As I mentioned in an earlier post, my favorite movie at the Toronto International Film Festival this year was "Lebanon," Samuel Maoz's gripping and cinematically innovative war movie set in 1982.
Other highlights from this year's program, in my mind, include Harmony Korine's playfully bizarre "Trash Humpers" and the Coen brothers' "A Serious Man." The first two features still need to secure U.S. distribution, but "A Serious Man" comes out Oct. 2. Take note of them, because TIFF audiences apparently did not.
None of these movies won awards Saturday (although Oscar buzz for the Coens movie has commenced). Instead, the top prize of the festival -- the Cadillac People's Choice Award -- went to Lee Daniels' "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire," a moving if sensationalistic chronicle of Harlem strife.
Its triumph is a rather conventional one, considering the acclaim that this movie has developed since its Sundance premiere back in January. Lionsgate bought the movie and managed to secure endorsements from Tyler Perry and Oprah, both of whom walked the red carpet at the movie's Toronto premiere a few days ago.
Is it possible that audiences were manipulated into voting en masse by the presence of these showbiz giants? Maybe, although that shouldn't detract from the merits of "Precious" as a flashy shot of dramatic intensity. Expect this movie to continue to hog the spotlight as it careens toward a November 6 release date -- but keep your eyes peeled for "Lebanon," too.
The full release from the TIFF awards ceremony is listed below:
AWARD FOR BEST CANADIAN SHORT FILM
The award for Best Canadian Short Film goes to Pedro Pires for Danse Macabre. Based on a concept by Robert Lepage, director Pires’s exquisitely photographed morbid ballet pushes the traditional dance film to new cinematic heights. The jury remarked: “There was one film that had such devastating beauty, that watching it was having fireworks shattering your heart. A prayer for the dying, a love song to the living, everyone must see this beautiful work.” The jury would like to recognize and support Jamie Travis for The Armoire with an honourable mention, an exciting filmmaker with an original voice and an exquisite vision. The award offers a $10,000 cash prize and is supported by the National Film Board of Canada.
THE SKYY Vodka AWARD FOR BEST CANADIAN FIRST FEATURE FILM
The SKYY Vodka Award for Best Canadian First Feature Film goes to Alexandre Franchi for The Wild Hunt for its assured, inventive and bold command of film form traversing contemporary and mythic landscapes marking the launch of an audacious new talent. Set in the fantasy-reality of a large role-playing game, this film captures the culture of costume play and the potentially dangerous intersection of the real and made-up worlds. The award carries a cash prize of $15,000.
THE CITY OF TORONTO AND ASTRAL MEDIA’S THE MOVIE NETWORK AWARD FOR BEST CANADIAN FEATURE FILM
The City of Toronto and Astral Media’s The Movie Network Award for Best Canadian Feature Film goes to Ruba Nadda for Cairo Time.
