Ottawa is about to have a brush with celebrity.
The nation’s capital will play host to an awards ceremony to celebrate the best in Canada’s film industry this spring.
Ottawa will host the 29th annual Genie Awards at the Canadian Aviation Museum on April 4, the National Capital Commission announced Wednesday.
It will be the first time that the event will be held in Ottawa.
In addition to having celebrities come to Ottawa–Genie Award nominees will be announced in early February–having the show here is an opportunity to have Canadians from across the country develop a better appreciation for the capital, said Kathryn Keyes, spokeswoman for the NCC.
It’s estimated that between 1.2 million and 2.4 million people will tune into the live broadcast of the event, which will include shots of landmarks around the National Capital Region, Keyes said.
The event will also bring to Ottawa about 1,000 of the country’s most influential industry professionals, said Keyes.
“The Genie Awards have grown and matured into a true national celebration,” said Sara Morton, CEO of the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television. “So it’s fitting that Ottawa, the nation’s capital, should host our celebration of Canada’s finest films and filmmakers.”
“This event is a perfect opportunity to celebrate excellence in Canadian cinema in the nation’s capital,” said NCC CEO Marie Lemay. “Over the coming months, the support and contributions of numerous public and private sector partners will help ensure that this event will shine a spotlight on the region.”
