Award Winning Drama

East West 101 cleans up at AFI Awards

Australia's love affair with crime drama has been recognised at the AFI Awards, with East West 101 picking up three awards in the television categories.

The series took out the most prestigious gong for best TV drama series, beating hit shows like Packed To The Rafters, Underbelly and Satisfaction.

Susie Porter, who plays Inspector Patricia Wright, triumphed over Packed To The Rafters' Rebecca Gibney in the lead actress category.

East West 101's director Peter Andrikidis won the director category.

The acclaimed director paid tribute to SBS.

"Thank you for commissioning a drama that truly represents a multicultural Australia in 2009," he said.


More About The Show

Series 2

In Season Two, East West 101 expands to seven episodes as the Major Crime Squad investigate crime and murder in all quarters of multicultural Sydney.

But overarching all, is the quest for Detective Zane Malik to find the truth behind a car bomb attack which kills two men.

The Major Crime Squad form a joint task force with the NSO (National Security Organisation) to deal with the crime. There is paranoia in the city and fallout on the Muslim community.

Malik knows that in order to stop the circle of hate, he must solve the crime. Was the bomb really an act of extremists, as the media suggest, or a sophisticated killing by a career criminal? Malik doggedly pursues the truth until he, too, becomes a target.

Inspector Patricia Wright questions his motives but her vision is clouded by personal issues she wants to remain hidden from the squad. Crime has touched her own family.

Series 1

Zane Malik is a young detective at the Major Crime Squad. He is also a Muslim. And as a Muslim detective in a post 9/11 world where just to be an Arab, is to arouse suspicion and fear, Malik feels under pressure to prove himself, over and over.

Snr Detective Crowley was a detective of the old school, where rules and regulations layed a poor second to getting a result. Crowley is a man at odds with the times. Not just the times, Crowley’s at odds with everything and everyone, even himself. If he’s at war with anyone, it’s Zane Malik.

Malik battles with Crowley across six hours as, from Lakemba to Chinatown, they investigate the murders and crimes of a big city.

EAST WEST 101 is the story of two men whose destiny is irrevocably intertwined. Malik is driven by a hunger for justice. He was twelve and at the till, when a masked gunman held up the family shop. Malik refused to hand over the money. His father was shot and injured. Since he joined the Force, Malik has been looking for the shadowy figure who pulled the trigger.

When he finally finds him, Malik’s belief in the justice system is challenged by a powerful desire for revenge. As he hunts down the truth it is revealed that Crowley had a part to play in the original investigation. But will Crowley help or hinder Malik in his quest? He is a man whose vision has been blighted by pain and prejudice.

Crowley’s son, Paul, was found dead of a drug overdose sold to him by a Lebanese dealer. When the drug dealer, who sold Paul the heroin, is found murdered, Internal Affairs come asking questions. Looking for answers. Not just from Crowley. Malik also. He was involved in the case. Crowley is at the mercy of Malik. Will Malik end his career? What will Crowley do to stop him?

There’s an edge of danger as these two men circle one another. This might look like the battle between two strong men for dominance - but it is also a metaphor for the fear that exists between East and West - as two men search for love, approval and forgiveness.

PRODUCERS
Steve Knapman & Kris Wyld

DIRECTOR
Peter Andrikidis

PRODUCTION COMPANY
EAST WEST 101 PRODUCTION OFFICE
Unit 3, Building 103,
(FSA#96) Fox Studios Australia
38 Driver Avenue, Moore Park NSW 2021

Tel: +612 83532320 Fax: +612 83532321
Email: knapmanfilms@bigpond.com
Website: www.knapmanwyld.com.au