Canadian Screen Week capped-off in a huge way tonight with the third annual Canadian Screen Awards taking place at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. The Ceremony honouring the finest in Canadian Film and Television, is meant to recognize and celebrate the Hotbed of talent in our Country and also, on an international scale.
Hosted by SCTV Alumni Andrea Martin, the laughter kept coming with her referencing everything from the fresh Internet debate of the White vs. Blue Dress, to a hilarious introduction which saw her falling out of her SUV, full of censored pixilation, which later would be turned into a YouTube Video complete with Autotune. She revealed before the Press Room that her jokes tonight with a result of a collaboration between friends Steve Martin, Martin Short and a couple Writers from Late Show with David Letterman.
128 Screen Awards were handed-out this week, with 45 being handed tonight during the live Broadcast, airing first in the Atlantic region. Among the top Winners tonight was ORPHAN BLACK, which for a second consecutive year won Best Dramatic Series, along with its Star Tatiana Maslany nabbing again Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role. Maslany arrived dressed in Canadian Designers Greta Constantine, with her Boyfriend, Downton Abbey Star, Tom Cullen.
French-language Drama MOMMY – fresh off a César Award in France – from Quebec Filmmaker/Actor Xavier Dolan would go on to win major accolades tonight including Best Motion Picture, Achievement in Cinematography, Achievement in Direction, Achievement in Editing, Achievement in Make-Up, Original Screenplay, Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Antoine Olivier Pilon), Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (Anne Dorval) and Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role (Suzanne Clément).
POMPEII also would go-on to score big, winning Achievement in Art Direction, Achievement in Direction, Achievement in Costume Design, Achievement in Visual Effects, Achievement in Sound Editing and Achievement in Visual Effects. It earlier was awarded the Cineplex Golden Reel Award as top-grossing Canadian Film. Mega-Producer Don Carmody accepted the Award tonight, while one of its Stars, Kiefer Sutherland walked the Red Carpet, making a return to his Hometown.
Several would dazzle the Red Carpet tonight including recent Oscar Winner Julianne Moore, smart in a Pantsuit, graciously accepting a warm round of applause as she came to present. The Actress was nominated for her work in David Cronenberg‘s acclaimed MAPS TO THE STARS, which eventually saw her Co-Star John Cusack go-on to win for Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role. Others who dazzled included Meaghan Rath of BEING HUMAN, Sarah Gadon of MAPS TO THE STARS, Julia Voth of PACKAGE DEAL, Patrick J. Adams of SUITS, a pregnant A.J. Cook of CRIMINAL MINDS and a tearful Missy Peregrym who commended ROOKIE BLUE Fans for being “fierce”; the latter Series won Golden Screen Award for Best Dramatic Television Series.
For a complete list of Winners, click here.
See our Snaps from tonight’s Red Carpet Festivities!
Andrea Martin
2015 Canadian Screen Award Presenters
Class Photo! #CDNSCREEN15 Presenters! #NikonD3300 A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
Tom Cullen + Tatiana Maslany
The Team behind ORPHAN BLACK
Congrats to the Team behind #OrphanBlack winning Best Drama Series! #CDNSCREEN15 #TatianaMaslany #NikonD3300 A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
Xavier Dolan + Nancy Grant of MOMMY
Congrats to #XavierDolan and #NancyGrant who win Best Picture at #CDNSCREEN15 for #MOMMY. #NikonD3300 A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
Tatiana Maslany winning for ORPHAN BLACK
#TatianaMaslany wins Best Actress in a Drama Series for #OrphanBlack a second year! #CDNSCREEN15 #NikonD3300 A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
Jared Keeso wins for 19-2
#JAREDKEESO wins Best Actor in a Dramatic TV Series for #192. From Listowel, ON to the #CDNSCREEN15 Awards! #NineteenTwo #NikonD3300 A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
Anne Dorval wins for MOMMY
#ANNEDORVAL wins Best Actress in a Motion Picture, #MOMMY. #CDNSCREEN15 #spoileralert #NikonD3300 A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
Missy Peregrym accepts for ROOKIE BLUE
“Our fans are fierce”, says a teary #MissyPeregrym, accepting Best Dramatic Series at #CDNSCREEN15. #spoileralert #NikonD3300 A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
Vinay Virmani + Manpreet Ral winning Best Original Song for DR. CABBIE
Our buddy @VinayVirmani + Manjeet Ral winning Best Original Song at #CDNSCREEN15 for #DrCabbie.
