BANFF – Critically-acclaimed television director Jeremy Podeswa was honoured last night with the 2005 CTV Fellowship Prize at the Banff World Television Festival.
This award is presented to a CTV Fellowship alumnus whose professional achievements exemplify the goals of the Fellowship program.
"The CTV Fellowship was an important encouragement to me at a key point in my development as a director, writer and producer," said Podeswa. "It provided a very generous welcome into the world of Canadian television and gave me an opportunity to meet and connect with many important figures in the industry."
"The year, the CTV Fellowship Prize enables the industry to celebrate internationally acclaimed home grown talent Jeremy Podeswa," said Bill Mustos, CTV senior vice-president, dramatic programming. "CTV has been a fan of Jeremy Podeswa’s work since before he directed After the Harvest for the network in 2001. His success in Canada and the United States since that time make him a shining example of the power of the CTV Fellowship program."
"The CTV Fellowship is all about nurturing talent, and the CTV Fellowship Prize celebrates those who’ve risen above the rest to truly stand out in their field," said Robert Montgomery, CEO of the Banff World Television Festival. "Certainly, Jeremy Podeswa has risen to the top of his game and is directing some of the best television programs in the world. He is a true inspiration to the next generation."
Jeremy Podeswa now joins the honour roll of past CTV Fellowship Prize recipients including the award-winning television writer Hart Hanson, screenwriter Karen Walton, broadcast executive Susanne Boyce, filmmaker and director Alex Chapple, independent producer Helena Cynamon and director John Fawcett.
Since his time as a CTV Fellow, Jeremy Podeswa has gone on to success in Canadian and American film and television. He is the writer, director and co-producer of the critically-acclaimed feature films The Five Senses and Eclipse and has been cited by Variety magazine as one of only two Canadian directors in its international survey of "Tomorrow’s Hot Exports".
Podeswa is also recognized for excellence in television directing, having worked on numerous critically-acclaimed programs for HBO including Six Feet Under, Carnivàle and Rome (the new, historical epic BBC co-production premiering in August); for Showtime works including The L Word, The Chris Isaak Show and Queer as Folk; for FOX, Wonderfalls; and most recently for TNT the mini- series Into the West, exec-produced by Steven Spielberg and premiering this June.
The CTV Fellowship Program is now in its 17th year and, thanks to the generosity of CTV Inc., 30 fellowships have been awarded this year to emerging television professionals from across Canada. CTV Fellowships are intended to encourage professional development in the television industry by enabling creative producers, writers and directors to attend the Banff World Television Festival. A Fellowship consists of transportation to Banff, full registration for the Festival, and mentorship opportunities while at the event.
