Gemini Awards

Gemini Award
Gemini Award
Awarded for	Best television productions in Canada
Country	Canada
Presented by	Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television
First awarded	1986
Last awarded	2011
Website	http://www.geminiawards.ca/
Related	Canadian Screen Awards; Prix Gémeaux

The Gemini Awards were awards given by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television between 1986–2011 to recognize the achievements of Canada's English-language television industry. The Gemini Awards are analogous to the Emmy Awards given in the United States and the BAFTA Television Awards in the United Kingdom. First held in 1986 to replace the ACTRA Award, the ceremony celebrated Canadian television productions with awards in 87 categories, along with other special awards such as lifetime achievement awards. The Academy had previously presented the one-off Bijou Awards in 1981, inclusive of some television productions.

The awards' name was an allusion to Castor and Pollux, a mythological pair of twins;^[1] this was in reference to Canada's linguistic duality of English and French, with the Academy's separate awards presentation for French-language television production named the Gémeaux Awards. The statuette, designed by Toronto artist Scott Thornley, evoked twins through a design that essentially created two faces at the front and back of the statuette.^[2]

In April 2012, the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television announced that the Gemini Awards and the Genie Awards would be discontinued and replaced by a new award ceremony dedicated to all forms of Canadian media, including television, film, and digital media, dubbed the "Canadian Screen Awards".^[3] The first annual Canadian Screen Awards were held on 4 March 2013.^[4]

Award categories

Best News Information Series
Best News Magazine Segment
Best News Special Event Coverage
Best Reportage
Best Newscast
Gemini Humanitarian Award
Best Sports Play-by-Play or Analyst
Best Live Sporting Documentary's Best Direction in a Live Sporting Event
Best Sports Program or Series
Outstanding Technical Achievement Award
Best Writing in an Information or Series
Best Sound in an Information/Documentary Program or Series
Best Photography in Information Program or Series
Best Picture Editing in an Information Program or Series
Best Direction in a News Information Program or Series
Best Host or Interviewer in a News Information Program or Series
Academy Achievement Award
Best Science, Technology, Nature, Environment or Adventure Documentary Program
Best Biography Documentary Program
Best Original Music Score for a Documentary Program or Series
Best History Documentary Program
Best Performing Arts Program or Series or Arts Documentary Program or Series
Gordon Sinclair Award for Broadcast Journalism
Best Direction in a Documentary's Program
Best Direction in a Documentary Series
Best Picture Editing in a Documentary Program or Series
Best Photography in a Documentary Program or Series
Best Writing in a Documentary Program or Series
Best Documentary Series
Best Writing in a Children's or Youth Program or Series
Best Direction in a Children's or Youth Program or Series
Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series
Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or Series
Best Children's or Youth Non-Fiction Program or Series
Best Original Music Score for an Animated Program or Series
Best Animated Program or Series
Best Pre-School Program or Series
Most Popular Website
Canada Award
Best Production Design or Art Direction in a Non-Dramatic Program or Series
Best Lifestyle/Practical Information Segment
Best Direction in a Lifestyle/Practical Information Program or Series
Best Cross Platform Project
Best General/Human Interest Series
Best Host in a Lifestyle/Practical Information, or Performing Arts Program or Series
Best Lifestyle/Practical Information Series
Best Host or Interviewer in a General/Human Interest or Talk Program or Series
Best Talk Series
Best Reality Program or Series
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Series
Best Writing in a Dramatic Series
Best Direction in a Dramatic Series
Best Picture Editing in a Dramatic Program or Series
Best Sound in a Dramatic Series
Best Production Design or Art Direction in a Dramatic Program or Series
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Series
Best Sound in a Comedy, Variety, or Performing Arts Program or Series
Best Picture Editing in a Comedy, Variety or Performing Arts Program or Series
Best Photography in a Comedy, Variety or Performing Arts Program or Series
Best Direction in a Variety Program or Series
Best Direction in a Performing Arts Program or Series
Best Direction in a Comedy Program or Series
Best Performance or Host in a Variety Program or Series
Best Performance in a Performing Arts Program or Series
Best Individual Performance in a Comedy Program or Series
Best Music, Variety Program or Series
Best TV Movie
Best Achievement in Make-Up
Best Costume Design
Best Achievement in Casting
Best Visual Effects
Best Original Music Score for a Program or Mini-Series
Best Original Music Score for a Dramatic Series
Earle Grey Award
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series
Best Sound in a Dramatic Program
Best Photography in a Dramatic Program or Series
Best Performance by an Actor in a Guest Role Dramatic Series
Best Performance by an Actress in a Guest Role Dramatic Series
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series
Best Host or Interviewer in a Sports Program or Sportscast
Best Writing in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series
Best Direction in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series
Best Writing in a Comedy or Variety Program or Series
Best Comedy Program or Series
Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role
Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role
Best News Anchor
Best Dramatic Mini-Series
Best Dramatic Series
Best Ensemble Performance in a Comedy Program or Series
Viewers' Choice Award (Viewer's Choice Award for Lifestyle Host Gemini)
Best Music Video