A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
Don McKellar winning for SENSITIVE SKIN
#DonMcKellar hamming it up after his Best Actor in a TV Series Comedy at #CDNSCREEN15, for #SensitiveSkin. A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
A.J. Cook
#CriminalMinds Star #AJCook at #CDNSCREEN15! Do you believe she’s pregnant? #NikonD3300 A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
Kevin Durand
#KevinDurand, star of #Vikings and #TheStrain at #CDNSCREEN15. #NikonD3300 A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
Meaghan Rath
#MeaghanRath of #BeingHuman at #CDNSCREEN15. #NikonD3300 A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
Megan Follows
#MeganFollows (#AnneofGreenGables) at #CDNSCREEN15 for #Reign. #NikonD3300 A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
Bruce Greenwood + Susan Devlin
#BruceGreenwood of #ElephantSong, at #CDNSCREEN15 with his lovely Mrs. #NikonD3300 A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
Ken Taylor (on whom Oscar-winning Best Picture ARGO was based) + Co-Producer Elena Semikina
The real #KenTaylor on whom which #ARGO is based upon + #OurManinTehran Co-Producer #ElenaSemikina. #NikonD3300 A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
Patrick J. Adams
Star of #SUITS, #PatrickJAdams at #CDNSCREEN15. #NikonD3300 A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
Sarah Gadon
IMHO, best-dressed, #SarahGadon at #CDNSCREEN15. #NikonD3300 A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
Diego Klattenhoff
Kiefer Sutherland
#KieferSutherland at #CDNSCREEN15 for #Pompeii. #NikonD3300 A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
Atom Egoyan
#AtomEgoyan at #CDNSCREEN15 for #TheCaptive. #NikonD3300 A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
Julia Voth
Stunning #JuliaVoth, nominated for #PackageDeal. #CDNSCREEN15 #NikonD3300 A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
Dan Levy, Annie Murphy + Eugene Levy of SCHITT’S CREEK
#DanLevy, #AnnieMurphy + #EugeneLevy of #SchittsCreek at #CDNSCREEN15! #NikonD3300 A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
The Cast of TU DORS NICOLE
The Cast of Best Picture Nominee #TuDorsNicole at #CDNSCREEN15: #MarcAndreGrondin, #CatherineStLaurent, #JulianneCote and more. #NikonD3300 A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
The Director + Cast of MOMMY:
The Cast of #MOMMY, Best Picture Nominee at #CDNSCREEN15 including: #XavierDolan, #AnneDorval, #AntoineOlivierPilon + #SuzanneClement. #NikonD3300 A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
Missy Peregrym + Gregory Smith
#ROOKIEBLUE’s #MissyPeregrym + #GregorySmith at #CDNSCREEN15. #NikonD3300 A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
Enrico Colantoni
Adorable #EnricoColantoni of #Remedy at #CDNSCREEN15. #NikonD3300 A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
Michael Murphy
#MichaelMurphy, nominated for #FALL at #CDNSCREEN15. #NikonD3300 A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
Julianne Moore
#JulianneMoore smart in a suit at #CDNSCREEN15! Will she win Best Actress for #MapstotheStars? #NikonD3300 A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Laughs and celebrations were to be had this morning at TIFF Bell Lightbox as Nominees for the 2015 Canadian Screen Awards were unveiled. The Gala, now in its third edition, is set to take place early March in Toronto, airing live across Canada.
