Canadians unveil Indie Awards noms

Inaugural ceremony set for Feb. 20 in Ottawa

By BRENDAN KELLY

MONTREAL -- David Cronenberg's "Eastern Promises," Sarah Polley's "Away From Her," Bruce McDonald's "The Tracey Fragments," Philippe Falardeau's "Congorama" and Stephane Lafleur's "Continental, a Film Without Guns" will vie for best film in the Canadian Film and Television Production Assn.'s first Indie Awards.

The awards, unveiled Monday, will be handed out at a ceremony in Ottawa Feb. 20 at the opening of the CFTPA's annual Primetime industry conference.

The race for best primetime drama series includes "Blood Ties," "Durham County," "Intelligence," "Race to Mars" and "ReGenesis."

"Luna: Spirit of the Whale," "Abducted," "A Life Interrupted," "In God's Country" and "The Robber Bride" are all in the hunt for the award for best TV movie.

The best miniseries competition includes "October 1970," "Redemption SK," "Dragon Boys," "St. Urbain's Horseman" and "Above and Beyond".

Given the boom in homegrown sitcoms, the best comedy series category will be one of the most hotly contested races. The nominees are Prairie-set ratings leader "Corner Gas," "Rent-a-Goalie," "Little Mosque on the Prairie," "The Jane Show" and "Moose TV."