Bartlet4America News Archive

British and American television dominate Rockie awards in Banff

JUDY MONCHUK
Canadian Press

Tuesday, June 10, 2003


BANFF, Alta. (CP) - A journalistic thriller charting the political survival of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who returned to power just 48 hours after a coup, was the big winner Monday at the Banff Television festival.

Chavez - Inside the Coup was the unanimous choice for the $50,000 grand prize at the 24th annual Rockie Awards saluting the best in international television. The Irish/British/German co-production was also honoured as top information and current affairs program. Jury president Trina McQueen praised the documentary for combining energy, pace and remarkable insider footage of the months prior to the government overthrow in April 2002.

"Intelligence, passion and humour illuminates this controversial tale of big oil, international intrigue, class struggle, revolution and ultimately the hopes of people for real democracy," said McQueen.

A seven-member international jury awarded the prize from a field of 83 nominees in 14 categories.

Canada's lone award came in performance programming for Le Mozart Noir - Reviving a Legend, co-produced by the CBC, BBC and TV5 in England.

Made in Canada star Rick Mercer was given the Sir Peter Ustinov award for comedy.

Mercer said he was humbled to win an award that has been won in the past by such well known comedians as the late John Candy and comic genius John Cleese.

"Looking at the list of previous winners, the only way I would normally get into a gathering with them would be as a waiter," he joked. "Then security would show up and I would have to leave."

Mercer said everything he had ever done of consequence and comedy was done at the CBC.

"That's where I want to stay," he said.

Mercer starts a new show on CBC in January called The Rick Mercer Show, in which he goes back to political satire and skewering politicians.

Sopranos creator/writer David Chase was given the Award of Excellence. Chase's much-lauded, ultra-violent mob show has twice won Rockies as best continuing series.

Chase said he was very impressed with the way Canadian audiences embraced the Sopranos.

"You put this on in prime time uncut," he gushed. "I thought that was so brave."

He also praised HBO for taking a chance on the project.

"Instead of having a business that runs on fear they have a business that runs on excitement," Chase said. "It's really a novel thing."

British productions dominated the awards, winning or sharing six categories, while American programs captured five.

Best TV movie went to Britain's Tomorrow La Scalia, a comedy about a group of opera singers who try to revive their lagging careers by staging a production of Sweeney Todd at a maximum security prison.

Daniel Deronda, a British-American co-production, based on George Eliot's historical novel, was top mini-series.

White House drama The West Wing was named best continuing series - winning over edgier HBO programs Oz, Six Feet Under and The Sopranos.

Bryce Zabel, CEO of the Academy of Television, Arts and Sciences, accepted the award on behalf of the show's producers.

"This was an enormously competitive category," he said. "I would like to suggest it has something to do with the writers and the quality of their vision."

Zabel also paid tribute to Aaron Sorkin, who is leaving The West Wing for other ventures. His remarks drew the largest applause of the evening.

HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm, developed by Seinfeld co-creator Larry David, won best comedy over mainstream American sitcoms including Everybody Loves Raymond and That 70s Show. Canadian audiences have only recently been able to see Curb Your Enthusiasm on cable after it was honoured at the Golden Globe awards.

Japan's Drawing A-Bomb Memories, a powerful documentary which recalls the horrors of the Hiroshima bombing through artwork of the survivors, was best history program. It was also winner of the President's Prize for best high definition entry, which comes with $25,000.

Russia, which has never won at the Rockies, was honoured with two awards. Best children's program went to Spartak and Kalashnikov, a touching story of a boy and his sheepdog, which uses humour to draw attention to the problems of homeless children. Top animation went to About a Fisherman and a Fish.

Sir David Attenborough was honoured for almost 50 years spent as a writer, producer and narrator of nature and wildlife programs.

© Copyright 2003 The Canadian Press