The Banff World Media Festival’s Rockie Awards took center stage on Tuesday night, celebrating the best in global television and film. Held in the stunning Canadian Rockies, the event honored a diverse range of talent and productions, highlighting the industry’s international reach and creative prowess.
This year’s awards saw a mix of established and emerging talent, with winners hailing from Canada, the U.S., and the U.K. The ceremony, hosted by Allana Harkin, was a testament to the festival’s commitment to recognizing excellence in content creation.
Empathie and The Pitt Take Home Top Honors
The French-language series Empathiecreated by screenwriter Lorence Longprewas a standout winner, taking home the Grand Jury Prize. Produced by Trio Orange, the series also won for best non-English language dramathe Prix Francophoneand the Prize for Excellence in Canadian Content.
Longpre, who stars as a criminologist-turned-psychiatrist in a Montreal hospital, expressed gratitude for the recognition. “I would like to thank the whole team for this Rockie Award,” she said in a pre-taped video acceptance speech. The series explores the complex dynamics between the protagonist and her eclectic group of patients, offering a unique blend of drama and psychological intrigue.
In the best English-language drama category, HBO’s The Pitt emerged victorious, beating out strong contenders like Canada’s Heated Rivalry and Plan B, the U.S. series The Handmaid’s Tale, and the British drama Reckless. R. Scott Gemmill, the series creator and a Canadian-born writer and producer, shared his joy during the gala ceremony. “As a Canadian boy, it’s so good to be home, I have to say,” he remarked, highlighting the significance of the win for Canadian talent.
Comedy and Performance Awards
The Rockie Awards also shone a spotlight on comedy and individual performances. HBO’s The Chair Company was named the best English-language comedywhile Malin Akerman won for best drama performance for her role in Netflix‘s The Hunting Wives. Akerman, who played the character Margo Banks, shared her enthusiasm for the role. “This role is one of my favorite roles I’ve ever got to play. She is one spicy gal,” she said, accepting her award at the Banff Springs Hotel’s conference center.
The best feature film prize went to Mountainheadthe directorial debut of Succession creator Jesse Armstrong. Presented by Lori O’Connor and Mikey O’Connell of The Hollywood Reporter, the award recognized Armstrong’s transition from television to film. “It really very touching to see British TV — I come from the U.K. — and American TV, but we can sometimes be very inward looking. And to be reminded of some of the amazing work that’s made all around the world and to be considered amongst it and take home an award, I feel really very honored to be among everyone,” Armstrong said, expressing his gratitude for the international recognition.
Special Honors and Career Achievements
The Rockie Awards also paid tribute to individuals who have made significant contributions to the industry. Mae Martin, creator of Wayward, received the Creative Voice Award. Martin, known for her comedic talent, shared her journey of overcoming Canadian humility about career success. “Now I’m sort of admitting I’m very ambitious, and I really love the process of making things and collaborating with other artists,” she said, reflecting on her growth as a creator.
Canadian indigenous actor Tantoo Cardinalknown for her roles in Killers of the Flower Moon and Dances with Wolves, was honored with the career achievement award. Cardinal shared her experiences of hitchhiking to the Banff World Media Festival in her early days and the challenges faced by indigenous peoples in Canada. “First time I came here, I hitchhiked here, and they didn’t kick me out,” she recalled. “We were not First Nations then. We were being treated with comatose medicine to hide the power of the treaties and then to hide the truth of just how deeply justice and humanity were not for us in this great society.” Cardinal highlighted the progress made in telling indigenous stories and the powerful tapestry of strength and beauty created by First Nations artists.
The Rockie Awards also honored Ken Jeong with the Sir Peter Ustinov comedy award. Jeong, known for his role in Community, paid tribute to the opportunities he received early in his career. “I don’t stand here because of me. I stand here because of Community, because the people who gave me opportunities when I was just a doctor at Kaiser Permanente in Woodland Hills,” he said, acknowledging the support that helped shape his career.
Jason Priestleyknown for his role in Beverly Hills, 90210, received the Canadian Award of Distinction for his contributions to the Canadian film and television industry. Priestley, who recently starred in the procedural Private Eyes, expressed his gratitude for the recognition. “I owe my career and much of my life to the Canadian film and television industry. I thank you for this important recognition,” he said, reflecting on his journey from local film sets to Hollywood stardom.
Other notable winners included The Simpsons on Fox, which won the best animated series competition, and Aimee Lou Wood, who won the best performance trophy in a comedy for her role in the British comedy series Film Club. The BBC’s The Graham Norton Show won for best comedy and variety seriesand the Jeffrey Dean Morgan-hosted Destination X won for best competition and game show series.
Going into this year’s Rockie Awards, American TV shows received 55 nominations, followed by U.K. series with 39 mentions, highlighting the global reach and diversity of the nominations.
