An True Livesdocumentary aired on RTÉ has been awarded the Global Television Grand Prize at the prestigious annual Banff Rockie Awards in Canada.
Chavez - Inside the Coup, which was first aired on the national broadcaster last February was judged "the best television programme in the world this year".
It was directed by Mr Kim Bartley and Mr Donncha Ó Briain and produced by Mr David Power of the Galway-based independent company, Power Pictures Ltd. The project was seed-funded by RTÉ and the Irish Film Board.
Power Pictures made the documentary after securing unique access to Venezuelan President Chavez for an observational documentary.
The filmmakers were with the Mr Chavez in the presidential palace in Caracas when the 2002 coup, which saw him overthrown and later returned to power, took place.
The programme won its category of Information and Current Affairs - a category dominated by documentaries that dealt with 9/11 or the follow-on in terms of Afghanistan and Iraq.