Banff World Television Festival Announces 2010 "Rockie" Award Winners, Fiction Category

Banff, Alberta - The 31st Banff World Television Festival (BANFF) and nextMEDIA are pleased to announce this year’s Banff World Television Award winners, in the fiction categories:

ENTERTAINMENT CATEGORIES:

1. Animation: Le Printemps de Melie/ Molly in Springtime, National Film Board of Canada in association with Folimage, PIWI, Divertissement Subsequence Inc. - Canada
2. Comedy Programs: Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Table Read, HBO Entertainment, Home Box Office - USA
3. Music & Variety Programs or Series: Bill Bailey's Remarkable Guide to the Orchestra, Glassbox Productions, BBC -  United Kingdom

CHILDREN FAMILY AND YOUTH CATEGORIES:

1. Children’s Programs (2+): The Yellow House, Pausefilm, Danish Television, DR1 - Denmark
2. Youth Programs (13+): TeenNick HALO Awards, Nickelodeon, TeenNick - USA

DRAMA CATEGORIES:

1. Continuing Series & Serial Programs: In Treatment, Leverage, Closest to the Hole Productions and Sheleg in association with HBO Entertainment  Home Box Office - USA
2. Made-for-TV-Movies: London River, 3B Productions in association with ARTE France, ARTE France - France
3. Mini-Series: Flesh and Bones (Van Vlees en bloed), Woestijnvis, VRT - Belgium
4. Soap Operas: Where is Elisa?, TVN, TVN - Chile'
5. Telenovelas: Cats Cradle, TV Globo, TV Globo - Brazil

CATÉGORIES FRANCOPHONES:

1. Divertissement: Tout le monde en parle, Avanti Ciné Vidéo, Le gars de la TV, Les productions Jacques K Primeau et Radio-Canada, Radio-Canada - Canada
2. Fiction: Musee Eden, Les Productions Sovimage, Radio-Canada -Canada
3. Jeunesse: La joute junior, Avanti Ciné Vidéo, Télé-Quebec - Canada

"The Rockies have become one of the highest, global accolades in the television industry," says Georges Leclere, executive producer of the Banff World Television Awards. "Tonight’s winners represent the very best in creativity and innovation, from the world’s best television programs, and we couldn’t be more delighted with their success."

Chosen from 900 entries from more than 43 countries, the Banff World Television Awards, also known as the "Rockies", is one of the world’s most prestigious events celebrating outstanding work by international TV creators responsible for the continuing evolution and originality in the industry. All the nominees were announced earlier this year at the MIPTV broadcast and digital media conference in Cannes, France.

Equally exciting, BANFF has seen a 13% increase in submissions this year, attesting to the continued popularity and importance of the awards.

The BANFF organizers designated 68 jury panels from over 30 countries around the world to select Rockie Award nominees in each of the 34 categories. There will be 5 separate award ceremonies for winners from each of these 34 categories, culminating in the Banff World Television Awards on June 15, 2010.

For full list of category descriptions, click here

Banff World Television Festival Announces Winners at Alberta Film Awards

  Banff, AB - The Banff World Television Festival is pleased to announce the winners at the Alberta Film Awards, held today. The CTV Award of Excellence was presented to Nigel Lythgoe by Ivan Fecan, President and Chief Executive Offer, CTVglobemedia; Chief Executive Officer, CTV Inc.; the Lionsgate/Maple Pictures Innovative Producer was awarded to Temple Street Productions; the Deluxe Outstanding Technical Achievement Award went to Panavision and the Outstanding Achievement Award to PBS.

"These award recipients are ground-breaking, innovative and much-deserving winners," says Peter Vamos, Executive Director of the Banff World Television Festival. "Each demonstrates exceptional creative edge and sets the bar high for the film & television industry."

More about the award recipients:

The CTV Award of Excellence is given to an actor, writer or director whose body of work has profoundly touched the lives of audiences around the world and achieved a level of excellence by which new standards are set. Co-founder and president of Big Red 2 Entertainment, which he formed with 19 Entertainment founder Simon Fuller, Nigel Lythgoe has been the driving force behind many of television’s most-watched reality shows including "Survivor"(UK), "Pop Idol"(UK), and the famed "American Idol," which he executive produced for seven highly successful seasons. In front of the camera, Lythgoe is most well known as executive producer and judge on the Emmy award-winning "So You Think You Can Dance" which he recently brought to the UK.

