The country's best film & television talent will rub elbows tonight at the 1st-ever Canadian Screen Awards.

The bash combines previously separate award ceremonies for homegrown TV & film--the Gemini & Genie awards.

When the merged awards were announced last year, Academy chair Martin Katz pointed to the Golden Globes & British Academy of Film & Television Arts Awards as worthy role models.

He suggested that combining the power of Canadian A-listers for 1 big event would elevate the industry as a whole.

Celebrities from both fields are on the guestlist: Jay Baruchel, James Cromwell, Catherine O'Hara,
Sandra Oh & Adam Beach. Comedian Martin Short is hosting.

(With files from the Canadian Press)