TV, eh?

From CBC:

• CBC shows pick up trophies at Canadian Comedy Awards
  “Big winners this year included a best direction in a TV series award to Henry Sarwer-Foner for CBC’s The Rick Mercer Report and a group award for best writing in a special or episode to 11 performers and writers from This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Episode 3.” Read more.

From a media release:

The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television is pleased to announce the nominations for the 23rd Annual Gemini Awards, recognizing the year’s best in Canadian English-language television. The Gemini Awards Broadcast Gala will be presented in Toronto, ON at the John Bassett Theatre on Friday, November 28, 2008. Canwest Broadcasting joins the Academy in celebrating this year’s exceptional achievements, airing the Gemini Awards Broadcast Gala on E! Network and Showcase at 9 pm ET.

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From a media release:

MuchMusic tranforms the corner of Queen & John in Toronto into the biggest party in the country with the 2008 MMVAs, this Sunday, June 15. The MMVAs engages and interacts with its audience. This year the Much team has come up with some innovative online opportunities, giving the fans access to the show, and additional exclusive content online wherever they are in the country. Included in this year’s online initiatives, Much gives viewers a chance to win $10,000 during the show with MMVA10k (www.muchmusic.com/mmva10k). Viewers answer real-time questions about what’s happening live on the show and collect points to win.

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From Andrew Ryan of the Globe and Mail:

• Canadian shows scoop awards at Banff festival
  Say it loud and proud, Canada: Our track record of unique TV programming still ranks among the best in the world. A diverse group of Canadian programs were among the grand-prize-winners named at the 29th Annual Banff World Television Awards.” Read more.

From the Toronto Star:

• Hot Box: Television worth talking about
  “Beyond Its Borders: Canadian drama The Border, which airs on CBC, is up for Best TV Drama, Best Actor (James McGowan) and Best Actress (Sofia Milos) tomorrow in Monaco at the Monte-Carlo TV Festival. Executive producer Peter Raymont says it’s up against stiff competition, including The Tudors and The Sopranos. The Border is in production on its second season.” Read more.

Original to TV, eh?:

There’s no red carpet, no A-list celebrities dripping with borrowed jewels in haute couture, no online forums guessing winners, no widely televised ceremony. What the Banff World Television Awards do have is a truly international scope, with winners from countries including Liberia, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, Israel, South Africa, and more.

Presented at the Banff World Television Festival, the 29th annual Awards – popularly known as The Rockies — included a Lifetime Achievement award to BBC producer Jon Plowman (Extras) and the NBC Universal Canada Award of Distinction to actor Kim Cattrall (Sex and the City).

The Grand Prize went to HBO’s White Light/Black Rain: The destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Comedy award was given to Extras: Episode 9 - Daniel Radcliffe, airing on BBC and HBO, while Skins of the UK’s Channel 4 picked up the trophy for Continuing Series and A&E’s Intervention won for Reality Format Program.

Canadian shows pick up awards

National Geographic’s Ghosts of the Yangtze (Up the Yangtze) and Discovery Channel’s The Real Superhumans and the Quest for the Future Fantastic both won Best Canadian Program. How the Gimquat Found Her Song won in the Children’s Programs categry, while Odd Job Jack was rewarded for Interactive Program Enhancements and The Border: Interactive picked up the Mobile Programs and Enhancements award.

The Banff World Television Festival website has a full list of winners.

From a media release:

Brent Butt, Sofia Milos, ARRI, Blueprint Entertainment, Michael Foster, ABC Studios receive awards at Alberta Film Annual Lunch Awards

A special luncheon honouring award winners hosted by actor Colin Mochrie was held today at the 29th edition of the Banff World Television Festival, which takes place at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Alberta, Canada, June 8 - 11, 2008.

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From a media release:

SHAFTESBURY FILMS’ LIFE WITH DEREK WINS SHAW ROCKET PRIZE
 
Shaftesbury Films’ youth comedy series Life with Derek has won the prestigious Shaw Rocket Prize, it was announced last night at an industry event in Toronto. Life with Derek airs on Family in Canada.
 
Shaftesbury Films will divide the award’s $50,000 purse between the Canadian Film Centre, to be used on a kids’ TV writing and producing intern program; PREVNet (Promoting Relationships and Eliminating Violence Network), a coalition of Canadians concerned about bullying; and Life with Derek creator Daphne Ballon. To learn more about these organizations, visit www.prevnet.ca and www.cfccreates.com .

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From the Canadian Press:

• ‘Life With Derek’ wins Shaw Rocket Prize for best childrens’ programming
  “The TV series “Life with Derek” has won the Shaw Rocket Prize for best Canadian children’s program. The show - a half-hour comedy about a blended family that’s forced together two wilful teenagers - took the $50,000 prize at a ceremony held Wednesday night in Toronto. The prize recognizes the best show for children aged 12 and younger and is voted on by nearly 700 students in Grades 4, 5 and 6.” Read more.

From a media release:

PEACE POINT’S FOOD JAMMERS STRIKES GOLD AT THE 41ST ANNUAL WORLDFEST-HOUSTON INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Les Tomlin, President and Executive Producer of Peace Point Entertainment Group is delighted to announce today that the company’s Food Jammers series (Season II) was honored this past week with a Gold Award at the 41st annual WorldFest Film Festival held in Houston, TX. This is the third year in a row that Food Jammers has been honored at WorldFest, having previously won Silver (’07) and Bronze (’06). The series is currently in production on it’s third season set to air this fall on Canada’s Food Network. The series is also broadcast in Italy (RAI), Brazil (Globosat), Australia (XYZ) and Thailand (UBC).

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