Academy CEO Helga Stephenson took the podium succinctly taking a quick moment to thank Partners including the CBC, PwC and Ritz-Calton Hotel, reflecting on a solid year for Canadian Film and Television, before Nominees in 128 categories were announced. “2014 was an exceptionally competitive year for Canadian Film, Television and Digital Media” says the former Publicist. “The Academy received a record number of Canadian Screen Awards submissions, which is a good sign for the Industry.”.
Canadian Funnywoman and this year’s Host Andrea Martin joined Stephenson on-stage before realizing she too would be a Nominee this year for her work on Working with the Engels asking jokingly, “Did I win??!”, then suggesting that she’d be schmoozing with the Media to gain votes. Just having celebrated the premiere at the venue last night for new CBC series Schitt’s Creek alongside SCTV Alumni Catherine O’Hara and Eugene Levy, Martin drew big laughs talking upon mentioning the Canadian Screen Awards’ Digital categories. “I just love the word ‘digital’, it makes us sound like we are working in Porn!”.
Up-and-Comers Cara Gee (Strange Empire) and Jared Keeso (19-2) were tasked with announcing Nominees, playfully mispronouncing names. “Don’t worry Academy, we got this”, they kidded, tongue-in-cheek.
Leading TV Nominees this year once again is Orphan Black with 13 nominations, while in the Film Categories, Mommy also garners 13 nominations this year. In addition to several prominent Canadian names like Tatiana Maslany, David Cronenberg and Xavier Dolan surfacing, Hollywood types like recent Golden Globe Winner and Oscar Frontrunner Julianne Moore, Robert Pattinson, Ryan Reynolds and Mia Wasikowska also would be mentioned in Acting categories. A much-in-the news Seth Rogen also received a nod for his Hilarity for Charity Comedy Special.
For a full list of Nominees, visit academy.ca.
To learn more about the Fan Zone and how to vote for your favourite Canadian Screen Star, visit fanzone.academy.ca.
Presenters will be announced in the coming weeks.
Martin + Stephenson:
Gee + Keeso:
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Cinema Lovers were inundated with fantastic Selections at the Movies in 2014. Although there isn’t quite a definitive Standout, there were many, many outstanding Films released. Dare we say, one of the strongest years in recent memory? This certainly makes the race for dominance this Awards Season a rather curious one.
We rely regularly on the opinions of our resident Contributors: Jonathan Godfrey (now with us a third year!), David Baldwin, Justin Waldman and our newest Team addition George Kozera, to keep us informed on what to watch and asked them what their Favourites of 2014 were. We’re not professional Film Critics by any measure, but we love Film passionately and if you ever want a Friend’s opinion, we are happy to share! The voice of the Fan always should matter most and we are Fans just like YOU!
As you will see, the choices are eclectic, a reflection of the offerings this year…
JONATHAN GODFREY
1. Interstellar
2. Lucy
3. The Tale of Princess Kaguya
4. Nymphomaniac
5. John Wick
6. Maps to the Stars
7. Wild
8. Mood Indigo
9. Hunger Games: Mockingjay Pt 1
10. Bjork: Biophilia Live
Every year of my life has been cinematically-splendid, and 2014 was no different. Numerous Films from diverse Genres excited my eyes and elevated my mind-state. None more so than Nolan’s Interstellar. Having seen it four times in the theatre it still doesn’t feel like enough. That said, it wasn’t the only slice of Sci-Fi I gobbled up. Lucy also satiated my appetite for Techno-Fantasy. Then there was the outright Fantasy of Studio Ghibli’s breathtaking tale about a Bamboo Princess, Lars Von Triers four-hour dive into sexual addiction, Keanu’s kick-ass Escapade, Cronenberg’s Olympian Tragedy, Witherspoon’s awe-inspiring performance, Michel Gondry’s take on a cult novel that finally made its way to Canadian screens, and Katniss Everdeen… the Icon who continues to inspire me. Last, but most definitely not least, Björk released her incredible Concert Film which combined technological advances with her love for nature. Maybe 2014 was a little different after all, it was grippingly- cinematic, but with a touch of the divine.
