TORONTO – The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television has unveiled the nominations for the 26th annual Gemini Awards, with Canadian premium pay channels HBO Canada, The Movie Network and Movie Central dominating the annual prizes for the best in Canadian television.
The HBO Canada series Call Me Fitz was the most-nominated show in the comedy category followed by TMN/Movie Central’s Living in Your Car which grabbed 10 nominations. The CTV/CBS series Flashpoint, whose future in the U.S. remains uncertain, lead the drama nominations. Flashpoint faces off against The Borgias, Endgame, Skins and The Tudors. Call Me Fitz was named in 16 categories, including best comedy and best actor in a comedy for Jason Priestley. Ernie Grunwald, Peter MacNeill, Tracy Dawson and Joanna Cassidy are also nominated for their performances in the comedy.
One of the surprise nominations went to The Kennedys, the controversial miniseries shot in Toronto about the U.S. political family. The series, which had to find a new U.S. partner after the U.S. History Channel dropped it, was nominated in 10 categories, including best mini-series and best actor for Barry Pepper.
Alongside The Kennedys is The Pillars of the Earth, based on the novels by Ken Follett and featuring Gordon Pinsent, Donald Sutherland and Alison Pill, with another 10 nominations, including best performance by an actor and actress in a leading role for Ian McChane and Hayley Atwell, best writing in a dramatic program or miniseries and best dramatic miniseries or TV movie.
CBC has 83 nominations for its news, sports and documentary projects, including best breaking news coverage for Hurricane Igor and Mubarak Refuses to Resign and best cross-platform project for Canada Votes 2011 and Live Right Now. Of note is that CTV News sat out the Geminis and didn’t submit any programs for consideration.
The controversial new teen series Skins, shot in Hamilton is nominated for best drama Gemini and for best supporting actor for Jesse Carrere. Skins was cancelled after just one season.
The 26th annual awards will take place in Toronto over three nights, with technical and other industry awards handed out Aug. 30 and 31, and the main gala on Sept. 7. It will be broadcast live from the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on CBC.
A full list of nominees can be found at www.GeminiAwards.ca.
