On Monday, The Banff World Television Festival bestowed its Grand Prize to Martin Scorsese's No Direction Home: Bob Dylan, a documentary focusing on the singer/songwriter's life and career from 1961-66.
Accepting the award on behalf of the producers was Nick Fraser of the BBC, a partner in the co-production who called it a "labour of love for all concerned" that took five years to make. He had particular praise for Scorcese's vision. "It's just an absolute tour de force of direction of its kind."
The Banff awards are truly international in scope, honouring programs from 15 countries, but the UK in particular scored with Life on Mars (best continuing series) and Extras: Kate Winslet (best comedy), winning over American powerhouses Grey's Anatomy and Desperate Housewives.
But the ceremony wasn't above Monty Pythonesque celebrations of Canadian culture. When greeted on stage by four Mounties in traditional uniform, BBC's Fraser quipped, "I don't know whether to cry or sing 'I'm a lumberjack and I'm okay.'"
The Canadian show Regenesis II: Extended Reality Game won the first interactive television program award. That was Canada's only win, other than the category where that country was a lock – the Playback Best Canadian Award, which was handed out to the documentary God Only Knows: Same-Sex Marriage.
For a complete list of winners, see the Banff World Television Festival website.
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