Thirty-three programs including 18 live-action productions in four age categories and 15 animation series in three age categories are among the nominees for the 2003 edition of the Alliance for Children and Television Awards of Excellence. Prizes will be handed out at a June 2 gala at CBC’s Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto, with ubiquitous children’s TV host Joe Motiki as MC.

Nominees are split by age group in both the all-genre category (live action series, specials, magazines and game shows) and animation category.

In individual ACT prize categories, Peter Moss, EVP of programming and development at Corus Entertainment, is the recipient of the Independent Production Fund Outstanding Achievement Award. Industry veteran Moss oversees programming for all of the Corus television channels including YTV, W Network, Treehouse TV, CMT, Movie Central and Corus’ digital services.

Animation prodigy and digital guru Clint Eland, president/exec producer, Mercury Filmworks and chairman/founder of Sentient Research, is the winner of the Universal Studios Canada – Emerging Talent Award. The award goes to a person 30 years or younger who demonstrates exceptional talent and promise in the children’s programming industry.

All nominated programs are finalists for the CBC Grand Prize for Best Program, while the Cuppa Coffee Special Jury Award goes to a craftsperson or team for outstanding achievement in a craft category.

To qualify, ACT executive director Caroline Fortier says this year’s nominees must have been broadcast originally in English in Canada between Jan. 1, 2001 and Dec. 31, 2002.

ACT started alternating its awards program on a language basis last year when French-language productions were showcased. The awards program was suspended in 2000 and 2001.

Following are this year’s ACT nominees:

All Genres Category
Ages 3-5
Me Too, Zone 3, CBC
The Bittles, YTV
The Hoobs, The Jim Henson Company/ Decode Entertainment, TVO
The Nook, TVO
Wumpa’s World, Cite-Amerique, YTV
Ages 6-8
Incredible Story Studio, Verite Films/Minds Eye Pictures, YTV
The Bod Sqad TVO
The Zone, YTV
Ages 9-12
Ryan’s Well, Real to Reel Productions, Vision TV
Screech Owls – A Fine Balance, Shaftesbury Films, YTV
Swap – TV, Breakthrough Films & Television, TVO
The Zack Files, Decode Entertainment, YTV
Tales from the Neverending Story, Muse Entertainment/The Movie Factory, CBC
Teens
Degrassi: The Next Generation, Epitome Pictures, CTV
Flipping the World – Drugs Through a Blue Lens, NFB, Newsworld
Our Hero, Heroic Film Company, CBC
RepREZentin’ in Fort Chipewyan, Big Soul Productions, APTN
Street Cents, CBC
Animation Category
Ages 3-5
Henry’ World, AAC Kids/ Cuppa Coffee Animation/ TV Loonland, Family Channel
Max & Ruby, Nelvana / Silver Lining, Treehouse
Simon in the Land of Chalk Drawings, Cinar, Teletoon
The Berenstain Bears, Nelvana, Treehouse
The Save-Ums, Decode, CBC
Ages 6-8
Angela Anaconda, Decode, Teletoon
From Far Away, NFB, CBC Ontario
Glasses, NFB, Teletoon
Stories from the Seventh Fire-Fall, Storyteller, CBC
Ages 9-14
Braceface, Nelvana, Teletoon
Doodlez, Cellar Door, Teletoon
Roboroach, Portfolio Entertainment, Teletoon
Yvon of the Yukon, Studio B Productions, YTV
What about Mimi?, Studio B Productions, Teletoon