Shaftesbury’s Life with Derek Wins Shaw Rocket Prize

TORONTO, May 2:
Shaftesbury Films’ live-action comedy series Life with Derek has been awarded the Shaw Rocket Prize, which
honors the best independently produced Canadian youth or family program with
C$50,000.

Shaftesbury will divide
the money between the Canadian Film Centre, to be used on a kids’ TV writing
and producing intern program; PREVNet (Promoting Relationships and Eliminating
Violence Network), a coalition of Canadians concerned about bullying; and Life
with Derek creator Daphne Ballon.

Life with Derek currently airs in Canada on Family Channel, and has
been translated into 19 languages, airing in more than 115 countries worldwide.
The series follows a modern blended family, which has forced together two
strong-willed teenagers, Casey and Derek, each accustomed to being in charge
and each determined to keep it that way.

“Shaftesbury is honored to
have the opportunity to share this prize with our valuable partners,” said Christina Jennings, the chairman and CEO of Shaftesbury Films. “Life
with Derek has been a terrific
experience for Shaftesbury and we are very happy to receive this recognition.”

“We are thrilled that Life
with Derek has been awarded the
Shaw Rocket Prize and congratulate Christina and her team on this achievement,”
said Kevin Wright, the senior VP of programming for Astral Television Networks.
“This smart and entertaining series continues to rank as one of the most
popular on Family Channel and we are proud of the series’ ongoing success both
here in Canada and around the world.”

—By Kristin
Brzoznowski