Xavier Dolan’s I Killed My Mother edged out Denis Villeneuve’s Polytechnique, claiming the top prize and collecting a total of five trophies, beating Villeneuve’s film by one. Since Cannes last May, both films have been pitted against each other: while Villeneuve’s film had the edge on the Quebecois box office front and received acclaim at Canada’s Oscars (Genies), it was the debut film from Dolan that overwhelmed audiences on a global level, winning at several film festivals including three in Cannes (here is where it all began). The little indie that could also won for Best Actress.
Oddly, both films remind me of Gus Van Sant’s work – Dolan’s style is certainly influenced Van Sant, while Polytechnique is similar in narrative discourse to Elephant.
I Killed My Mother will be released stateside sometime this year, and oddly, both filmmakers might find themselves in Cannes once again this year, Villeneuve will seek out a competition slot for Incendies – aiming for the Main Comp or Un Certain Regard, while Dolan would most likely return to the scene of the crime with Les Amours imaginaires. Here is Dolan accepting the award for Best Screenplay. Here is the complete list of winners.
Best film: J’ai tué ma mère
Best director: Denis Villeneuve for Polytechnique
Best actress: Anne Dorval for J’ai tué ma mère
Best actor: Sébastien Ricard for Dédé à travers les brumes
Best supporting actress: Sandrine Bisson for 1981
Best supporting actor: Maxim Gaudette for Polytechnique
Best animated film: Robe de guerre by Michèle Cournoyer
Best short film: Danse Macabre
Best documentary film: Last Train Home
Best screenplay: Xavier Dolan for J’ai tué ma mère
Best cinematography: Pierre Gill for Polytechnique
Best music: Dédé à travers les brumes
Best costumes: Judy Jonker for Dédé à travers les brumes
Best editing: Richard Comeau for Polytechnique
Art direction: David Pelletier for Dédé à travers les brumes
Best sound: Pierre Blain, Claude Beaugrand, Stephane Bergeron for Polytechnique
Best makeup: Colleen Quinton for Cadavres
Best hairdressing: Linda Gordon for 1981
Most successful film outside Quebec: J’ai tué ma mère
Le billet d’or (for box office performance) presented, as expected, to De père en flic
