Awards of Excellence 20 21 MAY 26, 2021 at 7:30 P.M
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Awards of Excellence 20 21 MAY 26, 2021 AT 7:30 P.M. 7:30 P.M. 26, 2021 AT MAY LIVE STREAM ON REMO WWW.YMAMJ.ORG PROGRAM PRINCIPAL SPONSOR AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE 2021 EXCELLENCE OF AWARDS PRESTIGE SPONSORS Thanks to our sponsors Thanks EXCELLENCE SPONSORS 2 May 26, at 7:30 p.m. Live Stream on REMO www.ymamj.org SPECIAL THANKS 2021 AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE: Sebastian Altmark (For Heroes Only) Lioz Bouganin (Landslide Entertainment) Joan Digba (Sinking Ship) Jadiel Dowlin (Istmo Productions) Ali Eisner Hoda Elatawi (GAPC Entertainment) Athena Georgaklis (Nelvana) Kat Kelly Hayduk (Turtlebox Productions) Maria Kennedy (Little Engine Moving Pictures) Georgina López (Lopii Productions) Marie McCann (CBC Kids) Tom McGillis (Fresh TV) Jessica McLaughlin (TVO) Jillianne Reinseth (Entertainment One) Shabnam Rezaei (Big Bad Boo) Loretta Todd (Coyote Science) TABLE OF CONTENTS Team 4 Word from Co-Chair 5 Word from Executive Director 6 Word from CBC/Radio-Canada 7 YMA’s Statement of Quality 8 Word from Jury President 9 Members of the Jury 10 Award of Excellence, Best Program, Live Action Categories 28 Outstanding Achievement Award 30 Award of Excellence for Best Gaming or Interactive Experience 32 Award of Excellence for Best Podcast 33 Emerging Talent Award 35 Award of Excellence for Best Program, Short Form 36 Award of Excellence, Best Program, Animation Categories 38 Outstanding Youth Performer Award 40 Thank you and Save the Date 43 3 CO-CHAIRS SECRETARY TREASURER Marysol Michele Paris Jonathan Charbonneau Knowledge Network Finkelstein Télé-Québec Apartment 11 BOARD OF OF BOARD DIRECTORS J.J. Johnson Productions Sinking Ship Entertainment Sebastian Altmark, Hoda Elatawi Maria Kennedy For Heroes Only GAPC Entertainment Little Engine Moving Pictures Nathalie Chamberland Athena Georgaklis Radio-Canada Nelvana Marie McCann DIRECTORS CBC Kids Jadiel Dowlin, Sarah Haasz Istmo Productions Pillango Productions Marney Malabar TVO Nadine Dupont Monika Ille Groupe Média TFO APTN Shabnam Rezaei Big Bad Boo Chantal Bowen Claudia Marcoux Cabana Séguin Executive Director Consultant Brand Design TEAM Laura Newman Patricia Rioux Coordinator, Graphic Design YMA OFFICE Special Events and and Production Communications Aidan Cosgrave, Director Eden Weiss Event Producer GALA TEAM Youth Media Alliance Media Youth CO-HOST KARA HARUN JADIEL DOWLIN JADIEL CO-HOST AND SCRIPTWRITER SCRIPTWRITER AND CO-HOST 4 On behalf of the Board hold on to that. There are big of Directors, I want to challenges facing the planet congratulate all the nominees and our audiences today and of the 2021 Youth Media blah it’s our job to explore those, blah blah… to reflect the world we want to see for our viewers. It’s a huge (sometimes Despite challenging times, overwhelming) responsibility your productions continue but it’s why we’re all here. to prove blah blah blah… It’s what gives meaning and purpose to what we do. Look, I wish I could write a typical intro to this year’s So huge congrats to the awards. I wish I could pepper recipients of this year’s it with a few jokes, a hopeful nominations. I can guarantee undertone, and a nod to all the you that your content brought resilient and incredible work some lightness and smiles and from this year’s nominees. understanding to kids around But I am, like surely most of the world. Keep at it but also you, worn down and running keep an eye out for your on fumes. colleagues, check in on each other and don’t be shy about asking for help if you need it. This last year has been We’re almost at the finish line, traumatic. Health, financial, let’s all cross it together. social injustices – no one has been untouched or unaffected. Co-Chair Now, if that’s spurred you to First round of drinks at the innovate and evolve, great. If 2023 YMA awards is on me! Word from Word it caused you to refocus your priorities, well done. If you’ve found or are finding your Until then, activist voice, raise it loudly. If you are simply surviving, congrats, that’s more than enough and we’ll all be waiting for you on the other side of this. However this pandemic has J.J. JOHNSON affected you, take its lessons to heart. For me, one of the few silver linings of this past year has been the decided drop in pretenses. We’re all a little less guarded, a little more honest with one another. Let’s try to 5 2020-2021 – YEARS OF COVID-19 For over a year now we have for women in the field of all been living under various animation. We are so pleased levels of lockdown. Who could to honour her with this award, have imagined in January 2020 congratulations Michelle! how crucial the availability of quality youth programming would become to children and Let’s not forget our Emerging parents over the course of this Talent winners, Georgina and pandemic? Rennata López, who in 2018 created Lopii Productions, and have been producing One of our members, Stéphanie exceptional