Vancouver: The sixth annual Leos will give out nearly 90 awards at the Westin Bayshore Resort & Marina in Vancouver on May 28 and 29. This year there were more than 900 entries, compared to about 435 in 1999, says Walter Daroshin, president of the Leo Awards.

The Leos event, which operates on an annual budget of about $300,000, has become an integral part of the annual B.C. film and television production scene. Unique because it recognizes excellence of B.C. residents regardless of the show they work on, the Leos event blurs the class line between rich service productions and financially strapped domestic productions.

For a program to be nominated, producers must demonstrate that ‘the directing mind and control of the creative and financial aspects’ rest with B.C. residents – which can be anyone who has maintained a residence in B.C. for the preceding 12 months.

Revenue for the event comes from entry applications, event tickets and sponsorships, says Daroshin. This year, the theme is ‘performers,’ with the Union of BC Performers winning the outstanding achievement by an organization awards and the late John Juliani, former UBCP president, winning for outstanding achievement by an individual. Juliani was instrumental in getting the Leos established, says Daroshin.

‘It’s clear that people want to participate,’ explains Daroshin, about the efforts by event-goers to ‘glam’ up for the Leos. ‘We build a connection between creation and celebration of the community. We’re doing this for each other.’

Actress Ellie Harvie hosts the first night, while Michael Eckford and Fiona Forbes, recently ousted hosts of Citytv Vancouver’s Breakfast Television show, host the second night.

-www.leoawards.com