Humane Society lauds films

“Fast Food Nation” was named best feature film of 2006, and Oscar winner “Happy Feet” also was honored at the 21st annual Genesis Awards, presented by the Humane Society of the United States to honor media presentations of animal protection issues.

“Fast Food Nation,” Richard Linklater’s fictionalized adaptation of the book by Eric Schlosser, was lauded by the Genesis judges “for an uncompromising look at the link between the abuse and exploitation of people and animals in a slaughterhouse.”

“Happy Feet,” which won the Academy Award last month for best animated feature, earned the Genesis Award in the same category, winning praise for its story of a penguin “who saves himself from the misery of zoo confinement and his community from the threat of human overfishing.”

Among the other winners announced Saturday were Fox’s “Bones” for best TV drama (for an episode about slaughtering farm animals), Fox’s “The Simpsons” for best TV comedy (for an episode about bullfighting) and “Charlotte’s Web” for best family feature film (“a timeless tale about friendship, loyalty and respect for all living creatures”).