The Banff Media Awards promises to be a shoot-out between British and Canadian producers.

The field for the Banff Rockies is led by U.K. shows with 41 nominations among the 158 international shows to contend in 26 categories.

Close behind are Canadian shows with 38 nominations, and then American series grabbing 33 nominations.

Canadian producers are especially strong in kids TV categories, including the youth fiction series competition where Epitome Pictures’s Degrassi and SEVEN24 Films’ Heartland (pictured) are entered.

And in the animation category, Canada is represented by Radical Sheep Productions’ Stella and Sam and Little Airplane Productions’ Small Potatoes.

Canadian series also emerge strong in the comedy series competition, traditionally dominated by U.K. and U.S. shows.

Here, Entertainment One’s Kenny Hotz’s Triumph of the Will for Showcase and Big Widget Productions’ The Debaters for the CBC will go up against the Danish show Comedy on the Edge, two Belgian shows, What If? and Een Laatste Groet, and Channel Four’s The Hunt for Tony Blair.

Canadian reality series will also contend strongly in Banff, with Cineflix’s American Pickers, Frantic Films’ Princess 2 and RTR Media’s Income Property receiving nominations in the best lifestyle and information series competition.

Banff Rockies’ trophies will be handed out on June 12, during the June 10 to 13 run for The Banff World Media Festival.

A complete list of Banff Media Awards nominees is available at //www.banffmediafestival.com.