Temple Street Productions is being honoured with the Lionsgate/Maple Pictures Innovative Producer Award for its incredible achievement in television and digital media. This award recognizes the entrepreneurial excellence and achievements of an independent producer within the Canadian television industry. Temple Street are proven industry leaders, having produced an array of programming including prime-time television dramas and reality television, Projects include Being Erica (CBC), Wingin It (Family Channel), Canada’s Next Top Model (CTV).

"Temple Street Productions truly embodies the spirit in which we created this award," says Lionsgate President of Television, Kevin Beggs. "Since its inception, David and Ivan have used innovative means to grow their company, creating partnerships and collaborations at every turn."

Maple Pictures Co-President Brad Pelman adds, "Temple Street is respected by its peers and customers and we are pleased to present them this accolade this year."

Panavision, an innovator in the research and development of film, is the recipient of this year's Deluxe Outstanding Technical Achievement Award. Celebrating over 50 years of enabling clients to bring their creative vision to the screen, Panavision is an international supplier, designer, and manufacturer of high precision film and digital camera systems for the motion picture and television industries.

"It is a great accomplishment for Panavision to be recognized and appreciated in Canada by our industry and peers, including leaders like Deluxe, for our ongoing efforts as we strive to enhance our products and client service experience through innovation, technology and the hard work of our extremely knowledgeable staff," says Bill Zacharuk, president, Panavision.

The Outstanding Achievement Award is presented to an internationally recognized television company that is entrepreneurial, provides leadership and sets the creative bar for others around the world.

In partnership with its nearly 360 independent member stations, PBS is the United States' largest public media organization. Each month, PBS reaches more than 118 million people through television and nearly 21 million people online. PBS has moved aggressively to transform itself from a solely broadcast organization to a multi-platform leader that serves Americans through television, mobile TV, the Web, interactive whiteboards in the classroom and more.

The Banff World Television Festival is the world's premiere television content creation event and annual forum for business and creative opportunities for those in television and new media. For the first time, the festival will run concurrently with nextMEDIA Banff, bringing together the television and digital media communities for a truly unique cross-platform event, offering unprecedented networking, face-to-face meetings, keynote speeches and pitching opportunities that reflect the growing convergence of television and digital media.

nextMEDIA and BANFF Announce Competition and Award Winners

Banff, AB - nextMEDIA and The Banff World Television Festival held their final awards ceremony today to honour the best in Digital Media and Pilots as well as present the results of two fierce competitions - the nextMEDIA iPad/Tablet competition and the Digital Hot List - that brought together the hottest digital innovators from around the world.

nextMEDIA is proud to announce the winners of the nextMEDIA Banff Interactive Awards:

• Best Branded Entertainment:  In Gayle We Trust, Universal Media Studios in association with Mindshare Entertainment and American Family Insurance,   NBC Universal (www.nbc.com), USA
• Best Cross Platform Project - The Well, Conker Media, BBC, United Kingdom
• Original Online Programs – FREAK, FremantleMedia,   United Kingdom
• Best Interactive: The Well Conker Media,  BBC, United Kingdom
   

BANFF and nextMEDIA also presented winners in the first annual International Pilots Competition. Awards were given to 2 winners in each category – a veteran and a newcomer:

• BEST PILOT: El Sistema, Greg Hemmings, Hemmings House Pictures

Over 20 Minutes:

• Players, Exclamation Films, Mona Grenier, Exclamation Films
• The Gayest Show Ever, Pink Triangle Press, David Walberg, Pink Triangle Press

5-20 Minutes:

• American Wife, Frigate Films Inc.
• El Sistema, Hemming House Pictures, Greg Hemmings, Hemmings House Pictures

2-5 MINUTES:

