British productions dominated on Sunday night at the first of two award galas at the Banff World Television Festival, though hit series Lost, Oscar-nominated animated short I Met The Walrus and CBC's Hockey Day in Canada were also among the winners.

For the first time, the ceremony was split into two parts, with winners in 23 categories announced Sunday and presentation of the grand prizes to follow on Monday evening.

British-made television won nine of Sunday night's award categories, from the reality competition satire Peter Kay's Britain's Got the Pop Factor (music or variety program) to Warlords Next Door?, an exposé from the series Dispatches exploring how some Somali politicians allegedly tied corruption, torture and mass murder nevertheless enjoy close links with the U.K. (political documentary program).

The six-minute Canadian short film I Met the Walrus — based on Jerry Levitan's audio interview with John Lennon during the famed 1969 Montreal bed-in — won for best animation program.

CBC-TV's Hockey Day in Canada, a daylong celebration of the sport, won for best sports entertainment program.

Other Canadian winners included the National Film Board's Paris 1919 (history & biography program), Inuit Odyssey (popular science & technology program) and Family Restaurant: The Quons (lifestyle & information program).

American winners included ABC's island-set mystery series Lost, which nabbed the prize for best continuing series and serial program, and the much celebrated HBO series John Adams, which won in the mini-series category.

Altogether, 800 entries were submitted, with 130 category finalists representing television productions from 29 countries.

The annual festival is a celebration of TV programming from around the globe as well as an industry event packed with workshops, pitch sessions, panel discussions, meetings and tributes.

TV writer, producer and Kids In The Hall member Mark McKinney is this year's winner of the festival's coveted Peter Ustinov Award for comedy.

"I just didn't think I was there yet, you know, wherever 'there' is," McKinney said in an interview, expressing surprise at joining the likes of past winners such as John Cleese, Bob Newhart, Dame Edna and Tracey Ullman. "But I saw the, my God, the list of the other people who've won it, you know. It was really impressive," he said.

"I didn't think I was in that class, and who knows, maybe this is an off-year," he quipped.

Canadian-born actor Victor Garber and broadcasting veteran Trina McQueen are also being celebrated with an award of excellence and a lifetime achievement honour, respectively, this year.

The Banff World Television festival continues through Wednesday.

With files from The Canadian Press