One Television won the station of the year award during the television awards held at the Malta Hilton last night.
Some of the nominees feigned nonchalance - others glanced furtively around, sizing up their rivals, and tried to gauge the body language of the judges before the awards were announced.
The winners were: Best children/youth programme: Zmeraldi teens; Best cultural programme: Għawdex Illum; Best lifestyle programme: Montage; Best educational/health programme: Ħajja; Best magazine programme: Dak Kien is-Seklu XX; Best entertainment programme: Showtime; Best reality programme: Liquorish; Best current affairs programme: Trip;
The best social-awareness/religious programme went to: Qalb in Nies; Best sports programme: L-argument; Best game/quiz show: Kontra l-Ħin; Best documentary: Muftieħ; Best opening sequence: Aaron briffa - Imsaħħra; Best original song: I Grooves and four people - Gizelle; Best digital effects: Modern image studios - Hazzzard; Best editing: 4 people - Gizelle; Best cameraman: Adrian farrugia - Gizelle; Best original script: 4 people - Gizelle; and Breakthrough/upcoming talent: Svetlana Muscat - Bikini.
Xarabank won Best talk show. Miriam Dalli of One News won the Best news presenter and Best programme presenter award for Trip.
The best female actor in a leading role (comedy) went to Claire Agius Ordway - Skartoċċ; Best male actor in a leading role (comedy): Daniel Chircop - Skartoċċ; Best female actor in a supporting role (comedy): Rinalda Mizzi - l-Avukat Gawdenz Bilokka; Best male actor in a supporting role (comedy): Tonio Vella - Fredu l-Fra; Best female actor in a leading role (drama) Kristjana Casha - Gizelle; Best male actor in a leading role (drama): Carlos Farrugia - Gizelle. The best female actor in a supporting role (drama): Louise Ellul - Gizelle; Best male actor in a supporting role (drama): Joseph Galea - Pupi; Best comedy - Skartoċċ; Best drama - Pupi; Best director - Charles Stroud - Pupi; the Television station of the year award went to One Television; People's choice award - favourite personality: Alfred Zammit; Favourite programme: Gizelle.
The Charles Arrigo lifetime achievement award went to Ġemma Portelli. Commenting before the ceremony, winner Ms Dalli said: "I'm committed to exploring the more avant-garde and serious sides of broadcasting in the coming years." On the other hand, Claire Agius Ordway said: I have three nominations; the one about which I am most excited most is Ħajja. One phrase I will not utter if I had to win is 'this is a surprise for me; I did not expect to win... If I send an application for a particular programme, or for my performance, it is because I believe in the product and I believe it is a winner."