CBC Gem documentary Magic Hours, APTN docuseries Secret History: Women Warriors and Cody Lightning’s feature Hey, Viktor! led the winners at the 2024 Rosie Awards.

The 50th edition of the awards from the Alberta Media Production Industries Association (AMPIA) were hosted by comedian Dakota Ray Hebert at the Westin Hotel in Calgary on Oct. 19.

The one-hour documentary Magic Hours (Back Road Productions) won Best Documentary Production Over 30 Minutes, as well as a directing honour for Levi Holwell and cinematography for Holwell and Jaimie Stewart. The doc, about independent cinemas, ran on CBC as part of the Absolutely Canadian documentary series.

Both Secret History: Women Warriors (Herd of 1 Media) and Hey, Viktor! (North Country Cinema, Lightning Mill) won three awards apiece in the craft categories.

Julian Black Antelope (pictured) ended the night with two awards, one for Best Host – Web Program, Series or Stand-Alone Production as well as for his screenwriting work on Secret History: Women Warriors. Kirk Hutton won Best Visual Effects for the series, which examines the historical contributions of Indigenous women.

Lightning and Samuel Miller won Best Screenwriter Scripted Over 30 Minutes for Hey, Viktor!, while Sarah Taylor won for editing and Johnny Blerot and Chris Szott won for overall sound work. The mockumentary follows a former child star, played by Lightning, who tries to revive his career.

Taylor also won for editing in the documentary under 30 minutes category for the series Pain and Offering (Catapult Pictures), which also won Best Web Series. Taylor shared the win with Blair Drover.

APTN lumi’s horror anthology Tales From the Rez (Blackfoot Nation Films) won two awards: Best Production Reflecting Cultural Diversity and a writing honour for Trevor Solway.

Other winners of the night included APTN’s Treaty Road (3 Story Pictures) for Best Documentary Series and Rob Grant’s feature This Too Shall Pass (Peterson Polaris) for Best Scripted Feature, Made-For-TV Movie, or Made-For-OTT, Scripted Series or Specialty Cable Networks.

The full list of winners is available on the AMPIA website.

Photo courtesy of AMPIA