(October 21, 2008 – Toronto, Ontario) -- The 23rd annual Gemini Awards, which recognize excellence in television, began last night in Toronto with the first of three preliminary galas, each devoted to a specific area. Last night's awards were for programs entered in the News, Sports and Documentary categories.
In all, 32 awards were handed out. Following is a complete list of last night's Gemini Award-winners:
Best Biography Documentary Program
Confessions of an Innocent Man
(Paperny Films Inc.)
David Paperny, Tracey Friesen, Trevor Hodgson, Terence McKeown, Cal Shumiatcher
Best Direction in a Documentary Program
Maya Gallus - Girl Inside
Best Direction in a Documentary Series
Derreck Roemer, Neil Graham - The View From Here - Last Call at the Gladstone Hotel
Best Direction in a Live Sporting Event
Ron Forsythe - CFL on CBC: 95th Grey Cup
Best Direction in a News Information Program or Series
Litsa Sourtzis - Marketplace - Grey, Black and Blue
Best Documentary Series
Diamond Road
(Kensington Communications Inc.)
Robert Lang
Best Game Analyst
Pierre McGuire - IIHF World Junior Hockey Gold Final: Canada vs. Sweden
Best History Documentary Program
Captain Cook: Obsession and Discovery
(Ferns Productions Inc., Cook Films PTY ( Australia), South Pacific Pictures ( NZ), Film Australia)
Andrew Ferns, W. Paterson Ferns
Best Host or Interviewer in a News Information Program or Series
the fifth estate
(CBC)
Hana Gartner
Best Live Sporting Event
Hockey Night in Canada: Outdoor Classic
(CBC)
Sherali Najak, Brian Spear, Doug Walton
Best News Information Series
the fifth estate
(CBC)
David Studer, Sally Reardon
Best News Magazine Segment
Adrienne Arsenault, Richard Devey, Ian Kalushner, Udi Kivity, Samer Shalabi - CBC News: The National - Moshe and Munir
Best News Special Event Coverage
CBC News: Compass Ice Storm Special
(CBC PEI)
Tracy Lightfoot, Chris Lane, Claire Nantes
Best Newscast
CBC News: The National
(CBC)
Jonathan Whitten, Terry Auciello, Mark Harrison, Fred Parker, Greg Reaume
Best Original Music Score for a Documentary Program or Series
Mark Korven - A Promise To The Dead: The Exile Journey of Ariel Dorfman
Best Performing Arts Program or Series or Arts Documentary Program or Series
Landscape as Muse
(291 Film Company)
Ian Toews
Best Photography in a Documentary Program or Series
Mike Sheerin - Bravo Company: Kandahar
Best Photography in an Information Program or Series
Andre Dupuis - Departures - India: Quest for Himalays
Best Picture Editing in a Documentary Program or Series
Roderick Deogrades - 100 Films & A Funeral
Best Picture Editing in an Information Program or Series
Avi Lev - the fifth estate - Brian Mulroney: The Unauthorized Chapter
Best Reportage
Adrienne Arsenault, Erin Boudreau, Richard Devey - CBC News: The National - Adrienne Arsenault
Best Science, Technology, Nature, Environment or Adventure Documentary Program
Battle of the Bag
(CBC)
Ryszard Hunka, Monika Delmos
Best Sound in an Information/Documentary Program or Series
Ian Dunbar, Mark Gingras, Andrew Tay - Triple Sensation - Workshop Presentations/Finale
Best Sports Analysis or Commentary Program, Series or Segment
Scotiabank Hockey Tonight
(CBC)
Sherali Najak, Brian Spear
Best Sports Feature Segment
Hockey Night in Canada - Inside Hockey: The Aud
(CBC)
Jennifer Barr
Best Sports Play-by-Play Announcer
Don Wittman - Hockey Night In Canada - NYR @ OTT
Best Studio Analyst
Bob McKenzie - IIHF World Junior Hockey Gold Final: Canada vs. Sweden
Best Writing in a Documentary Program or Series
Terence McKeown, John Zaritsky - The Suicide Tourist
Best Writing in an Information Program or Series
Barbara Shearer - Pretty Dangerous - Elena Kiejliches
Donald Brittain Award for Best Social/Political Documentary Program
A Promise To The Dead: The Exile Journey of Ariel Dorfman
(White Pine Pictures)
Peter Raymont
It had been previously announced in early October that CBC’s Don Newman would be honoured as the recipient of this year's Gordon Sinclair Award for Broadcast Journalism. The Gemini Lifestyle, Children's and Youth winners will be announced tonight, October 21st, followed by the Gemini Drama, Variety and Comedy awards on Wednesday, October 22nd.
The 23rd annual Gemini Awards will culminate with the Broadcast Gala November 28th at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, which will be simulcast on E! network and Showcase at 9 p.m. Eastern and Pacific.
