The AMPIA Rosie finalists are in
Not for the first time, the National Film Board office in downtown Edmonton leads the pack in local nominations for 2018’s Rosies — the annual awards by the Alberta Media Production Industries Association.
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 are presenting 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 — are 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 that 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 has now been 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 in the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel for 7th Heaven.
Numerous local nominations include Jaro Malanowski’s Edmonton vs. Calgary: The Rivalry for best documentary under 30 Minutes; Eva Colmers’ Sophia for best animated production or Series; Open Sky Pictures’ Kitten TV for best web series — Fiction; Dylan Rhys Howard’s Peak Oil for best dramatic short; and Tiny Plastic Men’s Office Space Race for best comedy production or series — the nearly 90 other local nominations can are to be found at ampia.org.
Tickets to the 44th annual Rosie Awards Gala start at $170 if you’re an AMPIA member, $110 for students, and are on sale at ampia.org.