Sheridan Faculty and Alumni Among Nominees for 2010 Gemini Awards

Vladimir Kabelik, a long-time faculty member in Sheridan’s film and television programs, has been nominated for a Gemini Award for his documentary film, So Far From Home.

For Immediate Release: September 13, 2010
Oakville, Ontario

Vladimir Kabelik, a long-time faculty member in Sheridan’s film and television programs, has been nominated for a Gemini Award for his documentary film, So Far From Home. Kabelik wrote and directed the film, for which he received a nomination in the Best Writing in a Documentary Program or Series category. The winner will be announced at the Gemini Awards on November 2nd in Toronto.

So Far From Home documents the stories of five exiled journalists from some of the world’s conflict zones, including Iran,Afghanistan, Pakistan, Eritrea and Uganda. It offers a unique window into their experiences and their efforts to come to terms with their past as they struggle to build a new life in Canada. “I thought the subject was very timely,” says Kabelik. “Look at the world around you. There’s so much talk of freedom, truth, hope and democracy, but we still see a lot of oppression.”

The film aired last fall on OMNI Television, which financed its production. It was nominated for a Golden Sheaf Award at the Yorkton Film Festival, and received the Special Jury Award in Political/International Issues at the Houston Worldfest Film Festival held in April. One-third of the people involved in the film’s production are from Sheridan, including several graduates.

Kabelik is not the only Sheridan name among the Gemini nominees this year. Others include faculty members Michael Kennedy, nominated for Best Direction in a Comedy Program or Series for Little Mosque on the Prairie; and Stephen Barden, nominated for Best Sound in a Dramatic Series for Durham County.

Several graduates are also among the nominees, including:

Andre Dupuis – Best Photography in an Information Program or Series for Departures – Ethiopia: Saints and Snakes

Owin Lambeck and Peter Hordylan – Best Picture Editing in a Comedy, Variety or Performing Arts Program or Series – So You Think You Can Dance Canada

Jill Purdy – Best Sound in a Dramatic Program – The Good Times Are Killing Me

Rob Turi – Best Sound in a Comedy, Variety or Performing Arts Program or Series – Hotbox

About the Gemini Awards: Launched by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television in 1986, the Gemini Awards honour outstanding achievements in the Canadian English languagetelevision industry. The Gemini Awards bring together Canada’s most gifted craftspeople, producers, and decision-makers over several evenings of special events.

About Sheridan: Sheridan College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning aims to provide students of all ages with the knowledge and skills to thrive in a rapidly changing world. We serve 15,000 full-time and 35,000 continuing education students at our campuses in Oakville and Brampton, with a new campus slated to open in Mississauga in 2011. Sheridan offers an innovative learning environment celebrated for academic excellence, applied research and creativity. Sheridan’s Media Arts diploma program has been producing highly skilled film and television professionals for over thirty years. Our post-graduate program in Advanced TV & Film, launched in 2000, offers mature students and seasoned professionals the opportunity to develop their creativity while also gaining specialized filmmaking and production skills.