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2009 CFTPA Indie Award Nominees Announced Celebrating Independent Canadian Producers

Ottawa, December 18, 2008--   The Canadian Film and Television Production Association (CFTPA) is delighted to announce the nominees for the second annual CFTPA Indie Awards to be presented in Ottawa on February 18th, 2009.

The awards were created by the CFTPA to honour the outstanding achievements of Canadian independent producers.  The National Jury members are made up of leading industry players including Tecca Crosbie, Michael Donovan, Slawko Klymkiw, Sharon McGowan and Josette Normandeau.  With these 44 nominations, selected from more than 160 entries, the Jury’s task in choosing the winners is formidable.

“Through these awards we recognize the hard work and excellence of Canadian producers,” says Guy Mayson, President and CEO of the CFTPA. “Our industry not only entertains and enlightens, it helps create jobs and contributes to the economic well-being of the country.  We are proud to showcase their exceptional work.  Congratulations to each nominee.”

The awards ceremony will be hosted by renowned comedienne and writer Cathy Jones—a multi-award winner herself for CODCO and This Hour Has 22 Minutes.

The CFTPA is a non-profit trade organization that works on behalf of almost 400 companies engaged in the production and distribution of English-language television programs, feature films, and interactive media products in all regions of Canada.  More specifically, it promotes the general interests of its members provincially, federally, and internationally; negotiates and manages labour agreements with guilds and unions; administers copyright collectives; trains new industry entrants through 7 national internship programs; and undertakes a number of other specific initiatives that help increase awareness and enhance communication within the Canadian and international production communities.

 

Nominees 2009 CFTPA Indies Awards

Best Children’s and Youth Programme or Series

Heads Up!
Look Back Productions Ltd.
Producer: Nick Orchard

renegadepress.com
Vérité Films
Producers: Virginia Thompson, Robert deLint, Jordan Wheeler, Sara Snow

Think Big
Breakthrough Films & Television
Producers: Ira Levy, Peter Williamson, Emily Shank, Amy Marcella

World of Quest
Cookie Jar Entertainment
Producers: Michael Hirsh, Toper Taylor, John Vandervelde, Stephen Sustarsic, Pamela Slavin

Busytown Mysteries
Cookie Jar Entertainment
Producers: Christine Davis, Michael Hirsh, Pamela Slavin, Toper Taylor

 

Best Comedy Programme or Series

This Hour Has 22 Minutes
Halifax Film, a DHX Media Company
Producers: Michael Donovan, Mark Farrell, Jack Kellum, Jenipher Ritchie, Susan MacDonald

Little Mosque on the Prairie
WestWind Pictures Ltd.
Producers: Mary Darling, Clark Donnelly, Paul Mather, Michael Snook, Zarqa Nawaz

Corner Gas
Vérité Films / 335 Productions
Producers: Virginia Thompson, Brent Butt, David Storey, Kevin White, Mark Farrell

Caution: May Contain Nuts
Mosaic Entertainment
Producers: Eric Rebalkin, Camille Beaudoin, Jake Chapman, Chester Sit

 

Best Convergent New Media

Anash Interactive
Reel Girls Media Inc.
Producer: Ava Karvonen

Taste Buds
marblemedia
Producers: Mark Bishop, Matthew Hornburg, Diane Williamson, Sasha Boersma

The Border Interactive
White Pine Pictures
Producers: Peter Raymont, Evan Jones, Julia Bennett

 

Best Documentary Programme

Fatherhood Dreams
Interfilm Productions Inc.
Producers: Boris Ivanov, Julia Ivanova

Passage
PTV Productions Inc. / John Walker Films / National Film Board of Canada
Producers: Andrea Nemtin, John Walker, Bill Nemtin, Kent Martin

Kike Like Me
Cave 7 Productions Inc.
Producer: Jamie Kastner

Triage: Dr.James Orbinski
White Pine Pictures
Producer: Peter Raymont

Air India
Withrow Road Pictures/Eurasia Motion Pictures Inc./52 Media Inc.
Producers: David York, Sturla Gunnarsson

