The film Maudie, a fictional account of true Nova Scotian folk painter Maud Lewis, an arthritic and reclusive woman who works as a housekeeper, while forging herself as an artist, has won seven awards, including Best Picture, at the Prix Ecrans. Sunday night in Toronto.
The gala highlighting excellence in film and television included a large number of Quebec nominees.
The Quebec harvest on Sunday was mainly in the film Hochelaga, land of souls of François Girard, who won four awards, including best artistic direction – François Séguin – and best photo direction – Nicolas Bolduc. The film also won awards for overall sound and visual effects.
Robin Aubert’s The Hungry Horror film, which was a finalist for Best Picture and Best Direction, received the Best Makeup Award – Erik Gosselin and Marie-France Guy.
Ava, by Montreal-based filmmaker Sadaf Foroughi of Iran, earned Bahar Nouhian the award for a first supporting role. The film was previously awarded the Canadian Screen Awards for Best First Feature.
Ava, a co-production between Canada, Iran and Qatar, tells the story of a 16-year-old girl from a wealthy social class who defies her family and social restrictions in Tehran.
Boost, drama written and directed by Darren Curtis, shot largely in Parc-Extension, Montreal’s popular district, was also awarded.
On the leading male role in the cinema, Nabil Rajo won the honor for this film relating the misadventures of two young car thieves. Mr. Rajo proudly said that he felt at home in Canada after arriving from Eritrea at the age of six.
The Golden Screen Award for Feature Film – highlighting the highest box office receipts during the year – was awarded to Father in Cree 2.
In addition to The Hungry, Quebec films Ava, It’s the heart that dies last and The little girl who loved too much the matches were finalists for the best film.
The Best Achievement Award went to Aisling Walsh, for Maudie, having been preferred to Ian Lagarde for All You Can Eat Buddha, Alexis Durand-Brault for It’s the Heart Who Dies Last, Robin Aubert for The Hungry and Sadaf Foroughi for Ava.
Maudie was hailed for the best screenplay by Sherry White and the best supporting actor, Ethan Hawke.
Sally Hawkins, nominated for the most recent Oscars for her role in The Shape of Water, won the award for Best Female Performance in a Leading Role for Maudie. She was not present at the ceremony.
The category included Denise Filiatrault, for It’s the heart that dies last, and the young Marine Johnson, for The little girl who loved matches too much.
Minister of Canadian Heritage Mélanie Joly was on stage for the announcement of the winner. Highlighting strong female characters, Ms. Joly spoke of the #MoiAussi movement, saying in French to be “in solidarity with all women in the community”.
The animated film Parvana, a childhood in Afghanistan, adapted from the novel by Canadian author Deborah Ellis and co-produced by Angelina Jolie, won Best Actress Award for Anita Doron, as well as Best Original Music and from the best original song.
The film directed by Ireland’s Nora Twomey, a co-production between Canada, Ireland and Luxembourg, tells the story of a little girl living in Afghanistan who disguises herself as a boy so she can work and support her family.
“I believe everything comes from her courage and compassion,” said Anita Doron behind the scenes about Ms. Ellis, who based her book on testimonials she obtained from Afghan women in refugee camps in Pakistan.
Actress Maxim Roy presented the award for best comedy series, awarded to Kim’s Convenience – a third trophy for the show as part of the 2018 Canadian Screens.
In a night full of diversity, actor Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, winner of the comedy Kim’s Convenience, argued that “when you give people a voice, others listen, and when people begin to listen, things start to change. ”
The best drama series is Anne, presented at CBC, having been favorite at 19-2 and Mary Kills People.
For the first female role in a drama show, Tatiana Maslany received honors for Orphan Black, in a category that included Caroline Dhavernas for Mary Kills People.
Homage was paid to the novelist Margaret Atwood and former station manager Peter Mansbridge.
Jonny Harris and Emma Hunter took over from Howie Mandell in animation.
In the opening number, the host highlighted the presence in the hall of the actor Marc-André Grondin, the poster of the horror film Les Affamés written and directed by Robin Aubert. She joked that people had started to eat each other in Quebec, and her partner added that their way of preparing them was magnificent.
The two presenters also pretended to kiss each other by talking about the chemistry between Olympic ice dance champions Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue.
In all, 24 statuettes were awarded for the cinema, and 97 for the television.