TORONTO — With the dawn of a new year comes what is affectionately known in show business circles as Awards Season.
Exhausted after 365 days of making the movies, TV shows and music consumed by millions around the world, artists and the people who bring out the best in them gather in auditoriums and ballrooms during the first eight weeks of the year to reward themselves.
Awards Season doesn’t even include the Tony Awards, MTV Movie Awards, Daytime Emmy Awards, Primetime Emmy Awards, MTV Music Video Awards, MuchMusic Video Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards, Canadian Country Music Association Awards, CMT Music Awards, Country Music Association Awards or American Music Awards.
Steam that floor-length gown, get the tuxedo dry-cleaned and chill the champagne — it’s time to revel in red carpet fashion, acceptance speeches and the agony of defeat.
Here’s a handy guide to Awards Season:
Jan. 7 – People’s Choice Awards
Created in 1975, the PCAs recognize the most popular music, TV and movies. Since 1982, the show has been owned by Procter & Gamble. Winners, determined by online votes, are notified prior to the telecast but generally do their best to act surprised when their names are called. In Canada, the PCAs air on Global.
Jan. 11 – Golden Globe Awards
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler return to host the 72nd star-studded celebration of television and film. The Globes — chosen by a handful of members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association — are often a good indicator of which films will see Oscar glory. No Canadians are nominated this year but the Calgary-shot series Fargo and made-in-Toronto movie Maps to the Stars will get mentions.
Jan. 15 – Critics Choice Movie Awards
For the 20th time, the Broadcast Film Critics Association — representing more than 250 critics in the U.S. and Canada — will bestow awards to winners of categories that vary from Best Action Movie to Best Young Performer. This year, Alberta-shot Interstellar has seven nominations. Most surprising, in the Best Director category, two of the nominees are women.
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Jan. 20 – Dorian Awards
The Dorian Awards, launched in 2010, recognize the best in movies and television from the previous year, as chosen by members of the Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association (GALECA). Nominations in categories ranging from Film of the Year to Campy Flick of the Year will be announced Jan. 12. Last year’s nominees included Montreal’s Xavier Dolan, Regina’s Tatiana Maslany, and Dallas Buyers Club from Canadian director Jean-Marc Vallée. (Disclosure: The author of this post is a voting member of GALECA.)
Jan. 24 – Producers Guild of America Awards
Since 1990, members of the union representing film and television producers have been honouring themselves at this annual event. Nominations will be announced Jan. 5.
Jan. 25 – Screen Actors Guild Awards
The SAG Awards, voted on by members of two unions — the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists — recognize the best performances in film and television. They’ve been handed out since 1995. This year’s SAG Award nominees include Regina’s Tatiana Maslany for her work on the Toronto-shot series Orphan Black.
Also in January… the American Cinemas Editors ACE Eddie Awards (Jan. 30) and the Art Directors Guild Awards (Jan. 31).
Feb. 6 – NAACP Image Awards
The Image Awards are handed out annually by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to honour “people of colour in film, television, music, and literature.” This year’s nominees include the film Selma (eight nods), L.L. Cool J and Beyonce.
Feb. 7 – Directors Guild of America Awards
The people who actually call the shots pick the winners at the 66th edition of the DGA Awards.
Feb. 8 – Grammy Awards
The best of the year’s music — but not necessarily the most popular — has been honoured at the Grammy Awards since 1959. The pre-show ceremony, where the majority of the awards are actually given out, will be streamed online this year. Rumours are swirling that AC/DC and U2 will perform on this year’s broadcast.
Feb. 8 – British Academy Film Awards
Nominees for the 68th UK version of the Academy Awards will be revealed on Jan. 9. Winners are chosen by members of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Expect to see a lot of Benedict Cumberbatch.
Feb. 21 – Golden Raspberry Awards
Better known as the Razzies, these are handed out each year on the night before the Oscars to recognize the worst in film. Last year’s winners (or are they losers?) included Will and Jaden Smith and Tyler Perry.
Feb. 21 – Independent Spirit Awards
The 30th Film Independent Spirit Awards will be given out on the day before the Oscars. Canada’s Mommy, from Montreal director Xavier Dolan, is up for Best International Film. Ontario native Martin Short is part of the ensemble cast of Inherent Vice, which will receive a special award.
Feb. 22 — Academy Awards
The Academy Awards, or Oscars, have been the main event for the film industry since 1929. Nominations will be announced Jan. 15. This year’s show will be hosted by Neil Patrick Harris. Canada isn’t represented this year in the Foreign Language Film category.
Also in February… the Visual Effects Society Awards (Feb. 4), Writers Guild Awards (Feb. 14), Cinema Audio Society Awards (Feb. 14), American Cinematographers Awards (Feb. 15), Motion Picture Sound Editors Awards (Feb. 15), and Costume Designers Guild Awards (Feb. 17).
March 1 – Canadian Screen Awards
The CSAs debuted in 2013, finally bringing together the movie industry’s Genie Awards and TV’s Gemini Awards. The third edition will be hosted by Andrea Martin, an American-born star with strong ties to Canadian show business. Nominations in more than 100 categories will be announced in January — but we already know actor Paul Gross will be honoured with the Earle Grey Award.
March 15 – JUNO Awards
This year’s celebration of the best in Canadian music will be staged in Hamilton, Ont. Expect the list of nominees to be revealed in early February.
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