The Alberta Film and Television Awards were held on Saturday in Calgary, with Nomadic Pictures’ productions nabbing six awards.

The awards took place in Calgary, while wildfires raged 650 km northeast in Fort McMurray. The disaster has already displaced more than 80,000 Canadians and destroyed an estimated 1,600 homes and buildings.

Bill Evans, executive director of the Alberta Media Production Industries Association (AMPIA), told Playback Daily that one nominee from Fort McMurray was unable to attend the event because of the fires. “We hope he and his family are safe,” said Evans.

He also added that the awards opened with a message from Red Cross ambassador Tom Jackson, who asked members of the industry to donate.

In the face of all this, the Alberta industry rallied together to celebrate the best in Albertan film and TV.

Nomadic Pictures, which led all nominees with 17 nominations, took home the Rosie for Best Dramatic Series for Hell on Wheels and Fargo, which it service-produces, won for Best Drama, Made-For-TV Movie or Mini-Series. Nomadic productions also nabbed prizes in four craft categories.

Other big winners of the night include Seven24 Films, the prodco behind Best Comedy Production or Series-winner Young Drunk Punk. The company also won in the Best Overall Sound (Drama over 30 minutes) category, with Heartland winning for the episode “Riding for a Fall.”

The Rosie for Best Documentary Series went to Gruv Pix Productions’ Against the Ropes.

On the feature side, the award for Best Dramatic Feature Film went to Diablo Movie’s Diablo. Elder in the Making from Hidden Story Production and Telus Optik Local won for Best Documentary over 30 minutes, and also picked up the Best Original Musical Score (Non-Fiction over 30 minutes).

In the craft categories, Best Director (Drama over 30 minutes) went to Dylan Pearce for 40 Below and Falling (40 Below Productions). Best director (Drama under 30 minutes) went to Galen Scorer and Tyler Enfield for Invisible World (National Film Board of Canada). Best Director (Non-Fiction under 30 minutes) went to Heidi Janz and Eva Colmers for We Regret to Inform You (National Film Board), and Trevor Smith won the award for Best Director (Non-Fiction over 30 minutes) for the smalls: forever is a long time (Crowsnest Films).

Awards for screenwriting went to Neil Fleming for Tug (Joe Media Group/Playframe Pictures), Benjamin Ross Hayden for The Northlander (Manifold Pictures), and Kelly Wolfert for Children’s Wish AB/NWT – SpiderMable Teaser Video Series (Leven Creative).

The Rosies were handed out at a gala event on May 7 at the Hyatt Imperial Ballroom in Calgary.