DAVE BALDWIN
Looking back, I think 2014 was one hell of a year for Film. There were some truly awful and sub-par Films released this year too. But there were just as many good, and even a few truly-great Films released as well. It was a mixed bag, but the quality and ambition of some of this year’s crop of Films was truly extraordinary. While Franchise/Comic Book Film fatigue is starting to become quite evident, some pretty huge and experimental gambles paid off brilliantly (did anyone ever expect The LEGO Movie to be as wildly enjoyable as it was?). The Box Office stats in North America may not suggest it, but it was a truly memorable year. And if this is what we have to expect in 2015, I am immediately excited for some of its prospects — and for some time to re-watch some of this year’s best Films again!
1. Whiplash
2. Nightcrawler
3. Birdman
4. Boyhood
5. Life Itself
6. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
7. The Imitation Game
8. Gone Girl
9. How To Train Your Dragon 2
10. Guardians of the Galaxy
(Potential top Films not seen before end of 2014: Big Eyes, American Sniper, A Most Violent Year)
JUSTIN WALDMAN
It is New Year’s Eve and that means that we are supposed to look back at the year and discuss the best things we have seen and witnessed this year. This year brought a ton of great Films that were released throughout the entire year, most of which came out in the second half of the year but some came out earlier on. With so many great Films that came out this past year and one Title that comes out in February, here are the best Films of 2014 with a few extra Titles. In absolutely no particular order:
1. Snowpiercer
2. Big Hero 6
3. Whiplash
4. Nightcrawler
5. Foxcatcher
6. The F Word
7. Pride
8. Dear White People
9. Calvary
10. Guardians of the Galaxy
Now that the best 10 Movies of the year I saw are out there, here is a few of the other Titles that did not make the Top 10 but deserve recognition, at least in my mind. Into the Woods, Big Eyes, Theory of Everything, Interstellar, Birdman, Gone Girl, Locke and Life Itself. 2014 was an excellent year of Film, 2015 has a tough year to compete against but BRING IT ON!
GEORGE KOZERA
For the first time in years, I struggled with whittling down the Movies I saw that were eligible for my Top 10 Movies of 2014. That in itself is a strong indication how many great movies were released this year! So it is with great apologies to the following Movies that WOULD have made the list in a weaker movie year (The Grand Budapest Hotel, Wild, Gone Girl, The Lego Movie, The F Word, Locke & The Babadook), I submit my Top 10 that made the biggest impact on me in 2014.
1. Boyhood
2. Foxcatcher
3. The Theory of Everything
4. Birdman
5. Ida
6. The Immigrant
7. The Imitation Game
8. Mommy
9. Nightcrawler
10. Whiplash
My 2014 in review, including my Best-Of? Click here for that.
Stick with us once again in 2015 for the most exciting Canadian Advance Screening Giveaways, Prizes, Star-Spottings and Reviews!
(Photo credit: Paramount Pictures/Mongrel Media/Elevation Pictures/Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada)
Following-up his Oscar-nominated Animal Kingdom from 2010, Director/Writer David Michôd will premiere his latest, The Rover in Cannes this May as part of their Midnight Screenings Program.
Official Synopsis:
A Loner tracks the gang who stole his car from a desolate town in the Australian outback with the forced assistance of a wounded guy left behind in the wake of the theft.
The Rover stars: Guy Pearce, Robert Pattinson, Scoot McNairy, David Field, Anthony Hayes, Gillian Jones and Susan Prior.
See the semi-sweet Trailer here:
Those of us hoping for a TIFF ’14 Premiere, will have their hopes dashed as it gets a Canadian release June 20, 2014 in Canada via eOne Films, whom are represented by not one, but THREE Canadian Films in Cannes this May including: David Cronenberg‘s Maps to the Stars (also starring Pattinson!), Xavier Dolan‘s Mommy and Atom Egoyan‘s The Captive!
(Photo/video credit: A24 Films)
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