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.
The Award of Excellence which acknowledges exceptional achievement through a body of work over an extended period of time was awarded to actress Sofia Milos. Sofia Milos has gone up against some of the toughest men and women in television in her roles as Homeland Security Agent Blanca LaGarda on The Border, and as detective Yelina Salas on the Emmy-winning, international hit show CSI: Miami, a role she has had for 5 seasons. On the ground-breaking series The Sopranos, Milos had the recurring role of mob boss Annalisa Zucca where she went toe-to-toe with Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini); and on the cult hit Curb Your Enthusiasm, created by and starring Larry David, she had Richard Lewis as a boy friend.
The Comedy Network Sir Peter Ustinov Award was awarded to Brent Butt. He joins a long list of stand out comic actors who have received this prestigious award in the past including Guy A. Lepage, Barry Humphries (a.k.a. Dame Edna), John Cleese, Bob Newhart, Martin Short, Tracy Ullman, Kelsey Grammer and Rick Mercer. The award will be presented by Susanne Boyce, President, Creative, Content and Channels, CTV Inc. Aside from his own national special BEDTIME WITH BRENT BUTT, he has been seen on A&E, HBO, CBC, CTV, and Global. His one-hour CTV COMEDY NOW special – FUNNYPANTS – earned him a Gemini Nomination in the category “Best Comedy Performance”. He was named “Best Male Stand-Up in Canada” at the 2001 Canadian Comedy Awards and was subsequently selected to represent his country on the WORLD COMEDY TOUR in Australia. All the while he was cooking up his own series for CTV and The Comedy Network – CORNER GAS. CORNER GAS has been nominated almost 60 times for numerous awards, including an International Emmy Award, multiple Gemini Awards, Leo Awards, Director’s Guild of Canada Awards, Canadian Screenwriting Awards and Canadian Comedy Awards.
The Lionsgate/Maple Pictures Innovative Producer Award was awarded to BLUEPRINT ENTERTAINMENT, The award recognizes the entrepreneurial excellence and achievements of an independent producer within the Canadian television industry. Known for their successful programs including “Kenny vs. Spenny,” and “Whistler,” BLUEPRINT ENTERTAINMENT was selected by a jury of three: a representative from Lionsgate/Maple Pictures; a representative from the Banff World Television Foundation, and a representative from the broadcasting/production community. The award will be presented to BLUEPRINT’s Chairman and CEO, John Morayniss, and President Noreen Halpern during the annual Alberta Awards Luncheon at the Banff World Television Festival on Monday, June 9th. The presentation will be made by Kevin Beggs, Lionsgate’s President of Television Programming and Production, and Brad Pelman, Co-President, Maple Pictures.
The Global Television Writers Apprentice Award was presented to Michael Foster.
The Banff World Television Festival honoured the 20th anniversary of the Canadian Film Centre. Slawko Klymkiw, Executive Director was on hand to accept the tribute.