Established in 1979, the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television is a national, non-profit, professional association dedicated to the promotion, recognition, and celebration of exceptional achievements in Canadian film and television. Unifying professionals across Canada, the ACCT is a vital and integral force, representing all areas of the film and television industries.
The year 2009 marked the 30th anniversary of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television, so to celebrate the occasion ACCT complied The Academy’s 30th Anniversary Top 10 Lists. As it’s a great resource for those looking for the best in Canadian film we’re going to highlight a few of these over the next little while here on the blog. Starting with the first on the list…
Cordell Barker, a winner at the 2010 Genie Awards, is one of Canadia’s premier animation directors. This year, along with Derek Mazur and Michael Scott, he took him the coveted Best Animated Short Genie for RUNAWAY (Train en folie). His previous two shorts, THE CAT CAME BACK and STRANGE INVADERS, have both been nominated for Oscars.
Here’s an interview with Barker that took place at Sundance in January of this year where he talks about his style, the music of Benoit Charest (THE TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE) and the challenge of making RUNAWAY:
For me, on RUNAWAY, the metaphor was really the driving factor. I didn’t want to do anything that violated the metaphor, and I just kept on slaving to that. I think that’s why this last film - which is less of a lark and more driven by this metaphor - was the toughest thing I’ve ever done in my life. It was potentially a career-ender. It was so tough and difficult to get through, I was thinking, “If this thing bombs, that’s the end of my animation career.”
“I can’t believe I won something!” he said after accepting the award. His girlfriend, Diane Kruger, was there for support like he was for her when she was nominated for best supporting actress Screen Actors Guild Award for her role as Bridget von Hammersmark inInglorious Basterds.
A film Canadians were afraid to see about a tragedy that still sears is the toast of the nation’s movie industry, winning nine prizes at the 30th annual Genie Awards.
One week until the Genie Awards! Keep your eyes here as we’ll be announcing some of the presenters at the Awards, highlighting a few of the categories, posting more interviews from nominees and taking a look at some of the fashions from previous Genie Awards.
ONE WEEK is a great movie showing compassion,desperation and true love. None of us really know how we will deal with fate,until we are put on survival mode
Paul Gross in PASSCHENDAELE. He is the perfect epitome of a brave Canadian soldier. It doesn’t hurt that he is easy on the eyes either!
FUBAR, because it was filmed in my neighbourhood and it’s the most poignant hoser buddy film ever!
BETHUNE: THE MAKING OF A HERO. It is based in truth, the true story of Dr. Norman Bethune a great Canadian crusader for socialized health and a hero to the Chinese during the war with Japan
Best Live Action Short Drama nominee: Danse Macabre (Pedro Pires, Catherine Chagnon)
Pedro Pires has created a prayer for the dying, a love song to the living, with breathtaking vitality.Danse Macabre begins with moving into a darkened tunnel. It ends with the final curtain falling as you try to catch your breath. You have been shaken. The core of yourself has resonated with every haunting frame. And they haunt because they are of such devastating beauty that watching it felt like having fireworks shatter your heart. – Shane Belcourt
