With a notable absence of Canadian programs and one of the strongest showings for U.S. producers and broadcasters, the 22nd annual Rockie Awards are heading into full gear, with 86 nominees competing in 14 categories for more than $100,000 in prize money.

Along with the 14 category prizes, the international jury, which convenes in Banff on May 31 to review the finalists, will select two winners of Special Jury Awards and the winner of the Global Television Grand Prize, an award which comes with $50,000 cash for the winning producer.

Three of this year’s nominees are finalists (none of which is Canadian) for the $25,000 NHK President’s Prize for the best HDTV entry. Two Telefilm Canada prizes, worth $25,000 each, will be awarded to the best English- and French-language independent Canadian productions entered this year.

This year, the Rockie Awards drew a record 1,030 program entries, edging out the previous all-time high set last year.

Following are the Canadian nominees:

* Best Arts Documentary: Cinema Verite – Defining the Moment from the National Film Board;

* Best Information Program: The Awful Truth from Dog Eat Dog Films in association with Salter Street Films (Canada/U.S.); and Hot Type ‘J.K. Rowling’ from CBC Newsworld;

* Best Performance Program: The Four Seasons from Rhombus Media/Veronica Tennant Productions (Canada/U.K./U.S./Japan/Switzerland); and

* Best Animation Program: Le Chapeau from the NFB.

All programs nominated for Rockie Awards will be screened by the seven-member jury and winners will be announced at the Awards Gala on June 11. *

-www.banff2001.com