Animal Friendly Films Celebrated By Humane Society Posted: Feb 08, 2007

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has announced the nominees for its 21st Genesis Awards. This unique awards series honors news and entertainment media that showcase animal protection issues.Winners in 18 categories will be presented on Saturday, March 24, 2007 at a gala ceremony at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, CA.

This seemed to be the year for animal safety for major motion pictures with several popular movies nominated in various categories. Three notable movies nominated in the category of Family Feature Film included Charlotte's Web, Hoot and Eight Below. In the Animated Family Feature Film category, the nomninees were the Academy Award-nominated Happy Feet, Open Season and Over the Hedge.

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 exemplary 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," says 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."

The Genesis Awards annually recognize the major news and entertainment media for highlighting emerging issues or for bringing a fresh perspective to long-standing ones. In addition to the news and entertainment nominees, The HSUS also announced a new category this year: A celebrity who has made news on behalf of animals will receive the Wyler Award in honor of Genesis Awards founder and former Broadway star Gretchen Wyler, one of the most honored figures in animal activism.