The 31st annual Vancouver International Film Festival concluded its 16-day run on Friday, October 12th. The winners of two juried awards, and six audience awards were announced prior to the screening of Holy Motors by Leos Carax at The Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts. The Dragons & Tigers Award winner was announced previously.
Juried Awards
The Canadian Images jury announced two awards. The jury included popular Vancouver actor Jay Brazeau, Montréal filmmaker Anne Émond and Columbian-American media personality Claudia Mendoza-Carruth.
The Award for Best Canadian Feature Film
The Award for Best Canadian Feature Film, and its $10,000 cash prize, went to Jason Buxton of Nova Scotia for Blackbird. The winner was selected from twelve films in competition. The jury selected this film “for its years of research by the director on the juvenile correctional system; how it transforms the life of a creative kid. The supporting characters are extremely well crafted, free of clichés. We look forward to the development of the careers of both newcomer Connor Jessup and first-time feature director Jason Buxton.” Claudia Mendoza-Carruth presented the award.
Honourable Mention for Canadian Feature Film
Becoming Redwood, directed by Jesse James Miller of BC, for its “beautiful journey that transports you to the 1970s. Ryan Grantham carries the film with extraordinary gravitas on his 14-year old shoulders, winning the audience over.”
Most Promising Director of a Canadian Short Film Award
The Canadian Images jury, represented by Jay Brazeau, awarded a $2,000 cash award from an anonymous donor to Juan Riedinger of BC for Float. The jury selected this film as “a dark and large subject treated with simplicity and truth. The director handled these seasoned actors with finesse.”
Honourable Mention for a Canadian Short Film
Peach Juice, directed by Brian Lye, Callum Paterson and Nathan Gilliss of BC. “Funny, with a great sense of humour. A different kind of take on animation showed much promise. We look forward to seeing more. It was a bittersweet story.”
Audience Awards
Rogers People’s Choice Award
The Hunt, directed by Thomas Vinterberg, won the Rogers People’s Choice Award. All of the Festival’s 236 feature films — features and nonfiction — were eligible, and festival-goers chose the most popular film by rating every film they saw on a scale of 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent). Tara Thind, reporter for OMNI TV, presented the award on behalf of Rogers.
VIFF Most Popular Canadian Film Award
The audience chose Becoming Redwood, directed by Jesse James Miller, for the VIFF Most Popular Canadian Film Award, presented by Canadian Images Programmer, Terry McEvoy.
VIFF Most Popular Canadian Documentary Award
Blood Relative, directed by Nimisha Mukerji, won the VIFF Most Popular Canadian Documentary Award, presented by Canadian Images Programmer, Terry McEvoy.
VIFF Most Popular International Documentary Film Award
The audience chose Nuala, directed by Patrick Farrelly and Kate O’Callaghan, for the VIFF Most Popular International Documentary Film Award, presented by Festival Director, Alan Franey.
VIFF Most Popular Environmental Film Award
Revolution, directed by Rob Stewart, won the VIFF Most Popular Environmental Film Award. The award was announced by Festival Director, Alan Franey.
VIFF Most Popular International First Feature Award
The audience chose I, Anna, directed by Barnaby Southcombe, for the VIFF Most Popular International First Feature Award, presented by Festival Director, Alan Franey.
Women in Film and Television Artistic Merit Award
The unanimous decision for the 2012 WIFTV Artistic Merit Award goes to Manon Briand, writer-director of Liverpool.
Previously Announced Awards
Dragons & Tigers Award for Young Cinema
The $5,000 Dragons & Tigers Award for Young Cinema, generously supported by donor Brad Birarda, went to director Li Luo of China for Emperor Visits The Hell (Tang Huang You Difu). Presented to the director of a creative and innovative film from East Asia that has not yet won significant international recognition, the award was announced on October 4th. The distinguished jury was comprised of Portuguese filmmaker João Pedro Rodrigues, whose films To Die Like a Man (2009) and The Last Time I Saw Macao, the latter screening at VIFF 2012; filmmaker Makato SHINOZAKI, a former Dragons & Tigers finalist (Die! Directors, Die! and Since Then); and Chuck Stephens, writer, teacher, and contributing editor / columnist, Film Comment. They considered eight films in competition.
The Vancouver International Film Festival exists, in part, thanks to the support of generous donors. On Friday evening, VIFF acknowledged the support of major partners Rogers Communications, Fidelity Investments Canada, and Telefilm Canada. VIFF extended its thanks and appreciation to the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Community, Sport, and Cultural Development’s Community Gaming Grants programme, as well as the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage’s Building Communities, Arts & Heritage programme.
For those of us still recovering / withdrawing from the loss of the Festival (it’s still here, but not in full swing until next September), Teacher of the Year, an official selection of the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival, directed by Chris Modoono, and starring Gil Zabarsky, Kathleen Littlefield & Rachel Dratch.
