AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE 2023

Award of Excellence for Best Program, Live Action Non-Scripted (Preschool, Ages 3-5)

The Fabulous Show with Fay and Fluffy (I Love Where I Come From) – produced by Lopii Productions; aired on Family Jr.

Award of Excellence for Best Program, Live Action Non-Scripted (Ages 9+)

Know Brainers (Overcoming fear – Monsters! Deadly heights! Basic swimming!) – produced by TVOKids; streamed on Youtube

Award of Excellence for Best Program, Live Action Scripted (Ages 6-9)

Endlings (Save Yourself) – produced by Sinking Ship Entertainment; aired on CBC

 

Award of Excellence for Best Program, Animation (Preschool, Ages 3-5)

Lucas the Spider (Lucas the Pirate) – produced by Fresh TV and Wexworks Media; aired on Family Jr.

Award of Excellence for Best Program, Short Form Content (Preschool, Ages 3-5)

Maria Mini Explorer (Mini Maria’s Kitchen Catastrophe, Mini Maria’s Sand Castle Surprise, Mini Maria’s Bug Safari) – produced by Turtlebox Productions; streamed on Peacock Jr.

Award of Excellence for Best Gaming or Interactive Experience

Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum – Museum Maker – produced by 9 Story Media Group, Brown Bag Films and Relish Interactive; available on pbskids.org

Award of Excellence, Outstanding Youth Performer or Ensemble

All-Round Champion cast

Outstanding Achievement Award: Marilyn Kynaston

Given for a distinguished career in youth production in Canada, this prestigious prize salutes the

individual’s contributions to the industry, leadership skills, ability to innovate and inspire and career-long commitment to young Canadians

Marilyn Kynaston began her media career working in the distribution department of Forefront Entertainment before creating Picture Box Distribution, which sold factual, children and family series and movies. After years the company was sold to Sinking Ship Entertainment, Marilyn continued to focus on her relationships with European broadcasters working on catalogue sales, pre-sales, and co-productions as part of the Sinking Ship team.

Award of Excellence for Best Program, Live Action Non-Scripted (Ages 6-9)

My Home, My Life! (My Up and Down Homes) – produced by Lopii Productions; aired on TVOkids

Award of Excellence for Best Program, Live Action Scripted (Preschool, Ages 3-5)

Miss Persona (Love Every Moment / When You Miss Someone) – produced by Balloon House Productions; aired on Treehouse

Award of Excellence for Best Program, Live Action Scripted (Ages 9+)

Take Note (épisode 106 : Growth) – produced by Lambur Productions; aired on Family Channel

Award of Excellence for Best Program, Animation (Ages 6+)

Daniel Spellbound (The Cheat Code) – produced by Boat Rocker and Industrial Brothers; streamed on Netflix

Award of Excellence for Best Program, Short Form Content (Ages 6+)

Run Jump Play – Stories from the Autism Spectrum (Jacob) – produced by Imagine Create Media; aired on TVO Kids and Knowledge Network

Award of Excellence for Best Podcast

The Incredible Story of Afro-Canadians – produced by Sabine Daniel

Grand Prize

All-round Champion – produced by marblemedia; aired on TVO

Emerging Talent Award: Joan Digba

This award is given to a promising professional whose achievements have made them a rising star in children’s programming. This award encourages young creators and broadcast professionals to outdo themselves and, more importantly, to pursue a career in youth production.

Joan Digba is a Nigerian born, British bred Canadian. With a love for Sci-Fi and all things animated, she uses her multifaceted perspective to craft stories with imaginative visuals, rich world building, and emotionally connective moments.

Since 2020, Joan has been associate producer for Sinking Ship Entertainment. She has written for Aunty B’s House (CBC Kids, Headspinner Productions), Jane (Apple TV, Sinking Ship Entertainment), and Beyond Black Beauty (Amazon, Sinking Ship Entertainment).

Award of Excellence for Best Program (Live Action Scripted, Live Action Non-Scripted and Animation)

Juries of youth production professionals grant these nine (9) awards to children’s and youth programs that stand out for their excellence. The categories are: Live Action Scripted, Live Action Non-Scripted and Animation for each age group (Preschool 3-5, Ages 6-9 and Ages 9+)

Award of Excellence, Best Gaming or Interactive Experiences (Apps, web games, interactive experiences, etc.)

Awarded by our juries of industry professionals, these 3 prizes go to the best digital production intended for interactive platforms for each age group (Preschool 3-5, Ages 6-9 and Ages 9+). The production will have demonstrated the ability to create an environment and experience specific to its target audience and platform. The chosen production provides an enriched, intelligent environment fostering user engagement and active participation.

Award of Excellence, Best Short Form Content (Webseries, linear videos, interstitials or any narrative of less than 5 minutes in length intended for transmission on a linear television network or digital streaming platform)

Awarded by our juries of industry professionals, these 3 new prizes go to the best short form content webseries, linear videos, interstitials or any narrative of less than 5 minutes in length intended for transmission on a linear television network or digital streaming platform for each age group (Preschool 3-5, Ages 6-9 and Ages 9+). The content can be animated, live-action or hybrid. The chosen production stands out for its excellence – more specifically the quality of its pace and editing, its ability to reach its target audience, and a script or content well adapted to the intended platform and audience.
 

 

Awards of Excellence for Best Podcast (Digital audio files that audiences can download on personal devices or stream from web pages. They are episodic series of shows, fictional or educational targeting kids’ audiences)

Juries of youth production professionals grant this new award to children’s and youth podcast that stand out for their excellence. Any fiction or non-fiction programs or series of digital audio files that kids can download and listen to. Entries must include one MP3 file for judging. This new award category combines content created for all age-groups (0-17 years old).
 

Outstanding Youth Performer or Ensemble (Youth Talent Award)

Awarded by a special committee, this award shines the spotlight on the talent of a person or group influential with youth who stands out for uniqueness, audacity and positive presence on all platforms.
 

Outstanding Achievement Award

Given for a distinguished career in youth production in Canada, this prestigious prize salutes the individual’s contributions to the industry, leadership skills, ability to innovate and inspire and career-long commitment to young Canadians.
 

Emerging Talent Award

This award is given to a promising professional whose achievements have made him or her a rising star in children’s programming. This award encourages young creators and broadcast professionals to outdo themselves and, more importantly, to pursue a career in youth production.