This year the NFB has nine finalist positions amid 60 categories — tying Heartland, produced by Calgary’s SEVEN24 Films. As a special nod, the 2018 Alberta Film & Television Awards presented its Lifetime Achievement Award to outgoing NFB veteran Bonnie Thompson, with more than 65 production credits under her belt. Two films she produced or co-produced for NFB — Skin for Skin and Wall — were also up for class awards at the May 12 gala at the Hyatt in Calgary.
While the two cities regularly borrow talent from each other and other centres, the breakdown of finalist nominees typically numerically favours Calgary, which has a more active film industry — especially at a commercial level which is able to afford the nomination fees. Edmonton has 93 nominated productions compared to Calgary’s 215 — 16 finalist nods came from outside the two cities.
The gala’s student category was renamed for broadcaster, educator and filmmaker Fil Fraser, who before he died last year had a substantial impact on both Edmonton and Alberta film.
This year’s theme is Celebrating 100 Years of Cinema in Alberta in honour of the first feature shot in Alberta — Until They Get Me, directed by Frank Borzage, who 12 years later won the first director Academy Award for 7th Heaven.
Those honoured at the Rosies also include Andrew Phung of Kim’s Convenience (Thunderbird Entertainment) for Best Performance by an Alberta Actor as well as Julie Orton for Best Performance by an Alberta Actress in recognition of her work in Everfall (Green Productions). This year’s winner of Best Dramatic Feature or Made-for-TV Movie is Thousand Yard Stare, produced by Aaron Kurmey, Kevin Johnson, Ryan Hatt & Adam Munro for Rambunxious Entertainment. Best Dramatic Series went to Heartland (SEVEN24 Films) producers Jordy Randall and Tom Cox. Living Proof, produced by Matt Embry, Tyler McLeod & Ravinder Minhas for Spotlight Productions, was the evening’s most successful single production, with a total of 5 Rosie awards.
Alec Harrison and Matt Embry tied for most awards as individuals, walking home with three statues apiece; Nomadic Pictures was the most decorated company with six awards four of which came for the Calgary-based company’s contributions to Fargo.
And the Rosie Award Winners for 2018 are:
Best Public Service Announcement
Historica Canada: Heritage Minute – “Edmonton Grads”
Brent Kawchuk, Producer
Bamboo Shoots
Best Promotional Production
Alberta Ballet – “2017-2018 Season Promo”
Karen Sveinson, Matt Gillespie & Claudia Neff, Producers
Joe Media Group
Best Corporate Production – Internal
UFA – “Winters Road to Better”
Tom Acton, Producer
NewPath Influence
Best Corporate Production – External
Alberta Motor Association – “April Fools 2017”
Jeremy Chugg, Producer
Freshwater Creative
Best Children’s Program or Series
Radiant Goes to Court
Greg Miller & Patti LaBoucane-Benson, Producers
Bearpaw Media Productions
Best Comedy Production or Series
Tiny Plastic Men
Camille Beaudoin, Jesse Lipscombe & Eric Rebalkin, Producers
Mosaic Entertainment
Best Television Commercial Under $50K
The Trailers Are Coming
Missy Geffen, Producer
Geffen Media
Best Television Commercial Over $50K
ATB Financial – “Change”
Matt Gillespie & Brendon Rathbone, Producers
Joe Media Group
Fil Fraser Award for Best Student Production
Fairfield
Jerry Tseng, Producer
SAIT, Film and Video Production Program
Best Music Video
Lyra Brown – “A Little Vulture Told Me”
Simon Morgan, Sheena Wheadon & David Baron, Producers
Lindisfarne Productions
Best Musical or Variety Program
Off the Record – “Part One”
Brock Mitchell & Ryan Bouman, Producers
DDG
Best Information or Lifestyle Series
Sel et diesel
Corey Loranger, Jessica L’Heureux & Benoit Pellerin, Producers
Far West Productions
Best Sports Productions
Tour of Alberta Stage #4 – September 4, 2017
Kori Chilibeck, Producer
M31 Design Group
Best Animated Production or Series
Skin for Skin
Bonnie Thompson, Producer
National Film Board of Canada
Best Digital or Interactive Project
Fountain Tire – “Highway 44”
Blake Horobin & Brent Kawchuk, Producers
Bamboo Shoots
Best Fiction Web Series
Abigaelle et le DATE coaching
Corey Loranger, Jessica L’Heureux & Benoit Pellerin, Producers
Far West Productions
Best Non-Fiction Web Series
Cost of Crime
Mark Anderson, Suzanne Hanson & Brad Warren, Producers
Calgary Police Service
Best Immersive Experience
Skratcher
Matt Wright, Shaun Crawford, Mitch Lee & Von Zuniga, Producers