• Sterile Atomic Fly, spicybackpain Productions, Riley Beach, spicybackpain Productions
• Cubicle to the Cage, Hemmings House Pictures, Greg Hemmings House Pictures

The iPad/tablet app and the Digital Hot List contests were some of the most talked about events at nextMEDIA.
The renowned Digital Hot List competition awarded Anaid Productions and Slice Networks’ XWEIGHTED.COM with its prestigious top honour as well as a full-access registration to MIPCOM 2010, provided by contest sponsor Reed Midem and valued at over 1,000 euros.

nextMEDIA’s new iPad/Tablet Competition presented Peter McNeill, of Deloitte and creator of the iStoreWine app with the top prize. iStoreWine received a development deal worth $25,000 to make their concept a reality via leading interactive development agency Trapeze and the Toronto-based Mobile Experience Innovation Centre.

"These next generation entertainment competitions sought out to find the world’s best talent and ideas - and our 11 finalists did just that," says Mark Greenspan, nextMEDIA’s Executive Producer. "Delegates come to nextMEDIA looking for hot new technologies and developers attend looking for ways to bring their vision to reality - it is a win-win situation for all and some great new talent was discovered."

Watch out for the next digital media competition from nextMEDIA – the Canadian New Media Awards. www.nextmediaevents.com/cnma

31st BANFF WORLD TELEVISION FESTIVAL AND nextMEDIA ANNOUNCE AWARD WINNERS

Banff, AB - The Banff World Television Awards, often referred to as the “Olympics of Television” are pleased to announce this year’s award winners in the following categories:

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

• Sir Peter Ustinov Award for Comedy: Ricky Gervais
• Lifetime Achievement Award: William Shatner
• NBC Universal Canada Award of Distinction: Eric McCormack

BEST OF SHOW IN ALL FESTIVAL GENRES

• Best Drama: London River, 3B Productions in association with ARTE France, ARTE France – France
• Best Kids + Animation    : Le Printemps de Melie/ Molly in Springtime, National Film Board of Canada in association with Folimage, PIWI, Divertissement Subsequence Inc – Canada
• Best Francophone: Aveux, Productions Pixcom inc., Radio-Canada – Canada
• Best Green Program: Bang Goes The Theory: The Human Power Station, Dragonfly Film and Television Productions, BBC - United Kingdom
• Best Canadian Program: 65 Red Roses Force Four Entertainment in association wtih CBC News Network, Knowledge  CBC (The Passionate Eye) - Canada 
• Best Entertainment: Bill Bailey's Remarkable Guide to the Orchestra, Glassbox Productions, BBC - United Kingdom
• Best Documentary: Life, BBC in association with Discovery/SKAI/Open University, RTI Spa - BBC1 - United Kingdom
• Grand Jury Prize: London River, 3B Productions in association with ARTE France, ARTE France – France

GREEN GRAND PRIZE

• Green Grand Prize: Louie Psihoyos, Oscar Winner and director of The Cove. The prize recognizes outstanding achievement in creating public awareness and understanding of environmental issues through the use of visual media. Psihoyos was selected as a result of nominations received from all around the world, honouring his tremendous impact on a global level. Dr. David Suzuki, president of the Banff Green Jury, presented the award to Mr. Psihoyos.

"Tonight’s award winners represent the best in television and film, and epitomize innovation, talent and dedication," says Georges Leclere, executive producer of the Banff World Television Awards. "We’re delighted to celebrate and honour their outstanding achievements."

The Banff World Television Awards celebrate the culmination of an extraordinary year for the renowned Banff Program Competition. With over 800 submissions and 200 nominees selected from over 65 judging centres throughout the world, it is one of the industry’s most prestigious events, recognizing the brightest and best in international television.

Renowned Canadian Actor Eric McCormack To Receive NBC Universal Canada Award of Distinction at BANFF Awards

McCormack joins elite list of award winners including Ricky Gervais and William Shatner

Canadian-born actor Eric McCormack will receive the coveted NBC Universal Canada Award of Distinction for his outstanding career in broadcasting at this year’s Banff World Television Awards gala. Previous distinguished award winners include Paul Gross, Paul Haggis, Colm Feore, and Kim Cattrall.

