#FIRSTLOOK: “UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE” WINS 2024 ROGERS BEST CANADIAN FILM AWARD AT TFCA AWARDS

The Winnipeg-set comedy Universal Language has won the Toronto Film Critics Association’s 2024 Rogers Best Canadian Film Award. Its companion prize, Rogers Best Canadian Documentary, was awarded to the musical biopic Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story.

Universal Language imagines a Winnipeg where Persian is the dominant language and turkeys roam the snowy streets while tourists admire the drab cityscape. Any Other Way tells the story of R&B singer Jackie Shane, who broke ground as an out Black trans performer on the Toronto scene in the 1960s before fading into obscurity.

The richest annual film prize in Canada was shared by narrative and documentary features, with $50,000 to each winner, courtesy of Rogers. Actor/writer/director Don McKellar (The Sympathizer) presented the award to Universal Language writer/director Matthew Rankin. Comedian Rick Mercer presented the doc prize to Any Other Way’s Michael Mabbott, who directed the film with Lucah Rosenberg-Lee.

Drawing influences from Canada’s Guy Maddin and Iran’s Abbas Kiarostami, Universal Language is an irreverently funny consideration of our multicultural landscape. The film was Canada’s official submission in the Oscar race for Best International Feature and made the 15-film shortlist. Any Other Way, which explores histories of trans erasure and visibility, brings Shane’s story to screen using her own words combined with animation and dramatic recreations. Universal Language is currently in theatres, while Any Other Way is streaming on Crave.

Runners-up in both categories received a $5,000 prize from Rogers Communications. Nominated in the dramatic category were Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson, and Galen Johnson (Rumours) and Sophie Deraspe (Shepherds), while Brenda Michell, Michael Toledano, and Jennifer Wickham (Yintah) and Ali Weinstein (Your Tomorrow) were runners-up in the documentary race.

Hosted by actress Tamara Podemski (Outer Range, Fancy Dance), the ceremony took place at a gala dinner held February 24, 2025 at The Omni King Edward Hotel in Toronto, featuring a Prime Video cocktail party, and a Netflix dinner.

“This year’s winners are exactly why Rogers awards these prizes to Canadian films,” said Robin Mirsky, Executive Director, Rogers Group of Funds. “Universal Language is a richly imaginative take on Winnipeg, one of our most richly imagined cities. And Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story is about a remarkable chapter in Toronto music history, one that deserves to be better known. Both are films that could only be made by Canadians, about Canadians, and we congratulate all the winners and nominees.”

“We had an embarrassment of riches this year in both the documentary and narrative feature categories, and any of the films could have won,” added TFCA President Johanna Schneller.

“Congratulations to all our splendid nominees. But Universal Language and Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story both do something extraordinary: Each nods to cinematic history, and each advances their respective forms in invigorating new directions. They were thrilling to watch, and we’re thrilled to celebrate them.”

At the gala, TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey presented winner RaMell Ross with three TFCA Awards for his drama Nickel Boys: Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay, co-written by Joslyn Barnes. Adapted from the novel by Colson Whitehead, Nickel Boys is currently nominated for two Oscars including Best Picture. Actor Sarah Gadon (Enemy, Alias Grace) presented Outstanding Performance in a Canadian Film to Félix-Antoine Duval for his turn in Shepherds. Duval plays Quebecois adman Mathyas Lefebure, who quit his job to pursue life as a shepherd in Provence, France.

Podemski introduced video acceptance speeches from TFCA Award winners Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Outstanding Lead Performance, Hard Truths), filmmaker Payal Kapadia (Best International Feature and Best Original Screenplay, All We Imagine as Light), director Gints Zilbalodis (Best Animated Feature, Flow), and actor Clarence Maclin (Breakthrough Performance, Sing Sing).

Actor Jamie Thomas King (The Tudors, Mr. Turner) and actor/screenwriter Eva Everett Irving (The Pitt, Orphan Black) presented the Jay Scott Prize for an emerging artist to filmmaker J Stevens, who made their feature directorial debut last year with Really Happy Someday and has directed series including Sort Of and Slow Pitch.

In its mission to recognize new voices in film criticism, the TFCA gave Alexander Mooney the seventh annual Telefilm Canada Emerging Critic Award, presented by Emily Hampshire (Schitt’s Creek). Mooney has contributed to outlets including Exclaim!, Documentary Magazine, and MUBI Notebook. The award comes with a prize of $1,000.

And this year’s Company 3 Luminary Award was presented by three-time Rogers Best Canadian Film winner Jennifer Baichwal (Manufactured Landscapes, Anthropocene) to Tonya Williams, celebrated actor and founder and executive director of the Reelworld Film Festival and Reelworld Screen Institute. A pay-it-forward initiative, the award allows the recipient to donate $50,000 in post-production services from Company 3 to another filmmaker. Williams announced Vancouver-based filmmaker Leena Minifie as the recipient.