Special awards

Academy Achievement Award - general lifetime honour, inaugurated in 1996
Donald Brittain Award - for the best political or social documentary
Canada Award - began in 1988 as the Multiculturalism Award, this is award "honours excellence in mainstream television programming that reflects the racial and cultural diversity of Canada."
Margaret Collier Award - lifetime writing honour
John Drainie Award - broadcasting, not necessarily awarded every year
Humanitarian Award - inaugurated in 2001, recipients to date:
- (2001) Donald Martin
- (2002) Wendy Crewson
- (2003) Max Keeping
- (2004) George R. Robertson
- (2005) Royal Canadian Air Farce
Gordon Sinclair Award for Broadcast Journalism - for television journalists who make outstanding contributions

Dates and locations

#	Year	Date	Best Dramatic Series	Best Comedy Series	City	Venue	Host(s)	Broadcaster
1st	1986	4 December	Night Heat	Seeing Things	Toronto, Ontario	Metro Toronto Convention Centre	Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Dave Thomas	syndicated
2nd	1987	8 December	Night Heat	Seeing Things	Toronto, Ontario	Metro Toronto Convention Centre	Steve Smith	CBC
3rd	1988		Degrassi Junior High	None	Toronto, Ontario	Metro Toronto Convention Centre	Steve Smith	CBC
4th	1989		Degrassi Junior High	CODCO	Toronto, Ontario	Metro Toronto Convention Centre	Martin Short^[5]	CBC
5th	1990		E.N.G.	Material World	Toronto, Ontario	Metro Toronto Convention Centre	Ralph Benmergui	CBC
6th	1992		E.N.G.	CODCO	Toronto, Ontario	Metro Toronto Convention Centre	Cynthia Dale and Ralph Benmergui^[6]	CBC
7th	1993		E.N.G.	The Kids in the Hall	Toronto, Ontario	Metro Toronto Convention Centre	Sara Botsford and Greg Malone	CBC
8th	1994	6 March	E.N.G.	The Kids in the Hall	Toronto, Ontario	Metro Toronto Convention Centre	Valerie Pringle and Albert Schultz	CBC
9th	1995	5 March	Due South	This Hour Has 22 Minutes	Toronto, Ontario	Metro Toronto Convention Centre	Paul Gross and Tina Keeper^[7]	CBC
10th	1996	3 March	Due South	This Hour Has 22 Minutes	Toronto, Ontario	Metro Toronto Convention Centre	Albert Schultz	CBC
11th	1997	6 June	Due South	This Hour Has 22 Minutes	Toronto, Ontario	Metro Toronto Convention Centre	Albert Schultz	CBC
12th	1998 (1)	1 March	Traders	This Hour Has 22 Minutes	Toronto, Ontario	Metro Toronto Convention Centre	Cathy Jones and Steve Smith	CBC
13th	1998 (2)	4 October	Traders	This Hour Has 22 Minutes	Toronto, Ontario	Metro Toronto Convention Centre	Ronnie Edwards and Kenny Robinson^[8]	CBC
14th	1999	7 November	Da Vinci's Inquest	Made in Canada	Toronto, Ontario	Metro Toronto Convention Centre	Rick Mercer	CBC
15th	2000	30 October	Da Vinci's Inquest	This Hour Has 22 Minutes	Toronto, Ontario	John Bassett Theatre	Steve Smith	CBC
16th	2001	29 October	Da Vinci's Inquest	Made in Canada	Toronto, Ontario	Metro Toronto Convention Centre	Mike Bullard	CBC
17th	2002	4 November	Da Vinci's Inquest	An American in Canada	Toronto, Ontario	Metro Toronto Convention Centre	Seán Cullen	CBC
18th	2003	20 October	The Eleventh Hour	This Hour Has 22 Minutes	Toronto, Ontario	John Bassett Theatre	Seán Cullen	CBC
19th	2004	13 December	Da Vinci's Inquest	Trailer Park Boys	Toronto, Ontario	John Bassett Theatre	various presenters	CBC
20th	2005	19 November	The Eleventh Hour	Corner Gas	Toronto, Ontario	John Bassett Theatre	various presenters	Global
21st	2006	4 November	Slings & Arrows	Corner Gas	Richmond, British Columbia	River Rock Casino Resort	various presenters	Global
22nd	2007	28 October	Slings & Arrows	Corner Gas	Regina, Saskatchewan	Conexus Arts Centre	George Stroumboulopoulos	CBC
23rd	2008	28 November	Intelligence	This Hour Has 22 Minutes	Toronto, Ontario	The John Bassett Theatre	Jason Priestley	Showcase, E!
24th	2009	14 November	Flashpoint	Rick Mercer Report	Calgary, Alberta	Stampede Corral	Ron James	Showcase, Global
25th	2010	13 November	The Tudors	Less Than Kind	Toronto, Ontario	Winter Garden Theatre	Cory Monteith	Showcase, Global
26th	2011	7 September	The Borgias	Rick Mercer Report	Toronto, Ontario	Canadian Broadcasting Centre	Russell Peters	CBC