Being held June 15, the Gala Awards ceremony is one of five high profile ceremonies taking place over the course of the Banff World Television Festival. Others include Entertainment & Drama categories (June 13), Non-Fiction & Youth categories (June 14), the Pilots Competition and nextMEDIA Banff Interactive Awards (June 16).

In addition to recognizing Mr. McCormack, individual awards will be presented at the gala to Ricky Gervais with the Sir Peter Ustinov Comedy Award and to William Shatner with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

“Eric is an amazing, talented actor whose hard work and acting skills know no bounds. His career success is something everyone in the industry greatly respects and he epitomizes everything this award represents,” says Peter Vamos, Executive Director of the Banff World Television Festival.

Best known for his memorable role as “Will Truman” in one of television’s finest sitcoms, Will & Grace, McCormack won an Emmy Award, a Screen Actors’ Guild Award and five Golden Globe nominations. In this dynamic role, McCormack played the gay best friend of Debra Messing’s character “Grace Adler” where he flexed his comedy skills and entertained everyone with his dry humour and charming wit.

In the four years since that series ended, McCormack has been a busy man. He starred in the critically acclaimed TNT series Trust Me, and in the Emmy-nominated mini-series The Andromeda Strain. He had a memorable turn on Law and Order: SVU last fall and has been recurring as Julia Louis Dreyfus’ new love on The New Adventures of Old Christine this season. McCormack will be spending this summer in Vancouver, where he lives part-time with wife Janet and their seven year old son, Finnigan, starring in a production of Glengarry Glen Ross.

The Banff World Television Awards celebrate the culmination of an extraordinary year for the renowned Banff Program Competition. With over 800 submissions and 200 nominees selected from over 65 judging centres throughout the world, it is one of the industry’s most prestigious events, recognizing the brightest and best in international television.

PAULA KERGER, PRESIDENT & CEO OF PBS, TO OPEN BANFF 2010

Banff, AB – Banff World Television Festival is pleased to announce that Paula A. Kerger, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), will be presenting the CBC Opening Keynote on Monday, June 14 at 9am. She will be interviewed by Richard Strursberg, Executive Vice-President, English Services, CBC.

“We are thrilled to have Paula presenting the CBC Opening Keynote session,” says Peter Vamos, Executive Director of the Banff World Television Festival. “As the leader of the largest public broadcast service in the US and champion of public television, she’ll have a wealth of information to share with the broadcast community, especially when it comes to taking advantage of new technology.”

In partnership with its nearly 360 independent member stations, PBS is the United States’ largest public media organization. Each month, PBS reaches more than 118 million people through television and nearly 21 million people online. Since Ms. Kerger became president and CEO in 2006, PBS has moved aggressively to transform itself from a solely broadcast organization to a multi-platform leader that serves Americans through television, mobile TV, the Web, interactive whiteboards in the classroom and more.

PBS’ current innovative work in children’s media, journalism and the arts builds upon its mission to use technology in the public interest.  In separate national polls PBS was named the #1 educational media brand for children and the most trusted national institution in America.

For the past three years, the Hollywood Reporter has included Ms. Kerger in the “Women in Entertainment Power 100,” an annual survey of the nation’s top women executives in media. Prior to joining PBS, Ms. Kerger served for more than a decade at Educational Broadcasting Corporation (EBC), the parent company of Thirteen/WNET and WLIW New York, where her ultimate position was executive vice president and COO. Her tenure boasts many achievements, including WNET’s completion in 1997 of the largest successful endowment campaign ever undertaken by a public television station.

The Banff World Television Festival is the world's premiere television content creation event and annual forum for business and creative opportunities for those in television and new media. For the first time, the festival will run concurrently with nextMEDIA Banff, bringing together the television and digital media communities for a truly unique cross-platform event, offering unprecedented networking, face-to-face meetings, keynote speeches and pitching opportunities that reflect the growing convergence of television and digital media.

Media contact:
Almira Bardai
Jive Communications
Tel: 604-568-7214
Email: almira@jivecommunications.ca