The TFCA is extremely grateful to founding sponsor Rogers Communications for the Rogers Best Canadian Film and the Rogers Best Canadian Documentary awards. The TFCA thanks returning sponsors Netflix as Dinner sponsor, Prime Video as Cocktail Reception and After Party sponsor and Air Canada as Official Airline. TFCA salutes Telefilm Canada as the Telefilm Canada Emerging Critic sponsor and Company 3 as the Company 3 Luminary Award Sponsor. The TFCA also thanks sponsors Omni King Edward Hotel and salutes stalwart supporters G.H. Mumm Champagne, L’Eat Catering, Zoomer Magazine, The Printing House, Element Event Solutions and Pinnacle Live.

ABOUT THE TFCA

The Toronto Film Critics Association was established in 1997 and is comprised of Toronto based journalists and broadcasters who specialize in film criticism and commentary. All major dailies, weeklies and a variety of other print, electronic and web outlets are represented. Members of the TFCA also participate in the Federation of International Film Critics (FIPRESCI). As such, they have sat on juries at festivals in Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Toronto, Montreal, Miami, Palm Springs, Chicago, Pusan, Moscow, Amsterdam, London and Vienna, among others.

#FIRSTLOOK: “UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE” SHORTLISTED FOR BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM AT ACADEMY AWARDS

MAISON 4:3 and Metafilms are pleased to highlight that the film UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE, directed by Matthew Rankin, has just taken an important step in the race for the Oscar for Best International Film by being selected in the shortlist of nominees. Having celebrated its world premiere at the Quinzaine des Cinéastes in Cannes last May, where it was awarded the Chantal Akerman prize, UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE has been selected for 90 film festivals across the globe, winning 15 awards to date. The film was honoured at the Toronto International Film Festival as Best Canadian Discovery and the Bright Horizons Award at the Melbourne International Film Festival. UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE has been sold in more than 30 countries and will be released in theatres across Canada beginning January 24, 2025, in Matthew’s hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba.

The film stars the filmmaker himself, as well as Mani Soleymanlou (MY BROTHER’S WIFE, BEFORE THE CRASH), Danielle Fichaud (ALINE), Pirouz Nemati (ANOTHER WORD FOR LEARNING) and newcomers Rojina Esmaeili, Saba Vahedyousefi and Sobhan Javadi, for the first time on screen.

Somewhere between Tehran and Winnipeg. Negin and Nazgol find a sum of money frozen in the winter ice and try to get it out. Massoud leads a group of confused tourists through increasingly more absurd monuments and historic sites in Winnipeg. Matthew quits his job at the Québec government and embarks upon a mysterious journey to visit his mother. Time, geography and personal identities crossfade, interweave and collide into a surreal comedy of disorientation.

Co-written by Matthew Rankin, Pirouz Nemati, and Ila Firouzabadi, UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE is Matthew Rankin’s second feature film following the acclaimed TWENTIETH CENTURY, which won the FIPRESCI Prize at the 2020 Berlinale. Shot in French and Persian in Montréal and in Winnipeg, the film is produced by Sylvain Corbeil for Metafilms with the participation of Telefilm Canada, SODEC and provincial tax credits from Québec and Manitoba. International sales are handled by BFF. Oscilloscope Laboratories distributes in the United States.

UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE is distributed in Canada by Maison 4:3 and will be released theatrically on January 24, 2025, in Winnipeg, with other major cities to open in the weeks following. The Toronto Film Critics Association will announce the winner of the Rogers Canadian Film Award in a gala event on February 24, 2025.

ABOUT MAISON 4:3

Maison 4:3 is a film distribution company founded in 2014. A boutique distributor, the company leverages its experience and knowledge of the independent film space to implement launch strategies and support for filmmakers at all stages of development and release. Maison 4:3 is passionate about deeply human projects that are both meaningful and unique.

ABOUT METAFILMS

Metafilms is a production house based in Montreal founded in 2003 to offer young, unique authors the means to express their vision of cinema and the world. To date, Metafilms has produced 23 feature-length, 28 short and medium-length films, as well as 7 music videos. All the films have been widely distributed in prestigious international festivals (Cannes, Berlin, Locarno, Sundance, Toronto, San Sebastian, Rotterdam, Karlovy Vary, etc.), acclaimed (Jury Prize at Cannes for MOMMY, (Silver Bear at the Berlinale for VIC + FLO SAW A BEAR), (Best Canadian Feature Film at TIFF for FÉLIX AND MEIRA), (Jury’s coup de coeur prize at Cannes for LA FEMME DE MY BROTHER), (Canada’s choice for the 2024 Oscars for ROJEK), (César for Best Foreign Film for SIMPLE LIKE SYLVAIN) with sales all over the world. Very recently, Metafilms has been developing an emerging creators program with Rosalie Chicoine Perreault and Catherine Boily.

#FIRSTLOOK: “UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE” CANADA’S SELECTION FOR OSCARS INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM

Universal Language is representing Canada in the nomination process for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards®, to be held on March 2, 2025. The film is directed by Matthew Rankin, written by Matthew Rankin, Pirouz Nemati and Ila Firouzabadi and produced by Metafilms. It is being distributed in Canada by Maison 4:3. International sales are handled by Oscilloscope Laboratories.