References

^ "Nellie award is reborn under the sign of Gemini". The Globe and Mail, April 22, 1986.
^ Sid Adilman, "Canada's new TV award makes debut". Toronto Star, April 22, 1986.
^ "Canada's Genie, Gemini Awards to merge". CBC News. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
^ "Canadian Screen Awards to replace Genies, Geminis". CBC News. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
^ Knutzen, Eirik (2 December 1989). "Taking a Short cut home". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 31 January 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
^ Kohanik, Eric (9 March 1992). "Geminis get live and dangerous E.N.G., Road To Avonlea top winners". The Hamilton Spectator. Archived from the original on 1 February 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
^ Quill, Greg (3 March 1995). "The Geminis: Bet on Due South, in a class by itself". Toronto Star.
^ Zerbisias, Antonia (5 October 1998). "Gemini winners look familiar". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 3 December 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2011.

External links

Official website (archived): "Academy Film, Television & Digital Media Awards". GEMINI AWARDS. 27 June 2014. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
Townend, Paul. "Gemini Awards". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 2 February 2008. Retrieved 21 October 2007.

[1] "Nellie award is reborn under the sign of Gemini". The Globe and Mail, April 22, 1986.

[2] Sid Adilman, "Canada's new TV award makes debut". Toronto Star, April 22, 1986.

[screen-merger-3] "Canada's Genie, Gemini Awards to merge". CBC News. Retrieved 5 September 2012.

[cbc-csa-4] "Canadian Screen Awards to replace Genies, Geminis". CBC News. Retrieved 5 September 2012.

[5] Knutzen, Eirik (2 December 1989). "Taking a Short cut home". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 31 January 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2011.

[6] Kohanik, Eric (9 March 1992). "Geminis get live and dangerous E.N.G., Road To Avonlea top winners". The Hamilton Spectator. Archived from the original on 1 February 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2011.

[7] Quill, Greg (3 March 1995). "The Geminis: Bet on Due South, in a class by itself". Toronto Star.

[8] Zerbisias, Antonia (5 October 1998). "Gemini winners look familiar". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 3 December 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2011.

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v t e Canadian Screen Awards
By year	2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Canadian Film Awards (film, 1949–1978)	1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1975 1976 1977 1978
Genie Awards (film, 1979–2012)	1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990/91 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
ACTRA Awards (television, 1972–1986)	1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986
Gemini Awards (television, 1986–2012)	1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Film awards by category	Motion Picture Lead Performance, Comedy Lead Performance, Drama Supporting Performance, Comedy Supporting Performance, Drama Director Animated Short Art Direction and Production Design Casting Cinematography Cinematography in a Documentary Costume Design Editing Editing in a Documentary Feature Length Documentary Hair Live Action Short Makeup Original Music in a Documentary Original Score Original Song Performance in a Short Film Screenplay (Original and Adapted) Short Documentary Sound Editing Sound Mixing Sound Design in a Documentary Stunt Coordination Visual Effects Golden Screen John Dunning Best First Feature Award
Television awards by category	Comedy Series Drama Series TV Movie Children's or Youth Fiction Series Children's or Youth Non-Fiction Series Pre-School Series Reality/Competition Series Leading Performance, Comedy Leading Performance, Drama Supporting Performance, Comedy Supporting Performance, Drama Direction, Children's or Youth Performance, Children's or Youth Writing, Children's or Youth Casting Academy Achievement Award Donald Brittain Award Earle Grey Award Gordon Sinclair Award Margaret Collier Award Rob Stewart Award
Discontinued awards	Bijou Awards (1981) Actor (1968-2022) Actor - Non-Feature (1969–81) Actress (1968-2022) Actress - Non-Feature (1969–81) Lead Performance in a Film (2022) Lead Actor, Comedy Series (1986-2022) Lead Actor, Drama Series (1986-2022) Lead Actress, Comedy Series (1986-2022) Lead Actress, Drama Series (1986-2022) Supporting Actor, Comedy Series (1986-2022) Supporting Actor, Drama Series (1986-2022) Supporting Actress, Comedy Series (1986-2022) Supporting Actress, Drama Series (1986-2022) Foreign Actor (1980–83) Foreign Actress (1980–83) Supporting Actor (1968-2022) Supporting Actress (1968-2022) Supporting Performance in a Film (2022) Theatrical Short (1949–96) Children's or Youth Program (1986-2002) Host, Children's or Youth Program (2008-2016) Individual or Ensemble Performance in a Comedy (1992-2000) Ensemble Performance in a Comedy (2001-2011) Individual Performance in a Comedy (2001-2010) John Drainie Award (1968-2000) Special Achievement Foster Hewitt Award (1975-1986) Wendy Michener Award (1969-1978) Diversity Award (1992-2016)
Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television Note: Awards by year articles are listed here by the year of eligibility for nomination; due to variable scheduling of the ceremonies, this is not always the same year in which the awards were presented.