MAMMOTH VR
Best Narrator
Gord Marriott
PBR Global Cup
Oilers Entertainment Group
Best Television Host
Sean Liv
Liv Daily Show
In-Houze Productions
Best Screenwriter – Drama Under 30 Minutes
Kellen Frost
Indra’s Awakening
Atraeon Productions
Best Screenwriter – Drama Over 30 Minutes
Aaron Kurmey, Ryan Hatt, Adam Munro & Kevin Johnson
Thousand Yard Stare
Rambunxious Entertainment
Best Screenwriter – Non-Fiction Under 30 Minutes
Jeremy Chugg
Alberta Motor Association
“Family Day 2017”
Freshwater Creative
Best Screenwriter – Non-Fiction Over 30 Minutes
Matt Embry & Tyler McLeod
Living Proof
Spotlight Productions
Best Performance by an Alberta Actor
Andrew Phung
Kim’s Convenience
Thunderbird Entertainment
Best Performance by an Alberta Actress
Julie Orton
Everfall
Green Productions
Best Overall Sound – Non-Fiction Under 30 Minutes
Chris Vail
Tourism Richmond Anthem by C&B
Six Degrees Music & Sound
Best Overall Sound – Non-Fiction Over 30 Minutes
Adam Naugler & Steve Dierkens
Living Proof
Spotlight Productions
Best Overall Sound – Drama Inder 30 Minutes
Frank Laratta
Skin for Skin
National Film Board of Canada
Best Overall Sound – Drama Over 30 Minutes
Frank Laratta
Ghost Wars
Nomadic Pictures
Best Original Musical Score – Non-Fiction Under 30 Minutes
Alec Harrison
TRAVELAlberta Summer – “Winter Anthem 2017”
Six Degrees Music & Sound
Best Original Musical Score – Non-Fiction Over 30 Minutes
Alec Harrison
Rare Mettle
enriquePoe Moving Pictures
Best Original Musical Score – Drama Under 30 Minutes
Mike Shields & Ciara Proznik
Falling Through the Cracks: Greg’s Story
Greg’s Wings Projects
Best Original Musical Score – Drama Over 30 Minutes
Alec Harrison
Ice Blue
Iylond Entertainment
Best Editor – Non-Fiction Under 30 Minutes
Steve Katakami & Glenn Sakatch
Calgary Stampede – “Our Stampede”
Shine Light Entertainment
Best Editor – Non-Fiction Over 30 Minutes
Todd Langille, Dean Evans, Jordan Bosch, Mike Kraft & Allan Thrush
Living Proof
Spotlight Productions
Best Editor – Drama Under 30 Minutes
Kellen Frost
Indra’s Awakening
Atraeon Productions
Best Editor – Drama Over 30 Minutes
Bridget Durnford
Van Helsing
Nomadic Pictures
Best Costume Designer
Carol Case
Fargo
Nomadic Pictures
Best Make-up & Hair Artists
Gail Kennedy, David Trainor & Tea Christina Scott
Burned
Putorana Films
Best Production DESIGNER/Art Director
Bill Ives
Fargo
Nomadic Pictures
Best Visual Effects
Olaf Blomerus
State of (the) Art
BLMRS
Best Animator/Motion Graphic Artist
Cam Christiansen
Wall
National Film Board of Canada
Best Cinematographer – Non-Fiction Under 30 Minutes
Sean Smith
Enmax – “Energy Connects Us”
Crowsnest Films
Best Cinematographer – Non-Fiction Over 30 Minutes
Tyler Richardson
Rare Mettle
enriquePoe Moving Pictures
Best Cinematographer – Drama Under 30 Minutes
David Baron & Moh Mahfouz
Indra’s Awakening
Atraeon Productions
Best Cinematographer – Drama Over 30 Minutes
Craig Wrobleski
Fargo
Nomadic Pictures
Best Director – Non-Fiction Under 30 Minutes
Chris Dowsett
State of (the) Art
BLMRS
Best Director – Non-Fiction Over 30 Minutes
Matt Embry
Living Proof
Spotlight Productions
Best Director – Drama Under 30 Minutes
Kevin D.A. Kurytnik & Carol Beecher
Skin for Skin
National Film Board of Canada
Best Director – Drama Over 30 Minutes
Ken Filewych
Heartland
SEVEN24 Films
Best Production Reflecting Cultural Diversity
Last of the Fur Traders
Frederick Kroetsch, Kurt Spenrath & Rebecca Campbell, Producers
Open Sky Pictures
Best Non-Fiction Short
All the World’s a Stage
Corey Lee & Sandi Somers, Producers
Spring Street Films & enriquePoe Moving Pictures
Best Dramatic Short
Peak Oil
Dylan Rhys Howard, Producer
Truthful Work Productions
Best Documentary Under 30 Minutes
State of (the) Art
Olaf Blomerus, Producer
BLMRS
Best Documentary Over 30 Minutes
Living Proof
Matt Embry, Tyler McLeod & Ravinder Minhas, Producers
Spotlight Productions
Best Documentary Series
Red Earth Uncovered
Peter Strutt & Lori Louis, Producers
Sagacious Media
Best Dramatic Series
Heartland
Jordy Randall & Tom Cox, Producers
SEVEN24 Films
Best International Co-Production
Fargo
Chad Oakes & Michael Frislev, Producers
Nomadic Pictures
Best Dramatic feature or Made-for-TV Movie
Thousand Yard Stare
Aaron Kurmey, Kevin Johnson, Ryan Hatt & Adam Munro, Producers
Rambunxious Entertainment
Lifetime Achievement Award
Bonnie Thompson
See more about awards at: https://ampia.org/the-rosies-awards-gala