The Banff Television Festival and Playback have joined up to salute the best in Canadian television, and in June will hand out a new Best Canadian prize as part of the fest’s annual Rockie Awards.

The new prize is sponsored by Playback and open to all Canuck programs in the international competition at the Rockies. Finalists will be screened by an independent jury and the winner will be announced at the awards gala on June 15.

‘We are honored to be working with Playback, a major voice for our Canadian television community,’ says festival CEO Robert Montgomery. ‘This is an incredible opportunity to specifically recognize our greatest Canadian talents.’

‘We’re extremely excited,’ adds Playback publisher Marcelle Wallace. ‘We’re also very pleased to be extending Playback’s close working relationship with the Banff festival.’

Banff recently added three other awards to its lineup, honoring feature-length docs, lifestyle and reality programs.

The 2005 festival will run June 12-15. The deadline for submissions is Feb. 24.

-www.banff2005.com