The Toronto International Film Festival is officially over today, and they’ve announced the award winners with the Cadillac’s People Choice Award going to Where Do We Go Now?, the new war drama from Nadine Labaki (director of Caramel). Asghar Farhadi’s A Separation and Ken Scott’s Starbuck were the runners-up.
Gareth Evan’s Indonesian martial arts thriller The Raid received the People’s Choice Midnight Madness Award, while Jon Shenk’s The Island President received the Cadillac People’s Choice Award in the doc category.
You can read the full list of winners in the official press release below:
The 36th Toronto International Film Festival announced its award recipients at a reception at the Four Seasons Hotel today.
All three Canadian awards below were selected by a jury of film professionals. The feature film jury consists of actor Liane Balaban The short film jury members are Sundance programmer Jon Korn; filmmaker and artist Srinivas Krishna (My Name is Raj installation); and Hot Docs Programming Manager Karina Rotenstein.
THE SKYY VODKA AWARD FOR BEST CANADIAN FIRST FEATURE FILM The SKYY Vodka Award for Best Canadian First Feature Film goes to Nathan Morlando for Edwin Boyd. The jury remarked: The SKYY Vodka Award for Best First Canadian Feature goes to a film that sets a tone, stays with it, and shows you what it is to be a soldier returning from war only to find that the world has no place for you. This is a film that puts a human face on a Canadian myth. Generously supported by SKYY Vodka, the award carries a cash prize of $15,000.
The jury gave a special citation to Anne Émonds Nuit #1: Anne Emonds Nuit #1 was simple and raw. It reminded us of the power of two actors with incredible chemistry, a courageous filmmaker, and a dingy apartment. We cant wait for Nuit #2.
THE CITY OF TORONTO AWARD FOR BEST CANADIAN FEATURE FILM The City of Toronto Award for Best Canadian Feature Film goes to Philippe Falardeau for Monsieur Lazhar. The jury remarked: Very rarely does a film come along that does everything perfectly. At the end of this movie, my jury members looked at each other, with tears in our eyes. We came to a unanimous decision : the City Of Toronto Award for Best Canadian Feature goes to a film that explores loss, exile, and the truths we tell our children: Philippe Falardeaus Monsieur Lazhar. Generously sponsored by the City of Toronto, the award carries a cash prize of $30,000.
AWARD FOR BEST CANADIAN SHORT FILM The award for Best Canadian Short Film goes to Ian Harnarine for Doubles With Slight Pepper. The jury remarked: Through the humble but moving story of a family in crisis, this film expresses truths that resonate in Canada and around the world. It is the debut of an exciting new voice from whom we hope to see a great deal more. The award offers a $10,000 cash prize. Honourable mentions go to Mathieu Tremblays Of events (D’aléas) and Ryan Flowers and Lisa Phams No Words Came Down.
THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF FILM CRITICS AWARDS (FIPRESCI PRIZES)
The Festival welcomed an international FIPRESCI jury for the 20th consecutive year. The jury members consist of jury president Diego Batlle (Argentina), Carmen Gray (United Kingdom), Freddie Wong Kwok-Shiu (Hong Kong), Sam Adams (United States), Pascal Grenier (Canada) and John Semley (Canada).
The Prize of the International Critics (FIPRESCI Prize) for the Discovery programme is awarded to Axel Petersén for Avalon (Sweden). The jury remarked: An assured, darkly humorous portrait of an affluent class in hedonistic self-denial, Avalon marks the arrival of a promising new voice in Swedish filmmaking.
(One Week, Up In Cottage Country); director Sturla Gunnarsson (Force of Nature); journalist/producer Denis Séguin (How to Start
Your Own Country); and producer Gabriella Martinelli (Capri Films).
The Prize of the International Critics (FIPRESCI Prize) for Special Presentations is awarded to Gianni Amelio for The First Man (Le Premier Homme) (France, Algeria, Italy). The jury remarked: Gianni Amelios realization of an unfinished Albert Camus novel explores the legacy of colonialism with the tenderness of a memoir and the unflinching gaze of a war reporter.
CADILLAC PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD The Cadillac People’s Choice Award is voted on by Festival audiences. This years award goes to Nadine Labakis Where Do We Go Now? Set against the backdrop of a war-torn country, Where Do We Go Now? tells the heartwarming tale of a group of womens determination to protect their isolated, mine-encircled community from the pervasive and divisive outside forces that threaten to destroy it from within. The award offers a $15,000 cash prize and custom award, sponsored by Cadillac. First runner up is Asghar Farhadis A Separation and Ken Scotts Starbuck.
The Cadillac People’s Choice Award presents a free screening of the Cadillac Peoples Choice Award-winning film Where Do We Go Now? tonight. The screening takes place at 6 p.m. at the Ryerson Theatre. Tickets will be available on a first-come, first served basis beginning at 4 p.m. at Ryerson Theatre. For more information on this screening, visit tiff.net.
CADILLAC PEOPLES CHOICE DOCUMENTARY AWARD The Cadillac Peoples Choice Documentary Award goes to Jon Shenk for The Island President. In this whirlwind political documentary, Mohamed Nasheed wins the presidency after a 20-year battle for democracy in the Maldives, only to face an unfathomable challenge: to save his island nation from rising seas. The Island President follows Nasheed as he takes the climate fight to backroom chambers of power in New York, London, Delhi, and finally into the fierce realpolitik of the Copenhagen Climate Conference. First runner up is Bess Kargmans First Position and second runner up is Cameron Crowes Pearl Jam Twenty.
CADILLAC PEOPLES CHOICE MIDNIGHT MADNESS AWARD The Cadillac Peoples Choice Midnight Madness Award goes to Gareth Evans for The Raid. Starring Indonesian martial arts sensation Iko Uwais, The Raid follows a SWAT team that is trapped in a rundown apartment block in Jakarta filled with heavily armed drug dealers and killers. First runner up is Adam Wingards Youre Next and second runner-up is Bobcat Goldthwaits God Bless America.
