|
Return to
Index
Download this release:
Adobe
Acrobat
(PDF - 26 KB)
Microsoft
Word
(DOC - 81 KB)
|
|
Documentary from France Wins One of Five Prizes Awarded at Closing
Ceremonies of the Banff Television Festival
(Banff, Alberta, June 15, 2001) The 22nd Banff Television Festival
closed today with a record number of 1801 international delegates
from 28 countries applauding the winners of the Sony International
Critics Award and those who picked up monetary prizes for program
development.
After three full days of public screenings and discussions about
the Rockie Award winners, the Sony International Critics Jury announced
their choice: La terre des âmes errantes (The Land
of Wandering Souls), produced by La Sept ARTE / INA, which won
the Rockie Award on Monday night in the Social Political category
as well as the Global Television Grand Prize in the 2001 Banff Rockie
Awards competition. In making the announcement, Jury chair Peter
Fiddick said the decision was narrow and "We went with what
we believed in," despite the fact that this film had already
been honoured with two awards at the Festival. "Even critics
have to agree with somebody sometime," he said. The jury also
commended two other programs: Soldiers by Moonlight from
Swedish Television, and Kurt Gerron's Karussell from the
Netherlands, Germany, the Czech Republic and France.
Sitting on the Sony International Critics Jury was Chair Peter
Fiddick, Television (U.K.); Doug Anderson, Sydney Morning Herald
(Australia); David Bianculli, New York Daily News (USA); Louise
Cousineau, La Presse, Montreal; Russell Honeyman, Africa Film and
Television (Zimbabwe); Pascale Paoli-Lebailly, freelance journalist,
France; and Jeroen te Nuiji, Broadcast magazine, the Netherlands.
The winner of the Discovery Digital Networks and NHK (Japan Broadcasting
Corporation) high-definition competition prize is War Hospital
from David Christensen and Damien Lewis of Agitprop Films, Canada.
The team takes home $15,000 (U.S.)
Three new media projects with an interactive component were shortlisted
to compete for $10,000 in development funding from the Bell Broadcast
and New Media Fund. The winner of the CyberPitch prize was Resonation
from Ian Kelso, Primitive Entertainment, Canada.
The Sharing Stories: Two in a Room pitching competition awarded
$5,000 (Canadian) in development funds from Travel Channel, Discovery
Communications, USA; and Life Network and HGTV Canada. The prize
went to Family Road Trip by Gavin McGarry, Awkward Films,
Canada.
Winners of the fifth annual Telefilm Canada / Aboriginal Peoples
Television Network awards were Cree Spoken Here (Ernest Webb
of Rezolution Pictures) for the Aboriginal-language category, and
Burnt Church - Obstruction of Justice for the English-language
category (Marianne Jones and Jeff Bear of Urban Rez Productions).
The awards take the form of a $10,000 pre-approved contribution
for the development or production of a future work eligible for
Telefilm Canada assistance.
The Banff Television Festival also presented a cheque for $16,190
to the Canadian Rockies School Division No. 12. The proceeds of
the first Banff Hi-Tech Auction, which was held on Tuesday night,
June 12, will be used to upgrade the television and audiovisual
equipment at the high schools in Canmore and Banff.
"It was the most successful festival to date," reported
president and CEO Pat Ferns, "not only in terms of the record
attendance but also in the quality of our speakers and the diversity
of content. We had more pitching opportunities than ever before.
The CTV Canadian Documart was a huge success with $100,000 in prizes,
and the New Players Pitches attracted many submissions from young,
emerging producers." Highlights of this year's Banff Television
Festival were the Showcase of Excellence with Kelsey Grammer and
Norman Jewison; the Banff Rockie Awards gala presentation with hosts
Ian Hanomansing and Julie Snyder; the special tribute hour to honour
Discovery Communications Inc. and Royal Philips Electronics; the
presentation of special Lifetime Achievement awards to Rocks Demers
and Bernard Pivot; master classes with the likes of Anne Wheeler,
Darren Star, Norman Jewison and Michel Brault; the flagship market
simulations for which the Festival is renowned around the world;
and last night's Great Canadian Barbecue, always the most popular
and talked about social event.
|
|
