APTN congratulations winners, nominees at 2010 Rosie Awards

May 19, 2010 - Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) congratulates the producers, cast and crew of Blackstone (Prairie Dog Film & Television) for winning five awards at the 2010 Alberta Film and Television Awards, also known as the Rosie Awards.

Blackstone Director Ron E. Scott was presented the award for Best Director Drama Over 30 and Gil Cardinal won for Best Screenwriter Drama Over 30. The Blackstone team also took home awards for Best Dramatic Production Under 60 and Best Production Reflecting Cultural Diversity. Best Alberta Actress was awarded to Roseanne Supernault for her portrayal as Natalie Stoney in Blackstone. Michelle Thrush was also nominated in this category for her performance as Gail Stoney. Blackstone was also nominated for Best Overall Sound Drama and Best Production Designer/Art Director.

Blackstone is a series pilot which takes a raw look at a community suffering disintegration by its own hand as a result of the corruption, mismanagement and nepotism of its Chief and Councillors and the parallel complicity of the silent band members.

“APTN congratulates the director, actors, writers and production team of Blackstone for their amazing success,” said Sky Bridges, APTN Director of Marketing. “We have been very excited to have Blackstone featured in our programming. Blackstone is a powerful and moving story that deals with very serious issues which are detrimental to the health of our Aboriginal Peoples and the growth of our communities. It has a strong message which provokes thought and discussion amongst all Canadians and we are thrilled to see that the production is getting the recognition and attention it deserves.”

Other awards included Hockey Powers (Aquila Productions) winning Best Documentary Series and Inuit Odyssey (Clearwater Media) which was awarded Best Cinematographer Non-Fiction Over 30 and Best Editor Non-Fiction Over 30. Inuit Odyssey, based on a circumpolar expedition with adventurer Niobe Thompson, was also nominated for Best Director Non-Fiction Over 30. The voice of On Home Ice, Gord Marriot won for Best Narrator, the documentary was also nominated for Best Editor Non-Fiction Over 30.

Other nominations at the 2010 Alberta Film and Television Awards included APTN’s Fish Out of Water (Joe Media Group) and From the Spirit (Earth Magic Media) which were both nominated for Best Documentary Series. Hunt for the Mad Trapper (Myth Merchant Films), On Home Ice (Aquila Productions) and Our Home and Native Land: Canada’s First Nations Heroines: Healers (Bogart Productions) were all nominated for Best Documentary Over 30. In addition Hunt for the Mad Trapper was nominated for Best Overall Sound Non-Fiction and Best Screenwriter Non-Fiction Over 30.

Hockey Powers was nominated for Best Editor Non-Fiction Under 30 and for Best Cinematographer Non-Fiction Under 30.  The Great Tournament (Aquila Productions) was nominated for Best Dramatic Production Over 60 and Best Director Drama Over 30.

APTN’s Mixed Blessings also earned a nomination for Best Dramatic Series.

The awards were presented at the 36th annual event, held May 15th at the Edmonton EXPO Centre in Edmonton, Alberta. The Alberta Film and Television Awards celebrate excellence and outstanding achievement in Albertan film, television and new media.



About APTN:

September 1, 2009 marked the 10-year anniversary of the launch of the first national Aboriginal television network in the world with programming by, for and about Aboriginal Peoples to share with all Canadians and viewers around the world. APTN is available in approximately 10 million Canadian households and commercial establishments with cable, direct-to-home satellite (DTH), telco-delivered and fixed wireless television service providers. The network launched its high definition channel APTNHD in the spring of 2008. APTN does not receive government funding for operations but generates revenue through subscriber fees, advertising sales and strategic partnerships. APTN broadcasts programming with 56% offered in English, 16% in French and 28% in Aboriginal languages. For program schedule or for more information, please contact APTN at (204) 947-9331 or toll-free at 1-888-278-8862, or visit the website at www.aptn.ca.