Jeanne Beker, IMAX to receive special Canadian Screen Awards
Fashion journalist Jeanne Beker, film tech firm IMAX, TV drama Flashpoint and late broadcaster Laurier LaPierre will receive special honours at the upcoming Canadian Screen Awards.
The Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television revealed eight "game-changers" whose contributions to the industry will be celebrated as part of this year's festivities.
"Our industry is filled with remarkably talented people whose contributions to our country must be recognized," academy chair Martin Katz said in a statement.
"The board [of directors] takes great pride in being able to honour and celebrate their achievements through these Academy Special Awards."
This year's special honourees include:
- Academy Achievement Award (for exceptional contributions to Canadian TV): Fashion Television's Jeanne Beker.
- Academy Board of Directors Tribute (for outstanding and enduring contributions to Canadian TV): police drama series Flashpoint, which concluded last fall.
- Academy Special Award (for exceptional achievement in Canadian film and TV): Ian Greenberg, co-founder and president of Astral Media.
- Academy Special Film Award (for exceptional achivement in filmmaking or service to the industry): Victor Loewy, independent film distributor and former head of Alliance and Vivafilm.
- Digital Media Trail-blazing Award (for outstanding achievement in digital media): Andra Sheffer, founding academy executive director and director of three private funds supporting TV and digital media projects.
- Gordon Sinclair Award for Broadcast Journalism: Laurier LaPierre (posthumous honour).
- Margaret Collier Award (for a writer's exceptional contribution to Canadian TV): Heather Conkie, whose credits range from Road to Avonlea to Heartland.
- Outstanding Technical Achievement Award: IMAX Corporation, for its suite of entertainment technologies used worldwide.
The Canadian Screen Awards — honouring the best in Canadian film, television and digital media — will be presented over several nights, culminating in a televised gala on March 3.