The 10-day celebration of Canadian cinema, screen talent, and creativity came to a close last night with Toronto audiences crowning Philippe Falardeau’s political satire their favourite pick from the festival’s 10 feature films.
Running January 8–17 at TIFF Bell Lightbox in Toronto, Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival attracted a record audience for its 15th edition, presenting an engaging lineup of events including screenings of the 10 best feature and short films of the year; introductions and Q&As with special guest filmmakers; educational and industry events; and onstage conversations with Kiefer Sutherland and Tatiana Maslany.
Vancouver’s The Cinematheque (January 8–17) and Montreal’s PHI Centre (January 8–16) also presented the Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival selection this month, and for the first time in the festival’s history a special simulcast screening of Patricia Rozema’s Into the Forest was presented simultaneously in all three cities, featuring an interactive Q&A with the film’s director.
Select films and guests will continue to tour major cities across the country with forthcoming screenings at the Winnipeg Film Group’s Cinematheque (January 15–February 28), Edmonton’s Metro Cinema (January 22–31), the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa (January 23, additional dates TBA), the Calgary International Film Festival at the Globe Cinema (February 4–7), and the Atlantic Film Festival in association with the Halifax Central Library (May 2–8).
Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival People’s Choice Award
The People’s Choice Award goes to My Internship in Canada (Guibord s'en va-t-en guerre), directed by Philippe Falardeau.
My Internship in Canada is a sharp political satire in which politicians, citizens and lobbyists go head-to-head while tearing democracy to shreds. Guibord is an independent Member of Parliament representing a vast county in Northern Quebec who unwillingly finds himself in the awkward position of determining whether Canada will go to war. Accompanied by his wife, daughter and Souverain (Sovereign) Pascal, an idealistic intern from Haiti, Guibord travels across his district in order to consult his constituents and face his own conscience.
Commenting on winning the People’s Choice Award, director Philippe Falardeau said, “January 18 is supposed to be Blue Monday, the most depressing day of the year. Well for me it sure isn't! What a delight, and honestly what a surprise. I truly didn't expect this. I want to thank the audience and Canada's Top Ten for acknowledging our work. We might have launched a new genre in this country, the political comedy.”
Student Film Awards
The Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival spotlights student shorts in its annual lineup, presenting the top student shorts from colleges and universities across the country. In a ceremony held on January 15 at TIFF Bell Lightbox, prizes were awarded to student films in the live action and animation categories.
The winners were selected by the Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival shorts panel of filmmakers and industry professionals, including: filmmaker and writer Sarah Goodman (Army of One, Porch Stories, National Parks Project); TIFF Senior Canadian Programming Associate Lisa Haller; producer Aeschylus Poulos (Sleeping Giant, The Book of Negroes); artist and filmmaker Nicholas Pye; and filmmaker Albert Shin (In Her Place, Point Traverse).
Best Film (Live Action)
The winner of the Best Live Action Student Film award is Ms. Liliane (Mme Liliane), directed by Junna Chif (Concordia University). This assured and sensitively directed short follows primary-school teacher Liliane, who, distracted from her overly disruptive class as she anxiously awaits a phone call, ultimately finds comfort in an unexpected source.
The award comes with: a rental grant worth $6,000 provided by William F. White International Inc.; a DCP output of the film courtesy of Technicolor; $1,000 from the Directors Guild of Canada; two tickets to the Directors Guild of Canada Awards, and a Sales & Industry Pass to the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival.
Runner-up for Best Film (Live Action)
Alia, directed by Raghed Charabaty (Nova Scotia College of Art and Design), was awarded Runner-up for Best Live Action Student Film. In this haunting and poetic glimpse into the flashpoint that started the Lebanese Civil War, a man recounts the last few moments before the death of his beloved. The Runner-up prize awards a rental grant worth $3,500 provided by William F. White International Inc.
Best Film (Animation)
The prize for Best Animated Student Film goes to The Casebook of Nips & Porkington, directed by Melody Wang (Sheridan College), a delightfully imaginative animation with clues and characters literally jumping off the page as two policemen investigate a mysterious crime.
The award comes with: a DCP output of the film courtesy of Technicolor; $1,000 courtesy of the Directors Guild of Canada; two tickets to the Directors Guild of Canada Awards, and a Sales & Industry Pass to the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival.
Established by TIFF in 2001, the Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival celebrates and promotes contemporary Canadian cinema and raises awareness of Canadian achievements in film.