Michael McNamara, co-CEO of Markham Street Films, producers of the upcoming David Bezmozgis feature Victoria Day, directed and helped co-write the TVO hit Polka Dot Shorts, which won the best preschool series at the 2000 Geminis.

‘I co-wrote a bunch of them with [producer] Jed MacKay,’ recalls McNamara, ‘and I directed all 166 episodes. It wasn’t until the final season that we finally got the gold. Jed MacKay took home the trophy, but then he arranged for something special for me and the key creatives – a 12-inch-high statuette of Polkaroo, holding a tiny Gemini. Too cool!’