With more than 300 films from 73 countries, VIFF audiences were treated to narratives and documentaries that entertained, informed, inspired and left viewers in awe of the filmmaking talent that exists here in Canada and from creators around the world.

By PD Raj

VANCOUVER – The Canadian film Maudie took the top VIFF People’s choice Award as the 16-day Vancouver International Film Festival wrapped last Friday evening with the screening of Terrence Malick's Voyage of Time: The IMAX Experience and the presentation of four audience awards VIFF Most Popular Canadian Documentary, VIFF Most Popular International Documentary, VIFF Most Popular International Feature and the overall Super Channel People's Choice Award.

With more than 300 films from 73 countries, VIFF audiences were treated to narratives and documentaries that entertained, informed, inspired and left viewers in awe of the filmmaking talent that exists here in Canada and from creators around the world.

The VIFF Audience Awards were determined based on audience voting with post-screening ballots on a scale of one to five, with five being the highest. The following films took home the top spots at this year's festival:

Super Channel People's Choice Award

Winner: Maudie (dir. Aisling Walsh)

VIFF Most Popular International Feature

Winner: I, Daniel Blake (dir. Ken Loach)

Runner up: The Salesman (dir. Asghar Farhadi)

VIFF Most Popular International Documentary

Winner: Human (dir. Yann Arthus-Bertrand)

VIFF Most Popular Canadian Documentary

Winner: Spirit Unforgettable (dir. Pete McCormack)

Also announced at the award ceremony was the Women in Film and Television Artistic Merit Award, presented to a Canadian feature film at VIFF written and/or directed solely by a woman. This year's award winner is Nettie Wild for KONELĪNE: our land beautiful.

New this year, VIFF launched a 'film plus' model that saw the introduction of stream-based programming including films, talks, events and awards, giving audiences a more rounded festival-going experience. The streams will continue to grow and evolve through VIFF's year-round programming at the Vancouver International Film Centre. More details on the year-round stream-based programming will be available in the coming weeks.

 

Earlier VIFF announced Nine Awards Celebrating BC and Canadian Filmmakers and VIFF Impact Award with more than $100,000 awarded in cash and in-kind prizes to help further projects and professional development of Canadian content creators.

This year's slate of award-winners includes an animated odyssey wedding poetry and politics; a masterfully crafted short documentary about Vancouver's cab drivers; an indictment of hockey's toxic masculinity; an intimate portrait of a grandmother and grandchild; and an immaculately crafted look at young love and heartbreak in the north.

Ignite Award, presented by TELUS, this award recognizes the exceptional work of a female key creative on a BC-produced feature or short film. The winner receives $20,000 that can be used towards future productions or further training.

WINNER: Cabbie (dirs. Jessica Parsons, Jennifer Chiu)

Honourable Mention: Here Nor There (dir. Julia Hutchings)

Jury members: Ron Mann, Ana Valine, Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers

Best BC Film Award, awarded to a narrative feature, which receives a $10,000 development bursary from the Harold Greenburg Fund and a $15,000 post-production services credit supplied by Encore (Deluxe Ent Services Group).

WINNER: Window Horses (dir. Ann Marie Fleming)

Jury members: Ron Mann, Ana Valine, Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers

BC Emerging Filmmaker Award, a $7,500 cash prize sponsored by the Union of BC Performers and ACTRA Fraternal Benefits Society, along with a $10,000 equipment credit from William F. White. First or second narrative features that are signatory to a UBCP/ACTRA agreement are eligible for this award.

WINNER: Hello Destroyer (dir. Kevan Funk)

Best Canadian Film, a $10,000 award sponsored by the Directors Guild of Canada is presented to one of the 14 nominated Canadian narrative features.

WINNER: Window Horses (dir. Ann Marie Fleming)

Jury members: Kiva Reardon, Andrew Struthers, Tony Zhou

Emerging Canadian Director, the Directors Guild of Canada presents a $2,000 award to one of the nine nominated films that mark the director's first or second narrative feature.

WINNER: Never Eat Alone (dir. Sofia Bohdanowicz)

Jury members: Kiva Reardon, Andrew Struthers, Tony Zhou

Best Canadian Documentary, presented by the Rogers Documentary Fund, $15,000 is awarded to a Canadian documentary feature film.

WINNER: Living With Giants (dirs. Sebastien Rist, Aude Leroux-Lévesque)

Honourable Mention: Quebec My Country Mon Pays (dir. John Walker)

Jury members: Damien Gillis, Julia Ivanova, Charles Wilkinson

 

Best BC Short Film, presented by Creative BC, one BC short film is awarded $5,000.

WINNER: Here Nor There (dir. Julia Hutchings)

Honourable Mention: Srorrim (dir. Wayne Wapeemukwa)

Jury members: Lewis Bennett, Scooter Corkle, Kathleen Hepburn

Best Canadian Short Film, presented by Lexus, one Canadian short film receives $2,500.

WINNER: Ceux qui restent/Those Who Remains (dir. Mathieu Vachon)

Honourable Mention: Fish (dir. Heather Young)

Jury members: Lewis Bennett, Scooter Corkle, Kathleen Hepburn

Most Promising Director of a Canadian Short Film, $2,000 is awarded to a director of a Canadian made short film.WINNER: Parent, Teacher (dir. Roman Tchjen)

Honourable Mention: Old Man (dir. Alicia Eisen)

Jury members: Lewis Bennett, Scooter Corkle, Kathleen Hepburn

VIFF Impact Award, a $5,000 prize, presented by Leonard Schein, is awarded to one of nine issues-oriented documentary films in the Impact programming stream

WINNER: Power to Change—The Energy Rebellion (dir. Carl-A. Fechner)

Jury members: John Bolton, Tracey Friesen, Leonard Schein

ABOUT VIFF

Founded in 1982, the Greater Vancouver International Film Festival Society is a not-for-profit cultural society and federally registered charitable organization that operates the internationally acclaimed Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) and the year-round programming of the Vancity Theatre at the Vancouver International Film Centre. VIFF produces screenings, talks and events that act as a catalyst for a diverse community to discover, discuss and share the creativity and craft of storytelling on screen. In its 35th year, the Vancouver International Film Festival welcomes the world to Vancouver from September 29-October 14, 2016 as it showcases the top BC, Canadian and international films and plays host to industry professionals from around the globe. viff.org