Calgary-shot web series Abracadavers (pictured) and long-running CBC drama Heartland lead nominations for the 48th annual Alberta Film & Television Awards, better known as the Rosies.

The Alberta Media Production Industries Association (AMPIA) unveiled the nominations this week, and confirmed that the winners will be announced at two events on Sept. 24 in Calgary. The evening reception will be hosted by Workin’ Moms actor Ryan Belleville.

Abracadavers (Numera Films) earned 11 total nominations, including Best Web Series, along with scripted short-form categories such as Best Director for Morgan Ermter and Reamonn Joshee, Best Performance by an Alberta Male Actor for Joshee, Best Performance by an Alberta Female Actor for Emma Houghton and Helen Belay, and Best Screenwriter, Best Editor and Best Visual Effects Creator for Ermter.

Additional nods include Best Cinematographer for Josef Wright, Best Original Musical Score for Scott Steneker, and Best Costume Designer for Kenya Weaver and Rachael Haugan.

Heartland (SEVEN24 Films) followed closely with 10 nominations, including Best Scripted Series or Mini-Series, alongside Jann (SEVEN24 Films, Project 10) and Frick, I Love Nature (Zipline Productions).

The series earned three directing nods in the long-form scripted category for Dean Bennett, Ken Filewych and Pierre Tremblay, two editing nods for Filewych and Jerry Skibinsky, as well as Best Performance by an Alberta Male Actor for Shaun Johnston, Best Performance by an Alberta Female Actor for Amber Marshall, Best Screenwriter for Mark Haroun, and Best Production Designer/Art Director for Dale Marushy.

The feature film Jonesin’, directed by Scott Westby and produced by Full Swing Productions, picked up nine nominations in total, including Best Scripted Feature, Made-for-TV Movie, or Made-for-OTT or Specialty Cable Networks alongside Before I Change My Mind (Loud Whisper Productions, Outside Line Studio), February’s Dog (Luctor Pictures) and Picture It (Elise Graham).

Other nods in the long-form scripted category for Jonesin’ include Best Director for Westby, Best Performance by an Alberta Male Actor for Jesse Lipscombe, Best Screenwriter for Kevin Doree, Best Cinematographer for Nick Thomas, Best Editor for Filewych, Best Overall Sound for Frank Laratta, Best Costume Designer for Brianna Maryon, and Best Make-Up and or Hair Artist for Jojo Preece.

The documentary Wochiigii lo: End of the Peace (Della and Goliath Productions) and short doc Blind Ambition: The Wop May Story (Catapult Pictures) brought in seven nominations each in the unscripted categories.

Wochiigii lo: End of the Peace was nominated for Best Production Reflecting Cultural Diversity, as well as nods in the unscripted long-form category with Best Director and Best Screenwriter for Heather Hatch, Best Cinematographer for Frederick Kroetsch, Best Editor for Brenda Terning, Best Overall Sound for Johnny Blerot – who garnered six individual nominations across as many projects – and Best Original Musical Score for Matthew Cardinal, Dwayne Martineau and John McMillan.

Blind Ambition: The Wop May Story, meanwhile, picked up Best Unscripted Production Under 30 Minutes, as well as Best Screenwriter for Tom Robinson, Best Cinematographer for David Baron, Best Editor for Weyme Teeter, Best Overall Sound for Blerot, Best Original Musical Score for McMillan and Best Production Designer/Art Director for Jessica Jezowski.

Meanwhile, nominees for Best Children’s Program or Series are Abu & Mo: Two Orphans (1844 Studios), Dilly Digger and the Mushroom Adventure (No Problem Productions), Ghost Toast (Squid Brain Studios) JungleGym (Snapshot Studios) and Mini Yule Log (Kidoodle.TV).

There were 271 finalists for 2022 out of a total 485 entries. A full list of nominees is available on the AMPIA website.

Image courtesy of Numera Films