It’s award season in Hollywood – and not just for actors.
The HSUS announced this week nominees for its 21st annual Genesis Awards, which honor the entertainment and news media for showcasing animal protection issues.
Winners in 18 categories will be presented on Saturday, March 24, at a gala ceremony at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills.
Last year saw an abundance of positive portrayals of animals in the media, according to Beverly Kaskey, the director of HSUS’ Hollywood office. “The unprecedented volume of material from 2006 has enabled us to have nominations for the first time in our 21-year history,” says Kaskey. “This is a sure sign that animal issues are of increasing relevance, emerging naturally as part of the growing attention to the plight of animals and the natural world.”
A total of 53 nominees were named in film, TV, documentary and print categories. Three movies were nominated in the category of Family Feature Film: “Charlotte’s Web,” “Hoot,” and “Eight Below.” In the Animated Family Feature Film category, the nominees were the Academy Award-nominated “Happy Feet,” “Open Season,” and “Over the Hedge.”
Genesis Awards will be given in two categories of documentaries, as well as for reality programming, talk shows, children’s programming, and dramatic series, among others. International awards will be given in print and TV/film in the name of French animal activist Brigitte Bardot. The award for comedy is named for humorist Sid Caesar.
In the category of Outstanding Written Word, nominees include articles from Rolling
Stone, The New York Times, Vanity Fair, Los Angeles magazine, and Time.
In addition to the news and entertainment nominees, the HSUS announced a new category for this year: the Wyler Award, which will go to a celebrity who has made news on behalf of animals. The award is named for Genesis Awards founder and former Broadway star Gretchen Wyler, an early advocate for animals.
Celebrities who compose the 21st Genesis Awards Honorary Committee include Sean Astin, Zooey Deschanel, Dennis Franz, Wendie Malick, Joe Mantegna, Moby, Mary Tyler Moore, Chynna Phillips, Doris Roberts, Alicia Silverstone, and Amy Smart.
The Genesis Awards will be taped for broadcast on Animal Planet. To see a full list of nominees, visit http://www.hsus.org/about_us/hsus_hollywood_office/the_genesis_awards/