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FINAL EDIT phy Rockie went to the NFB’s Paris 1919, the Popular Science & Technology Rockie went to Clearwater Media’s Inuit Odyssey and CBC’s Hockey Day in Canada won the Sports Entertainment Rockie. The United Kingdom led all countries with nine Rockies while Canada won five, the United States won three, France won two and Sweden and The Philippines won one Rockie each. “The exceptional quality of the 23 category winners once again shows the worldwide power of attraction of the Banff World TV Festival” said Georges Leclere, the director of the awards competition. “We are honored to present winners with the ‘Rockie,’ the trophy that truly inspires excellence in international television and represents a great generation of promising producers and directors.” The Festival received 800 entries with the 130 category nominees representing 29 countries.
CTF Supporting Regions
CBC’S HOCKEY DAY IN CANADA WON THE ROCKIE FOR SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT
Anaid dines out Anaid Productions, which has offices in Edmonton and Vancouver, won the Lifestyle & Information Program Rockie at the recent Banff Television Festival. The company won the award for an episode of its
series Family Restaurant: The Quons, which is seen on Canada’s Food Network. Four other Canadian shows won Rockies. Bravo’s I Met the Walrus won the Animation Program Rockie while the History & Biogra-
The Canadian Television Fund (CTF) recently released highlights from its 2008-2009 fiscal year, which ended on March 31, 2009. A spokesperson said the CTF’s annual report will be available in fall 2009. CTF president Valerie Creighton said the $2 million Digital Media Pilot Program launched to “extraordinary demand,” with funds supporting 20 English and 10 French productions. She said the $5 million Production Incentive Pilot Program supported English production in Quebec and Atlantic Canada where volumes had
dropped significantly below historic averages. The incentive benefited 11 projects from Quebec and 16 projects from Atlantic Canada. “Over the past year, the CTF funded a greater number of productions through the disbursement of 12% more funding compared to the average of the four prior years,” she said. “Our streams of funding were expanded to support the industry’s move towards new media.” According to Creighton CTF also enhanced communication with its stakeholders by launching “interacTVity”, a monthly electronic newsletter.
“A” for RTNDA A Victoria station fared well when the Radio Television News Directors Association of Canada (RTNDA) announced the winners of the regional Edward R. Murrow Awards. ‘A’ British Columbia received a total of four awards for Investigative Reporting, Continuing Coverage, Videography and Writing in the international category for a small market. “These awards are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team at ‘A’ News,” said A Channel news director Hudson Mack. “We are incredibly proud of this international recognition.” The station won its Investigative Reporting award for Police Chief Investigated, its Continuing Coverage award for Lindsay Buziak Murder, its Videography award for Tall Ships Sail from Port Angeles and its writing award for Homeless Ducklings. ■
Announcements and Appointments Negotiating producers from the CFTPA - BC Producers’ Branch and the AMPTP Canadian Affiliates have renewed agreements with the largest group of film and television employees in British Columbia. The balloting on the agreement resulted in the endorsement of the three-year pact. The agreement is effective June 7, 2009 through to March 2012… The UBC Film Production Alumni Association recently announced its sdvisory board. Members include editor Daria Ellerman, writer/directors Mina Shum, Lynne Stopkewich and Sturla Gunnarsson, writer Ian Weir, producers Cal Shumiatcher and Stephen Hegyes, Telefilm Canada’s Bill Hurst and directors of photography Greg Middleton and Brian Pearson…Veteran animation producer Catherine Winder has joined Rainmaker Entertainment as President. Winder was most recently at Lucasfilm Animation where she set-up the studio and produced the Cartoon Network series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, as well as the animated feature version which was released by Warner Bros… The company also announced that Kim Dent Wilder is being added to the management team as Senior Vice President of Production and Operations and that Tara Kemes will join Rainmaker as Manager of Talent Development. 30
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