ShowCanada organizers are presenting two special awards in recognition of the event’s 20th anniversary.

The ShowCanada Founders Award will go to Frank and Sophie Kettner, who organized the first convention of Canada’s theater owners, known as ShoWest Canada.

The ShowCanada Contributors Award will be presented to Brian and Sandy Stewart, who have donated the $200,000 in advertising that they have sold in the ShowCanada program guide over the past 10 years to the Canadian Picture Pioneers and the MPTAC Pioneer Project.

The annual ShowCanada Showmanship Awards winners for success in marketing films or generating concession sales this year are:

Blockbuster Award
Sean Wilson and Kevin Isaac, Strawberry Hill (Cineplex Entertainment) in Surrey, BC, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Showmanship Award
Jocelyn Dougherty, Orpheum Theatre (independent), Estevan, SK, Corpse Bride
Audience Development Award
Jason Bell, Roxy Theatre (Rainbow), Saskatoon, SK, Heritage
Concessions Award
Julia Valle and team, Latin Quarter (Cineplex Entertainment), Montreal, Les defis fantastiques
Canadian Film – French
Pascal Paquin, Galaxy Victoriaville (Cineplex Entertainment), Victoriaville, QC, Maurice Richard
Canadian Film – English
Leslie Snyder, Aurora Theatre 2000 (independent), Manning, AB, Hank Williams First Nation