Winners of inaugural Canadian Environmental Media Awards announced

The producers of the Green Living Show are kicking off their first-ever Canadian Environmental Media Awards on April 16th in Toronto. The awards were created to honour film and TV docs/productions that raise awareness about environmental issues.

This year’s winners include documentaries on the Alberta Tar Sands, Canada’s fresh water, and David Suzuki’s “last lecture.”

Here’s a full list of the winners, according to the Green Living Show’s press release:

International Award of Excellence:

Force of Nature: The David Suzuki Movie, a film based on Suzuki’s “last lecture” that interweaves scenes from Suzuki’s life and times – the major social, scientific, cultural and political events of the past 70 years. In this biography of ideas, Suzuki articulates an urgent core message: We have exhausted the limits of the biosphere and it is imperative that we rethink our relationship with the natural world. Director: Sturla Gunnarsson; Producers: Laszlo Barna, Steven Silver, Tracey Friesen and Janice Tufford.

Documentary Awards:

Petropolis: Aerial Perspectives on the Alberta Tar Sands, an unparalleled view of the world’s largest industrial, capital and energy project. Director: Peter Mettler; Producers: Spencer Tripp, Sandy Hunter and Laura Severinac.

Land of Destiny, an intimate portrait of a working-class city in paralysis and a devastating investigation into when, and for what, people fight; and a portrait of work, landscape and community in an era of globalization. Director: Brett Story; Producer: Frederic Bohbot.

Documentary Honourable Mention:

Water on the Table, a character-driven, social-issue documentary that explores Canada’s relationship to its fresh water supply, arguably its’ most precious natural resource. The documentary asks ‘is water a commercial good or a human right?’ Director: Liz Marshall; Producers: Liz Marshall, Shelley Saywell, and Deborah Parks.

Television Series Award:

Down2Earth, a documentary series that goes on a global search for indigenous solutions to man-made environmental problems. The series shares environmental success stories that inspire viewers to take more responsibility for preserving and restoring the earth for future generations. Director: Barbara Hager; Producer: Barbara Hager.

Honourable Mention:

Dragon’s Den (a single TV episode), The “Green-vention” Show devoted one hour to eco-friendly businesses that saw one of the participants awarded a $100,000 prize and the title of Canada’s top “eco-preneur.” Director: Michele Berlyne; Producers: Tracie Tighe and Lisa Gabriele.