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Antoine Olivier-Pilon, Anne Dorval, and Xavier Dolan on the set of Mommy. Photo: Shane Laverdière, courtesy Les Films Séville. |
Xavier Dolan’s Mommy deservedly leads the pack with six nominations and it nets shout-outs in every category in which it was a legitimate contender, while Enemy, Tu Dors Nicole, and Violent all come on strong. The latter film contends for Best B.C. film along with Julia Kwan’s NFB doc Everything Will Be, which, like all three of the Best Canadian Film nominees, recently made this blog’s annual list of the top ten Canadian films of the year. (Note: I haven’t seen Violent yet, since it didn’t play TIFF.) Notably absent from the VFCC Canuck kudos is David Cronenberg’s Maps to the Stars, especially Julianne Moore’s bonkers lead performance, plus the performances from Miraculum, although Anne Dorval is nominated for Mommy, anyways. Bruce Greenwood’s nomination in the supporting category is another head-scratcher since he appears in virtually every scene of Elephant Song, but it’s a strong and nomination-worthy performance regardless. Mommy actually leads the VFCC nominations overall, although it failed to make the group’s top category for Best Film. That prize sees a run-off from Boyhood, Whiplash and Birdman, which leads the non-Canadian contingent. Winners will be announced on Jan. 5.
Best Canadian Film
Enemy
Mommy
Tu dors Nicole
Enemy
Mommy
Tu dors Nicole
Best British Columbia
Film
Everything Will Be – Julia Kwan
Preggoland – Jacob Tierney
Violent - Andrew Huculiak
Everything Will Be – Julia Kwan
Preggoland – Jacob Tierney
Violent - Andrew Huculiak
Best Director of a
Canadian Film
Xavier Dolan, Mommy
Stéphane Lafleur, Tu dors Nicole
Denis Villeneuve, Enemy
Xavier Dolan, Mommy
Stéphane Lafleur, Tu dors Nicole
Denis Villeneuve, Enemy
Best Actor in a
Canadian Film
Jake Gyllenhaal, Enemy
Maxwell McCabe-Lokos, The Husband
Antoine-Olivier Pilon, Mommy
Jake Gyllenhaal, Enemy
Maxwell McCabe-Lokos, The Husband
Antoine-Olivier Pilon, Mommy
Best Actress in a
Canadian Film
Julianne Côté, Tu dors Nicole
Anne Dorval, Mommy
Dagny Backer Johnsen, Violent
Julianne Côté, Tu dors Nicole
Anne Dorval, Mommy
Dagny Backer Johnsen, Violent
Best Supporting Actor
in a Canadian Film
Bruce Greenwood, Elephant Song
Marc-André Grondin, Tu dors Nicole
Callum Keith Rennie, Sitting on the Edge of Marlene
Bruce Greenwood, Elephant Song
Marc-André Grondin, Tu dors Nicole
Callum Keith Rennie, Sitting on the Edge of Marlene
Best Supporting Actress in a Canadian Film
Sarah Allen, The Husband
Suzanne Clément, Mommy
Sarah Allen, The Husband
Suzanne Clément, Mommy
Sarah Gadon, Enemy
Best Screenplay for a
Canadian Film
Xavier Dolan, Mommy
Andrew Huculiak, Josh Huculiak, Cayne McKenzie & Joseph Schweers, Violent
Elan Mastai, The F Word
Xavier Dolan, Mommy
Andrew Huculiak, Josh Huculiak, Cayne McKenzie & Joseph Schweers, Violent
Elan Mastai, The F Word
Best Canadian
Documentary
Everything Will Be – Julia Kwan
Just Eat It: A Food Waste Story – Grant Baldwin
The Price We Pay – Harold Crooks
Everything Will Be – Julia Kwan
Just Eat It: A Food Waste Story – Grant Baldwin
The Price We Pay – Harold Crooks
Best First Film by a
Canadian Director
Sitting on the Edge of Marlene – Ana Valine
The Valley Below – Kyle Thomas
Violent – Andrew Huculiak
Sitting on the Edge of Marlene – Ana Valine
The Valley Below – Kyle Thomas
Violent – Andrew Huculiak
Source: InContention
In other Canadian film awards news, the Toronto Film Critics Association unveiled the nominees for their prize for the Rogers Award for Best Canadian Film last week, which
carries a cash prize of $100 000. The nominees are Mommy, Enemy, and The F Word. The TFCA awkwardly went into
the awards amidst charges of sexism and racism led by member Nathalie Atkinson,
which were then awkwardly (and perhaps unprofessionally) retweeted from the TFCA’s
own official Twitter account and made for an uncomfortable waiting period (and presumably deliberation),
but, like the VFCC, they chose some strong films and emerged friendly. Winners will be announced on Jan. 6.