Toronto International Film Festival Wraps Up With Awards
Posted September 16, 2006 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The massive star-studded event wrapped up Saturday night, following an awards brunch earlier in the day where the People’s Choice Award was handed to a somewhat unlikely recipient.
Bella director Alejandro Gomez Monteverde got the nod, and though his win may have surprised some based on the stiff competition, few were as surprised as the Mexican filmmaker himself.
“I still don’t believe it,” Monteverde said.
“This is a total dream…I feel like I’m going to wake up and I’ll still be in film school.”
Meanwhile Chum Ltd., a major supporter of the Festival, also offered up a little hardware. The Citytv Award comes with a cash prize of $15,000, while the Toronto City Award offers the winner double that sum.
So what do the victorious parties intend to do with the dough? Some of them didn’t even know they had a cheque coming.
“Oh my gosh,” said surprised Manufactured Landscapes director Jennifer Baichwal after taking home the Toronto City prize.
“Of course I’m going to make another film, but I’ll have to be checking the final cost report on this film.”
Not so responsible, director Noel Mitrani had other ideas for the $15,000 he netted for his film Sur La Trace D’Igor Rizzi.
“Wow, $15,000,” he gasped after opening the envelope that accompanies the small but prestigious trophy.
“I’m going to buy a car,” he added, laughing.
For more on the Toronto International Film Festival and its closing awards, click here.
Winners at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival’s awards ceremony:
Swarovski Cultural Innovation Award: “Takva — A Man’s Fear of God.” A Turkish-German co-production about a man whose belief in God is put to the test.
People’s Choice Award: “Bella,” an American film written and directed by first-time film-maker Alejandro Monteverde, about two people whose lives converge on a single day in New York City.
Diesel Discovery Award: “Reprise,” a Norwegian comedic tale about two young men with a shared dream of becoming writers.
Prize of the International Critics (Fipresci Prize): “Death of a President,” a British drama about the fallout from the imagined assassination of U.S. President George W. Bush.
Citytv Award for Best First Canadian Feature Film: “Sur La Trace d’Igor Rizzi,” a film by Noel Mitrani about a former professional soccer player who leaves his native France for Montreal after the death of his Quebecois girlfriend.
Toronto-City Award for Best Canadian Feature Film: “Manufactured Landscapes,” a portrait of Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky.
Short Cuts Canada Award: Maxime Giroux’s “Les Jours,” an exploration of loss in the days that follow a tragic death in the woods.
