In a wily pseudo-political move, the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television is moving the 29th Genie Awards show live to the nation’s capital for the first time.

‘With much of the Academy’s government funding coming from Ottawa,’ explains ACCT chair Ron Cohen, ‘the move offered an ideal opportunity to showcase the awards to the very people providing that funding, as well as to the Canadian public.’

That very diplomatic response also means that if the politicians won’t come to the awards show, then the Academy will bring the awards show to them. So organizers are hopeful that by moving the Genies on down the 401 from Toronto to Ottawa, some influential politicians and civil servants will grace the red carpet which honors Canadian cinema.

‘As it does annually, the Academy will be inviting key government figures, including the prime minister and the minister of Canadian Heritage, to this year’s Genie Awards,’ Cohen continues. ‘We hope that many government VIPs will be in attendance at the Genie events.’

If Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Parliament Hill colleagues take up the Academy’s invitation, they’ll be spending the evening of Saturday, April 4 with a lot of ‘white wine drinkers’ at the Canadian Aviation Museum.

The theme of this year’s Genies is Canadian Film Takes Flight, and the set will reflect that idea. If that isn’t enough to attract the Conservatives, the Academy has resurrected a special host that Harper’s members are sure to enjoy.

‘Expect to see ‘Dief the Chief’ presenting an award,’ says Lynn Harvey of Enter the Picture Productions, who jokes fondly about Canada’s 13th PM, John G. Diefenbaker. ‘We plan to feature holograms of all the past prime ministers, in a nod to our host city of Ottawa, and, of course, inspired by CNN’s election coverage,’ explains the veteran Genies producer.

The vast majority of Genie hosts will be there in the flesh, assures Harvey. ‘We hope to involve stars from all of the nominated films and include a mix of Canadian icons and hot new faces… [expect] a group of hosts, with a focus on keeping it light and funny.’

In order to attract people to the event, the Academy is staging a contest for film fans. The Why I Want to Go to the Genie Awards contest ‘invites the public to submit a short film illustrating why they want to attend the 29th annual awards,’ explains Harvey. The contest was created through a partnership with Movieola.ca.

Sara Morton, the Academy’s CEO, also notes that, ‘with the support of the Genie broadcaster, Canwest, the Academy will undertake a promotional and publicity campaign to generate awareness of the Genie Awards and Canadian film, including presenting a Genie trailer in movie theaters across the country in the month leading up to the awards ceremony.’

Added to those initiatives is the fact that the Genies are being broadcast live this year on Global and the Independent Film Channel, instead of 2008’s E! and Showcase, specialty channels for which no TV ratings are available.

Nonetheless, Harvey is anticipating ‘the bigger audience [that] Global can deliver,’ and in order to keep Canadian viewers’ attention, she plans to have her main writers (Irwin Barker and Mark De Angelis) penning ‘funny words for funny people.’

‘We’re in an old airplane hanger, not a theater, so by [its] nature it will be a less formal presentation than usual,’ Harvey continues. ‘We’re going to take a looser approach and are aiming for much more of a big-party feel in the room that we hope will translate to the viewer at home.’

Harvey is looking forward to ‘the unexpected moments that only live TV can deliver… [We’ll give] viewers at home incredible VIP access to the entire event. It will be just like being there, only you can stay in your PJs and sit on your couch.’