The nominations are out as the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television sets the stage for the 10th annual Gemini Awards.

This year’s awards will see a new category honoring the best in special visual effects. Atlantis Films, whose productions received 32 award nominations, the most of any independent Canadian producer, created ctv’s sci-fi drama TekWar along with the action thriller movie Avalanche, both of which are eligible for Gemini’s newest category.

Among the six special awards to be given throughout the three-day event (March 1-3) will be the first-ever Academy Achievement Award, presented to any individual who the acct decides has not been amply recognized throughout the duration of the awards, not excluding recipients in other award categories.

With 1,400 entries streaming into the Academy from across Canada, 150 nominations have been offered in 63 categories.

Due South, an Alliance Communications production on ctv, amassed the most nods with 15 nominations including a possible repeat performance of last year’s Gemini for Best Dramatic Series.

Another Alliance production, North of 60 on ctv, received 11 nominations including Best Actor for Tom Jackson and Best Actress for Tina Keeper.