News release

Nova Scotia-made Programs Win Gemini Awards

Nova Scotia Film Development Corp. (to Nov. 2007)

N.S. FILM DEVELOPMENT CORP.--Nova Scotia-made Programs Win Gemini Awards


The annual Gemini Awards once again have given the nod to Nova Scotia talent by recognizing this province's consistent output of high-calibre television programs.

"The Nova Scotia Film Development Corporation is incredibly proud of the performance of so many of our locally produced television programs on the national stage," said Ann MacKenzie, CEO of the film corporation. "Nova Scotia has so many talented filmmakers, and it is gratifying to see them receive this well-deserved recognition of their accomplishments."

This week's 19th annual awards ceremony lavished five awards on Shattered City: The Halifax Explosion. The dramatic depiction of the 1917 catastrophe earned awards for Best Costume Design, Best Photography in a Dramatic Program or Series, Best Visual Effects, Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series, and Best Sound in a Dramatic Program.

Top comedy honours went to the boys from the trailer park in Dartmouth. For the first time, Trailer Park Boys took the award for Best Comedy Program or Series.

The program Men of the Deeps won three awards: Best Sound in a Comedy, Variety or Performing Arts Program or Series, Best Photography in a Documentary Program or Series, and Best Performing Arts Program or Series or Arts Documentary Program or Series.

Wayne Grigsby of the Chester-based production company Big Motion Pictures earned the Margaret Collier Award, an acknowledgment by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television of Mr. Grigsby's exceptional body of work and contribution to Canadian television. His successes include the drama series North of 60 -- which ran for six seasons on CBC -- the locally filmed series Black Harbour and, most recently, the Trudeau mini-series and its soon-to-be- aired prequel. Catherine Disher also took home an award for her work on Mr. Grigsby's series Snakes and Ladders. Ms. Disher earned the Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role category.

Pete Luckett picked up the award for Best Host in a Lifestyle/General Interest or Talk Program or Series for his work on The Food Hunter. Local actress Ellen Page got the nod for Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series for her work in Mrs. Ashboro's Cat. The final season of Made in Canada garnered two awards -- Best Ensemble Performance in a Comedy Program or Series and Best Writing in a Comedy or Variety Program or Series. Poko won for Best Pre-School Program or Series. This Hour Has 22 Minutes took top honours for the Best Individual Performance in a Comedy Program or Series. And the East Coast Music Awards scored a hit with the award for Best Direction in a Variety Program or Series.

The Gemini Awards, begun in 1986, celebrate excellence in English-language television in Canada. The awards' ceremony airs annually on the CBC.