work ever since. Cloutier-Breault, recently drew These two producers truly a wonderful parallel between stand out for their daring when the commitment of health tackling challenging subject professionals – who many of matter in the content they us have been calling ‘guardian create for youth. angels’ - and the creators of the youth media industry. She said that these creators I would like to thank all are like ‘guardian angels’ for of our sponsors for their our children, in their own contributions. You are essential way. I heartily agree with this to the success of our gala! sentiment. Allow me to extend my At the Alliance, we’ve once personal thanks to the CBC and again received a record number SRC who truly take the YMA’s of submissions for the Awards mission to heart, and continue of Excellence - over one to offer their support, despite Word Word from hundred productions. Of that the current crisis. I am truly proud! Congratulations to all Our Outstanding Achievement our Awards of Excellence Award celebrates a prizewinners! distinguished career in youth production in Canada. Have a great Gala! Throughout her career, Michelle Melanson Cuperus has brought incredible value to this industry as a producer, creator CHANTAL BOWEN Executive Director Executive and mentor. The YMA Board would like to recognize her work in founding Women Drawn Together, an organization that fosters learning and mentorship 6 As we navigate these difficult they are, on the platforms times, it has never been they use. more important to engage young Canadians, spark their imagination and give them hope Congratulations to all 2021 for a brighter future. finalists and winners! I’m confident that together, we will capture the imagination The productions nominated of young audiences across the for this 2021 edition of the country – and around the world. Youth Media Alliance Gala have been instrumental in doing this. By leading the way in the development of kids, tweens and teens programming, this year’s finalists have been a CATHERINE TAIT testament to the resiliency and President and CEO creativeness of our industry CBC/Radio-Canada over the last year. Canada is home to a strong and vibrant ecosystem and a fertile ground for the emergence of new, diverse voices in youth programming. As the country’s national public broadcaster, we are committed to uncovering these talented creators, Word from Word supporting their development and helping them achieve their full potential. We will also pursue our efforts to pair Canada’s gifted storytellers with visionary innovators to reach young audiences where Principal Sponsor 7 The Youth Media Alliance experience emotions that statement of quality, created further their development; by the former Alliance for — respects young people’s Children and Television, intelligence, critical capacity provided the foundation and ability to think by for the Children’s Television avoiding oversimplification, Charter, which governments stereotypes and propaganda; and broadcasters around the world are now ratifying. — considers their development needs, age group and A quality screen-based cultural background, relying production offers excellence on relevant studies to do so. in form and content, meets its target audience’s needs and expectations, and complies TO PROVIDE A WINDOW with recognized production ON THE WORLD, A SCREEN- standards. BASED PRODUCTION FOR YOUTH: The content of productions — accurately portrays reality should be relevant and while stimulating the entertaining, stimulate the imagination—the real and intellect and the imagination, the imaginary are the two and foster openness to others. worlds in which children It should accurately reflect the grow up; world in which young people — allows children to explore grow up, while respecting their the world beyond their dignity and promoting learning. immediate experience— their family, friends, school, As a Canadian agency, the street, city, society, world, Alliance strives to promote and universe. Canadian content in screen- based productions for youth. Although young Canadians CHILDREN AND TEENS should definitely be exposed ARE ENTITLED TO SCREEN- to international programs BASED PRODUCTIONS exploring our vast world, THAT: they should also have access — have access to the same to quality productions that technical and financial present the rich diversity of resources as productions Canada, its provinces, regions, intended for mainstream communities and people, as audiences, in accordance well as its culture, heritage, with recognized standards; and institutions. YMA’s statement of quality YMA’s — are aimed at the least well- represented groups, while A QUALITY SCREEN-BASED serving the interests of PRODUCTION FOR YOUTH: various age groups. — is designed and produced to meet the needs and expectations of the children and teens that it targets, approaching reality from their perspective; — allows young people to be active participants and even protagonists rather than passive spectators, playing an active and interactive role.