“This year’s film submissions brilliantly showcase the exceptional talent that makes Canada shine. Universal Language by director Matthew Rankin has been selected by a jury of industry peers to represent Canada in the race for the Oscar® for Best International Feature Film,” says Julie Roy, Executive Director and CEO of Telefilm Canada. “This film is emblematic of our national cinematography: with the success it has enjoyed since its launch at Cannes, no matter what the language, it reaches audiences here and abroad. That’s the power of cinema! We wish Matthew Rankin, Sylvain Corbeil and the entire creative team the best of luck!”

“We are amazed by this improbable selection and we will do our very best to represent Canada at the Oscars,” said director Matthew Rankin. “Universal Language is an expression of very great collective joy between myself and my friends Pirouz Nemati, Ila Firouzabadi, Sylvain Corbeil and all the beautiful and hilarious people who created this strange, triangle-shaped, Irano-Winnipego-Québécois brain which became our film, beh naamé doosti (in the Name of Friendship).”

Universal Language, which world premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, will have its North American premiere at TIFF on September 10, 2024. The film stars Rojina Esmaeili, Saba Vahedyousefi, Pirouz Nemati, Mani Soleymanlou and Matthew Rankin.

As the appointed non-voting chair of the committee, Telefilm Canada organizes the annual pan-Canadian Selection Committee for Canada’s submission to the Best International Feature Film category at the Academy Awards®.

The vote was determined by a pan-Canadian committee of industry organizations and guilds, as well as filmmakers and industry professionals appointed to represent organizations. Twenty-six films were submitted for consideration as Canada’s Choice this year. The committee met the morning of August 27th to select the film.

So far, nine countries have submitted their entries for the Best International Feature Film category. Last year, 88 countries submitted a film. 

Key dates:

September 20, 2024 – Theatrical release date of Universal Language
October 2, 2024– Deadline for country submissions for the Best International Feature Film category
December 17, 2024 – Academy shortlist of 15 titles selected to move forward.
January 17, 2025 – Academy Award® nominations announced
March 2, 2025 – Academy Awards® ceremony
 

About Universal Language

Synopsis :

Winter. Somewhere between Tehran and Winnipeg. Negin and Nazgol find a large sum of money frozen deep within the sidewalk ice and try to find a way to get it out. Massoud leads a group of befuddled tourists upon an increasingly-absurd walking tour of Winnipeg monuments and historic sites. Matthew leaves his job at the Québec government and embarks upon a mysterious journey to visit his estranged mother. Time, geography and identities crossfade, interweave and collide into a surreal comedy of misdirection.

Structured like a Venn diagram – at the point of confluence between Jacques Tati and Abbas Kiarostami’s Koker Trilogy – Universal Language is at once a diary film, an absurdist city symphony and a welling-up of confinement-era emotion exploring the mysterious interzone where one person ends and the rest of the world begins. An elusive, half remembered dream of home, solitude, our responsibilities to others and the wild turkeys that haunt us.

About Canada in the Best International Feature Film category at the Oscars®  

In the history of the Oscars®, eight Canadian films have been official nominees in the Best International Feature Film (formerly known as the Best Foreign Language Film category): in 2013, Rebelle, by Kim Nguyen; in 2012, Monsieur Lazhar, by Philippe Falardeau and In Darkness, by Agnieszka Holland (a minority coproduction with Poland and Germany); in 2011, Incendies, by Denis Villeneuve; and, in 2007, Water, by Deepa Mehta. The list also includes three films by Denys Arcand: Le Déclin de l’empire américain, in 1987, Jésus de Montréal, in 1990 and, in 2004, Les Invasions barbares, the only Canadian film to have won the Oscar® in this category.  

About the selection process for the Best International Feature Film category 

Telefilm Canada coordinates and chairs the pan-Canadian Selection Committee, without voting right. The committee comprises some 10 members representing key government agencies and national film industry associations. Each of them may appoint a representative to the jury, in accordance with Academy rules. It is responsible for choosing the film that will represent Canada at the Oscars®, which accepts only one film per country for the Best International Feature Film category.

Academy rules were modified in 2023, specifying that juries must include a minimum of 50% craftspeople that are currently active in the film industry. Jury members must screen all submissions before participating in a virtual conference to evaluate and vote on which film will best represent Canada at the Oscars®. Jurors are encouraged to consider the quality of the films, as well as their international competitiveness.

Submitted films must have been produced outside the United States in a language of at least 51% other than English and must have been theatrically exhibited in the submitting country for at least seven consecutive days between November 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024.

About Telefilm Canada  

As a Partner of Choice, Telefilm Canada is a Crown corporation dedicated to the success of Canada’s audiovisual industry, fostering access and excellence by delivering programs that support cultural resonance and audience engagement. With a lens of equity, inclusivity and sustainability, Telefilm bolsters dynamic companies and a range of creative talent at home and around the world. Telefilm also makes recommendations regarding the certification of audiovisual coproduction treaties to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, and administers the programs of the Canada Media Fund. Launched in 2012, the Talent Fund raises private donations which principally support emerging talent. Visit telefilm.ca and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/Telefilm_Canada and on Facebook at facebook.com/telefilmcanada.