Polley’s Genie Magic

It’s safe to say that Sarah Polley had a magical night at the Genie Awards on Monday.

Polley won for best director and best adapted screenplay for her film, “Away From Her.” The film also received best picture, and its stars, Julie Christie, Gordon Pinsent and Kristen Thomson, won best actress, best actor and best supporting actress.

Polley, the one-time “Road to Avonlea” star, said that “The ridiculousness of me winning in this category is not lost on me,” as she accepted the award.

David Cronenberg’s “Eastern Promises” also won a slew of awards, though mostly for technical achievement.

Here’s a complete list of the winners:

Best picture: Away From Her.
Actor: Gordon Pinsent, Away From Her.
Actress: Julie Christie, Away From Her.
Supporting actor: Armin Mueller-Stahl, Eastern Promises.
Supporting actress: Kristen Thomson, Away From Her.
Director: Sarah Polley, Away From Her.
Original screenplay: Steven Knight, Eastern Promises.
Adapted screenplay: Sarah Polley, Away From Her.
Editing: Ronald Sanders, Eastern Promises.
Cinematography: Peter Suschitzky, Eastern Promises.
Art direction/production design: Rob Gray, James Willcock, Fido.
Costume design: Carlo Poggioli, Kazuko Kurosawa, Silk.
Original score: Howard Shore, Eastern Promises.
Original song: Valanga Khoza, David Hirschfelder, Kawa (From Shake Hands With the Devil).
Overall sound: Stuart Wilson, Christian Cooke, Orest Sushko, Mark Zsifkovits, Eastern Promises.
Sound editing: Wayne Griffin, Robert Bertola, Tony Currie, Andy Malcolm, Michael O’Farrell, Eastern Promises.
Documentary: Radiant City.
Live action short: Après Tout.
Animated short: Madame Tutli-Putli.


International Press Recognize Canadian Films

The International Press Academy is honouring some of Canada’s best entertainers.

Acclaimed director David Cronenberg’s latest drama Eastern Promises got a nod for a Satellite Award for best motion picture, CBC reports.

The drama revolving around Russian mobsters, starring Naomi Watts and Viggo Mortensen, also grabbed a whopping six nominations. Cronenberg is up for best director and the film is being recognized for best screenplay, best score and best film editing.

Mortensen is in for a tough race for best actor, going up against Josh Brolin in No Country for Old Men and Denzel Washington in American Gangster.

Lovable Vancouver native, Knocked Up’s Seth Rogen, goes head-to-head with Canadian golden boy, Ryan Gosling, in the best actor in a comedy category, CBC reports.

Sarah Polley’s Away from Her also earned a few nominations including best picture category, best director and best adapted screenplay.

Fellow Canuck, Ellen Page, is nominated for best actress in a comedy for her breakout role in Juno.

The International Press Awards will be held in Los Angeles on Dec. 16.


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