"Gabrielle" may not have made it to Hollywood for the Oscars, but Canada's foreign-language Oscars entry did take the top prize at the second annual Canadian Screen Awards Sunday night in Toronto.
Gabrielle Marion-Rivard won best film actress for "Gabrielle." She gave a few well-chosen thank-yous in French before saying "I love you, Canada."
Tatiana Maslany took best TV actress in a dramatic role for the sci-fi cloning series "Orphan Black." Maslany was also up for Best Actress in a Film for "Cas & Dylan," but lost out to Marion-Rivard.
Speaking of "Cas & Dylan," Jason Priestley, the film's director, won for his dark TV comedy "Call Me Fitz," capturing the best TV comedy and best actor awards. Tracy Dawson from the show won the best actress in a comedy award.
Previous coverage:
2014 Canadian Screen Awards nominees
Reviewing the WIFF 2013 Canadian films
Enemy, from Quebec director Denis Villeneuve, won 5 awards on the night, including best director for Villeneuve and Sarah Gadon for best supporting actress.
In the other major film acting categories, Gabriel Arcand took best actor for "Le Démantèlement (The Auction)" and Gordon Pinsent took best supporting actor honors for The Grand Seduction.
"Watermark" won for best feature length documentary.
Some of the earlier awards included the screenplay awards: "Empire of Dirt" won for best original screenplay and "The F-Word" took best adapted screenplay.
The evening's festivities included a tribute to legendary Canadian director David Cronenberg. Martin Short once again hosted the Canadian Screen Awards in a televised ceremony on CBC. Short's material included plenty of Rob Ford jokes.
Ford didn't make the Oscars, though he was in Los Angeles. The awards are in Ford's home city of Toronto.
Like the Oscars makes you want to go out and see the films you missed, the Canadian Screen Awards make me want to see "The Grand Seduction" and "Tom at the Farm" among many others. But the awards also makes me appreciate that I have seen "Gabrielle" and "Cas & Dylan."
The problem is catching up on Canadian film is harder than it should be. Canadians, you have an easier time enjoying these films and the TV shows. Hope you appreciate what you got.
Click here for a full list of winners.
photo credit: Fred Thornhill/Canadian Press
Comments