The Academy Of Canadian Cinema & Television (ACCT) said on Tuesday (May 1) it was merging its film, television and digital media awards into a single gala event on Mar 3, 2013. Separetly the ACCT named Helga Stephenson CEO.

English and French-language films will continue to compete in the new awards show which will now also include English-language television and digital awards.

The annual Gémeaux Awards will celebrate French-language television and digital media on Radio-Canada on Sunday Sept 16, as previously announced.

Shows currently eligible for the 2012 Gemini Awards will be part of the Academy’s new awards show in March 2013. 

“Following extensive industry consultation and outreach, the Academy board announces the consolidation of the Genie and Gemini awards into one major powerhouse show for the Canadian public,” ACCT chair Martin Katz said.

Turning to the matter of Stephenson, the executive has served as ACCT Interim CEO since May 26, 2011. She is a co-principal at Daniels Stephenson – producers of the annual Toronto Film Critics Awards – and chairs the Reykjavik International Film Festival, the Toronto Human Rights Watch Film Festival and serves as a member of the Chair’s Council of TIFF, among other posts.

“As our Interim CEO, Helga Stephenson has already ushered in a new era of change and growth,” Katz said. “So it is with great pleasure that we officially welcome such a visionary as the new Academy’s Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.”

“It is an exciting and pivotal time to be at the helm of the Academy, representing its members who are the creative backbone of the media industry in Canada,” Stephenson said. “We are living in a time of constant change in the media industry and we will continue to ensure this dynamism is reflected in the new Academy.”

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