Blizzard Awards

Since 1993 the Manitoba Motion Picture Industry Association has been hosting the bi-annual Blizzard Awards to recognize and celebrate excellence in Manitoba film and video production.

The call for entries was in September 2005 and more then 500 entries were submitted for consideration.  The last Blizzard event was in 2003, with only 300 entries.  The increase in submissions reflects the growth of production in the province due to tax credit and the initiative of local producers and the quality of the professional crews.

The number of categories was reduced to 31 from 52 this year.  This was to enhance the credibility of the Blizzard award for recipients. The nominations jury could select only three nominees for each of the 31 Program, Performer, and Craft categories.  (However, the Documentary, Music, and Directing categories each have four nominees reflecting entry levels).

The most entries were submitted for the Documentary Programming with 36 submissions.  This was followed by Short Drama with 16.  In the Creative and Craft categories, Director entries led with 34 for Non-Fiction and 27 for Drama. 

In November 2005, 97 nominees for this year's Blizzard Awards were selected and announced at the Hotel Fort Garry.

Blizzard Award recipients were announced at the Blizzard Awards 2006 Gala Ceremony on February 26, 2006 at the Winnipeg Convention Centre.

Six motion pictures received more than four nominations and were featured throughout the Blizzard Awards Gala Ceremony.

• Seven Times Lucky (10)
• The Saddest Music in the World (9)
• The Many Trials of Jane Doe (7)
• Murder 19C:  Detective Murdoch Mysteries -- Except the Dying (5)
• Letters from Karelia (5)
• The Spirit of Norway House Cree Nation (4)