 

Best Documentary Series

The Rig: Oil Sands
Anaid Productions Inc.
Producers: Margaret Mardirossian, David Way, Helen Schmidt, David Benson, Pauline Lancaster

Out in the Cold
Reel Cold Inc.
Producers: Anne Pick, Arthur Mercredi

Landscape as Muse
291 Film Company Inc.
Producer: Ian Toews

Working Over Time
Primitive Entertainment
Producers: Michael McMahon, Kristina McLaughlin, Kevin McMahon

Ancestors in the Attic
Primitive Entertainment
Producers: Michael McMahon, Kristina McLaughlin, Dugald Maudsley

 

Best Feature Film

Passchendaele
Rhombus Media Inc. / Whizbang Films / Damberger Film & Cattle Co.
Producers: Niv Fichman, Frank Siracusa, Paul Gross

Blindness
Rhombus Media Inc.
Producers: Niv Fichman, Andrea Barata Ribeiro, Sonoko Sakai, Bel Berlinck, Sari Friedland

It’s Not Me, I Swear
micro_scope
Producers: Luc Déry, Kim McCraw

Stone of Destiny
Infinity Features
Producers: Robert Merilees, William Vince, Charles Martin Smith

Fugitive Pieces
Serendipity Point Films / Strada Films
Producer: Robert Lantos

 

Best Lifestyle or Reality Programme or Series

The Heat with Mark McEwen
General Purpose Pictures Inc.
Producers: Scott Clark McNeil, Josie Crimi

Til Debt Do Us Part
Frantic Films
Producers: Jamie Brown, Jennifer Horvath

Restaurant Makeover
Tricon Films and Television
Producers: Andrea Gorfolova, Shaam Makan

Green Force II
Tricon Films and Television
Producers: Andrea Gorfolova, Shaam Makan

Colin and Justin’s Home Heist
Cineflix
Producers: Simon Lloyd, Katherine Buck, Philip Whelan, Glen Salzman

 

Best Mini-Series

Everest
Screen Door Inc. / Certain Films
Producers: Heather Haldane, Mary Young Leckie, Randy Bradshaw, Jason Lee

The Englishman’s Boy
Minds Eye Entertainment
Producer: Kevin DeWalt

Would Be Kings
Norstar Filmed Entertainment
Producers: Ilana Frank, Ray Sager, Esta Spalding, Tassie Cameron, David Wellington

Les Lavigueur, la vrai histoire
Locomotion Films
Producers: Marc. S. Grenier, Denis Martel

 

Best Prime Time Drama Series

The Border- Season 1
White Pine Pictures
Producers: Peter Raymont, Brian Dennis, David Barlow, Janet MacLean

Intelligence- Season 2
Haddock Entertainment / Watcher Films (II) Inc.
Producers: Chris Haddock, Laura Lightbown, Arvi Liimatainen

ReGenesis IV
Shaftesbury Films
Producers: Christina Jennings, Scott Garvie, Tom Chehak, Laura Harbin

Flashpoint
Pink Sky Entertainment / Avamar Entertainment
Producers: Anne Marie La Traverse, Bill Mustos, Mark Ellis, Tassie Cameron, Stephanie Morgenstern

 

Best TV Movie

Sticks and Stones
Dream Street Pictures Inc. / Cirrus Communications Inc.
Producers: André Béraud, Timothy M. Hogan, Rick LeGuerrier, Richard Speer, Josée Vallée

Elijah
Anagram Pictures Inc.
Producers: Blake Corbet, Mary Anne Waterhouse, Christopher Leeson, Lisa Meeches, Gigi Boyd

Booky and the Secret Santa
Shaftesbury Films / Platt Productions
Producers: Christina Jennings, Scott Garvie, Peter Moss, Phyllis Platt

Mayerthorpe
Seven24 Films / Slanted Wheel Entertainment
Producers: Jordy Randall, Tom Cox, Jon Slan

 

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For further information contact:
Anne Trueman, Director of Communications and Media, CFTPA 
T: (613) 233-1444 x 227,  C: (613) 851-4538