The dramatic series Fortier and Grande Ourse lead all nominees going into the 19th Prix Gemeaux, celebrating the best in Quebec television. Both shows received 15 noms, as finalists were announced at a press conference in Montreal on Oct. 14 by the Quebec branch of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television.

The popular Reseau TVA crime drama Fortier, from producers Fabienne Larouche and Michel Trudeau of Aetios Productions, won in last year’s dramatic series category and is up for it again. It is also nominated twice for direction – for episodes helmed by Francois Gingras and Sophie Lorain – as well as for screenplay for Larouche, lead actor for Gilbert Sicotte, and in the supporting acting categories for Patrick Huard, Jean-Francois Pichette, Sebastien Ricard and Anne-Marie Cadieux.

Grande Ourse is an HD-shot fantasy melodrama airing on Radio-Canada and produced by Raymond Gauthier, Muriel Lize, Jean-Francois Mercier and Andre Monette for Les Productions Point de Mire. In addition to dramatic series, it is up for best direction for Patrice Sauve, screenplay for Frederic Ouellet, lead actor for Normand Daneau, lead actress for both Anne Dorval and Fanny Mallette, and in the supporting acting categories for Benoit Gouin and Julie McClemens.

Cirrus Communications’ HD private eye show Les Aventures tumultueuses de Jack Carter, airing on SRC, received 11 noms, including best drama series. Also with 11 noms is the popular satirical family program Les Bougon/C’est aussi ca la vie (Aetios and SRC), which is up for comedy series. Also vying for best comedy is SRC’s Rumeurs, set behind the scenes in the publishing world. Produced by Jocelyn Deschenes for Sphere Media Plus, the show is up for 10 noms.

In a statement, the Academy thanked the 97 production houses and broadcasters that submitted programs for Gemeaux consideration. Previously, broadcasters Reseau TVA and TQS and producers including Aetios had boycotted the event until the Academy made amendments to its voting procedures last year. Another change, aimed at cutting down SRC dominance, was the creation of the ‘Immortels de la tele,’ a hall of fame to which shows, artists or technicians with at least three Gemeaux wins are retired from competition.

This year will see the Immortels inductions of shows Infoman, Le grand blond avec un show sournois and Decouverte; Zone libre host Jean-Francois Lepine; and Le plaisir croit avec l’usage director Mario Rouleau.

The winners of about 60 awards will be announced at Montreal’s Theatre Olympia on Nov. 27 and broadcast live on RDI. The remaining high-profile prizes and Immortels trophies will be presented the following night at Theatre Saint-Denis at a celebrity-filled gala to be broadcast on SRC.

A full list of nominees is available on the Academy website.

-www.academy.ca