HAPPY FEET, THE SIMPSONS and OPEN SEASON are among nominees being acknowledged for positive coverage of animal issues at the 21st Anniversary Genesis Awards. Winners in 18 categories will be presented on March 24, 2007, at a gala ceremony at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills.
It's a particularly bountiful year for animals in the media; three notable 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 are the Academy Award-winning HAPPY FEET, OPEN SEASON and OVER THE HEDGE.
Nominated for Outstanding Children's Programming are AVATAR: THE LAST AIR BENDER, DARCY'S WILDLIFE and THAT'S SO RAVEN.
The shows up for the Sid Caesar Comedy Award are THE SIMPSONS, THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART and LEWIS BLACK: RED WHITE AND SCREWED.
This year's Genesis Awards are the first in which nominees were announced in advance. A total of 53 nominees are named in film, TV, documentary and print categories in recognition of their superlative portrayals and coverage of animal issues.
"The unprecedented volume of material from 2006 has enabled us to have nominations for the first time in our 21-year history," said Beverly Kaskey, the director of The HSUS's Hollywood Office. "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. The fact that animal protection concerns can figure seamlessly in entertainment as diverse as THE SIMPSONS, FAST FOOD NATION, CSI, THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART and EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION, proves that animal protection has penetrated popular culture."
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 famed animal activist Brigitte Bardot. The award for comedy is named for humorist Sid Caesar.
The HSUS is further developing its innovative Animal Content in Entertainment (ACE), an industry resource and companion program to the annual Genesis Awards, designed to actively promote and develop animal issue storylines and themes in the entertainment media.
The Humane Society of the U.S. is the nation's largest animal protection organization with 9.5 million members and constituents. The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals and equine protection, disaster preparedness and response, wildlife and habitat protection, animals in research and farm animal welfare. The HSUS protects all animals through education, investigation, litigation, legislation, advocacy and fieldwork. The non-profit organization is based in Washington and has field representatives and offices across the country.
For more information and a list of all of the nominees, visit hsus.org.
