Cinema Canada (Dec 1976-Jan 1977)

AMPIA Alberta Motion Picture Industries Association 347 Birks Building, Edmonton, Alberta T5J 1A1 _ (402) 424-4692 Filmwest Associates Limited, who took top honors at Alberta’s first annual film festival two years ago, have again captured the limelight, this time for a production about Alberta’s pioneer women, entitled Great Grandmother. The half-hour film, produced in cooperation with the National Film Board, was judged the Best Film as well as Best Documentary at the Alberta Film Festival held in Edmonton September 20-22. Co-directors of Great Grandmother were Lorna Rasmussen and Anne Wheeler, who shared the Best Director and Best Cinematography citations. The film also brought the Best Editing award to Robert Reece, and an Honorable Mention for best original music to Ann Mortifee. More than 50 entries in seven categories represented the work of most of Alberta’s major production houses. Other awards were: Best Industrial: Time of the Tarsands, a half-hour film produced by William Marsden, JEM Film Productions Ltd. (commissioned by Syncrude Canada Ltd.). Honorable Mention in Industrial went to Ron Brown, Century Il Motion Pictures Ltd., for a film titled Another Side of Beef, produced for the Alberta Cattle Commission. Best Educational: Sex ’n Stuff, a half-hour production by Keith Newman and Mary Lyseng, Alberta School Broadcasts. Honorable Mention for Educational went to Where Can You Run?, a 4-hour production about the Block Parent Program, by Tinsel & Sham Productions Ltd. Best Nature & Wildlife: Drummer in the Woods, a 10-minute production by Karvonen Films Ltd. Best Television Commercial: Office, produced for the Edmonton Savings & Credit Union by Colin Minor, ITV Productions. Honorable Mention went to the Workmen’s Compensa 54/ Cinema Canada tion Board for a commercial titled Handicapped Worker, by Interquack (Production) Ltd. No feature film was entered in this year’s festival. The Fraser-CTV theatrical titled Why Shoot the Teacher? had been anticipated but was not ready in time (Fil Fraser has announced the world premiere will be held in Edmonton’ about’ midNovember). An hour-long VTR production, by Doug Hutton, North West Video Ltd., titled Henry Mancini in Concert, received a “Special Citation for overall excellence not fitting into any extant category.” Honorable Mention in the Documentary category went to Policeman’s Nightmare (subtitled The Justice Machine), produced by Dave Smiley, CBC Television; and to a CFRN Television production titled Gibbs, by Fred Vos. Craft Awards In the Craft Awards, Harvey Popowich took Best Sound for his work in Henry Mancini in Concert. An Honorable Mention for sound went to Drummer in the Woods, by Karvonen Films Ltd. Other craft awards were: Best Script: John Andrew in Another Side of Beef. Honorable Mention for script went to Alberta School Broadcasts for Sex ’n Stuff, and Mount Royal College for Who You See in Me. Best Original Music Score: Brothers Bogaardt in\Time of the Tarsands. Best Acting: The cast of Sex ’n Stuff, Alberta School Broadcasts. The majority of the awards are sponsored by the province’s Film Industry Development Office (Department of Business Development & Tourism), while the Best Film of the Festival is recognized by a sculpture called the ‘Celestial Visitor’, which was. presented To Filmwest Associates this year by Culture Minister Horst Schmid. Cine Audio Ltd., Alberta’s first color film processing laboratory, presents a certificate of its own annually (plus a cheque for $100), in recognition of Best Cinematography. This was presented by Cine Audio president Nick Zubko to Lorna Rasmussen and Anne Wheeler for Great Grandmother. ORGANIZATIONS A new trophy was introduced this year by Fil Fraser (one of AMPIA’s directors) in recognition of Best Dramatic Script. It was presented by Mr. Fraser to Magpie Media for a '4-hour production entitled The Grain of Truth. Distinguished Service Awards. AMPIA president William Marsden presented ‘Distinguished Service’’ citations to Nick Zubko and Ron Brown. Mr. Zubko was honored as a pioneer in the film industry in Alberta, and particularly for “his two years of untiring service as the association’s first president.” Mr. Brown’s citation noted particularly that he has fostered strong ties among filmmakers on the national scene, having chaired last year’s fall convention of the Canadian Film and Television Association, held in Edmonton (first time in the West for CFTA). The awards presentations were cochaired by Donald Reed, Film D.R. Productions Ltd., and Josh Zubko, Cine Audio Ltd., at a “Film Arts Cabaret” held in the Crystal Ballroom of the Edmonton Inn. Master of ceremonies for the event was W.O. Mitchell, one of Canada’s bestknown novelists and humorists. Judges for the Festival were Gordon Cameron, chairman of the executive council, Edmonton Chamber of Commerce; Maureen Lubin, councillor with the Better Business Bureau of Edmonton and Northern Alberta; Dinah Hoyle, cultural policy officer, Secretary of State, Ottawa; Scott Beaven, entertainment editor for The Albertan; and Rick Francis, Edmonton Manager for Goodis, Goldberg, Soren (Alberta) Ltd. Len Stahl AMPIA Executive Secretary CFTA Canadian Film and Television Association 55 York St., suite 512 Toronto, Ont. M5J 182 (416) 363-8374 On November 5, 1976,. at a luncheon at Toronto’s Hyatt Regency Hotel attended by 250 persons, with