From the Banff Media Festival:
Nominees Announced for Rockies Program Competition
BANFF is proud to announce the full list of nominees for its annual Rockies Program Competition. The internationally-recognized Award program celebrates nominees in 26 categories, spanning multiple genres including Fiction, Non-Fiction, Kids & Animation and Interactive. Read more.
This year’s Writers Guild of Canada Screenwriting Award winners will be announced on April 22. We’ve been catching up with many of the writers nominated in the comedy and drama categories. Heartland‘s Leila Basen is nominated for her episode “Life is a Highway.”
Can you describe the episode “Life is a Highway” and how it fit into the Heartland season?
“Life as a Highway” marks the return of Chase Powers, a charismatic but incorrigible cowboy who makes an unexpected visit to Heartland and puts Amy and Ty’s relationship to the test.
What was the biggest triumph in this particular episode?
Showing the human side of a basically unredeemable character.
What does this recognition mean to you?
Heartland has been going strong for six years on the CBC, and it’s great that this year we got two WGC script nominations.
If there was one Canadian show that is no longer on the air that you could see honoured at this year’s awards, what would it be? (If you have a specific episode, even better).
My vote would be Mental Block, a tween comedy that ran two seasons, 2002 to 2004 on YTV. (Full disclosure – Mental Block was a show I co-created and wrote with David Preston.) It was a WGC Awards finalist twice in the Youth Category, but didn’t win either time because (according to one of the jurors) it was too funny for Youth and should have been in the Comedy Category. It would be great if it could win an award, even posthumously.
Lost Girl, Showcase – “Hail, Hale”
Chaos strikes during a daring attack on The Dal, leaving the fate of one of the gang in the balance. Meanwhile, The Morrigan leaps on the opportunity to ignite the tensions between Light and Dark… catching Kenzi and Hale in the crossfire.
Heartland, CBC – “Under Pressure” season finale
With the threat of losing Phoenix looming over their heads, things become even more complicated at Heartland when Georgie gets a surprise visit from her brother Jeff.
Dragons’ Den, CBC
A new step in the world of women’s footwear; eyeglass entrepreneurs hope the Dragons will flip for their product; and a bicycle innovation hopes to wheel out of the den with a deal. Plus, the dragons get revved up over a ride share business.
Republic of Doyle, CBC – “Gimme Shelter”
Mal and Rose try to keep an old friend safe and find out what kind of business he’s really into. Jake is laid up with a bad injury and his medication causes some strange dreams. Guests stars: Gordon Pinsent, Michelle Nolden, Rachel Wilson, Michael Hogan, Dylan Scott Smith, Amy Sloan.
CBC TELEVISION ANNOUNCES 21 RENEWALS, EXPANDED SEASONS OF HIT SHOWS, AND NEW TITLES FOR 2013-14
CBC Television, currently in year two of a three-year plan to manage funding cuts, today confirmed a number of new and returning shows for 2013-14, including a brand new season of BATTLE OF THE BLADES, expanded (full) seasons of MURDOCH MYSTERIES and REPUBLIC OF DOYLE, a mini-series based on the award-winning Canadian novel THE BEST LAID PLANS (PDM Entertainment), and a television movie adaptation of THE BOOK OF NEGROES (Conquering Lion Pictures).
The following favorites have been renewed and will return to the programming schedule:
- 22 Minutes
- Arctic Air
- Battle of the Blades
- Best Recipes Ever
- Cracked
- Coronation Street
- Doc Zone
- Dragons’ Den
- the fifth estate
- George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight
- Heartland
- In the Kitchen with Stefano Faita
- Just for Laughs
- Mr. D
- Marketplace
- Murdoch Mysteries (full season – 18 episodes)
- The Nature of Things
- Republic of Doyle (full season – 16 episodes)
- The Rick Mercer Report
- The Ron James Show
- Steven & Chris
Further information about the 2013-14 season will be announced at a later
date.
Lost Girl, Showcase – “Delinquents”
Bo, Dyson and Kenzi go undercover at an urban camp to catch a serial killer Fae who preys on at-risk youth. Meanwhile, a blast from Tamsin’s past makes an appearance, but the visit may not be purely social. Bo is given some hard to accept emotional news.
Heartland, CBC – “Born to Buck”
Amy is having trouble dealing with a roping horse that only wants to buck and Caleb, who isn’t sure he wants to ride broncs anymore.
Dragons’ Den, CBC
An entrepreneur serves up a snack fit for a king; an artist hopes her body of work will win over the Dragons; and a food entrepreneur hopes to bag a deal. Plus; a Guinness World Record holder attempts to escape the Den with investment.
Republic of Doyle, CBC – “Multitasking”
Jake finds himself juggling multiple cases while looking into attempts made on the life of his ex-girlfriend; Tinny’s relationship with her Uncle Jake is becoming strained due to her budding relationship with her father.
Guest stars: Michelle Nolden, Kristen Gutoskie, Genelle Williams, Shane Daly.