotional and logistical challenges of one of the most significant international tragedies in recent Australian history. It also includes rare insights from high-profile figures such as Julie Bishop and Sir Angus Houston.
Search Among the Sunflowers has resonated widely, with over 60,000 downloads and charting success on Apple and Spotify platforms. It was produced by Media Heads in partnership with several government departments and Dutch authorities, offering listeners a powerful and intimate portrayal of justice, grief, and global cooperation.
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