Toronto International Film Festival Announces Critics Prizes; IN THE HOUSE Wins

 The 37th Toronto International Film Festival announced its award recipients today at a reception at the Intercontinental Hotel Toronto.

THE PRIZES OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRITICS (FIPRESCI PRIZES)
The Festival welcomed an international FIPRESCI jury for the 21st consecutive year . The jury members consist of jury president Peter Keough (United States), Jon Asp (Sweden), Ashok Rane (India), Louis-Paul Rioux (Canada), Juan Manuel Dominguez (Argentina) and Brian McKechnie (Canada). The Prize of the International Critics (FIPRESCI Prize) for Special Presentations is awarded to Francois Ozon’s Dans la maison (In the House). The jury remarked: “For achieving an exquisitely crafted entertainment that blurs the distinction between the storyteller and the story told, and that assuages with playful complexity the tragedies of life with the consolations of art, the FIPRESCI award for Special Presentations goes to Francois Ozon’s In the House.”

Prize of the International Critics (FIPRESCI) for the Discovery programme is awarded to Mikael Marcimain’s Call Girl. The jury remarked: “With an intense sense of cinema reminiscent of the American thrillers of the 1970s, Mikael Marcimain’s debut feature achieves a portrait of an obscure world involving women’s rights and political corruption. Marcimain deals with his sensitive subject with immense ease and cr aftsmanship. Because of these accomplishments the FIPRESCI Award for Best Film in the Discovery programme goes to Mikael Marcimain’s Call Girl.”

The Canadian awards below were selected by a jury comprised of producer and filmmaker Jody Shapiro, CPH PIX Festival Director Jacob Neiiendam, actor and filmmaker Valerie Buhagiar and director, writer and producer Patricia Rozema.

THE CITY OF TORONTO + CANADA GOOSE AWARD FOR BEST CANADIAN FEATURE FILM
The City of Toronto + Canada Goose Awar d for Best Canadian Feature Film goes to Xavier Dolan’s Laurence Anyways. The jury remarked: “For its breathless cinematic energy and its entirely new love story, the jury felt honoured to watch such unfe ttered genius at play. For Best Canadian Feature Film, we have unanimously chosen Xavier Dolan’s Laurence Anyways.” This award is made possible thanks to the City of Toronto and Canada Goose and comes with a cash prize of $30,000.

THE SKYY VODKA AWARD FOR BEST CANADIAN FIRST FEATURE FILM
The SKYY Vodka Awar d for Best Canadian First Feature Film is a tie between Brandon Cronenberg’s Antiviral and Jason Buxton’s Blackbird. The jury remarked: “For Best Canadian First Feature Film, we have made a decision that reflects the broad spectrum of Canadian styles and voices. The prize this year has been split between Blackbird, for its authenticity and clear-eyed social conscience, and for its ambitious commentary and visual sophistication, Antiviral.” Generously supported by SKYY Vodka, the award carries a cash
prize of $15,000. TIFF takes great pride in our role of supporting championing emerging filmmakers and as such, TIFF will be doubling the prize, so that both Brandon and Jason will receive a cash prize of $15,000 each.

AWARD FOR BEST CANADIAN SHORT FILM
The winner of the Award for Best Canadian Short Film goes to Deco Dawson for Keep a Modest Head. The jury, comprised of journalist and author Matthew Hays, journalist Katrina Onstad and filmmaker Reginald Harkema, remarked: “For the winner of this year’s best short, we chose a film that expands the boundar ies of documentary, one that perfectly reflects its surreal subject. The award offers a $10,000 cash prize. The honourable mention goes to Mike Clattenburg’s Crackin’ Down Hard for its unpredictable zaniness.”

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