With the film eligibility dates covering portions of two years, the 2009 European Film Awards finds itself in an awkward mode of having a clear favorites from circa 2008 (Slumdog Millionaire, Let the Right One In) go up against cream of the crop from Cannes 2009 (A Prophet, The White Ribbon and Fish Tank).
A biopic about an unknown painter cleaned up the 34th edition of the Cesar awards (France's equivalent to the Oscars). You would have thought that it was an homage to Sean Penn (the actor was in attendance, first row ticket) and the dearly departed Claude Berri, but this was Martin Provost's night upsetting favorites Jean-François Richet and Mesrine (who won for Best Director and Best Actor) and the Palme d'Or winner The Class from Laurent Cantet winner went home with only the Best Adapted Film. Séraphine won a total of seven awards.
The final tally and full list of films presented at this year's TIFF have been announced today and hardcore cinephiles will have many options available to them out of the 261 film selected.
It’s one of those sad years where Egoyan and Cronenberg are not in contention and where big box office receipts dedicates the Best Motion Picture category and a truly confectioned gem such as Eve and the Fire Horse gets pushed aside. Both Canadians and international audiences might have plenty to look forward to from Canadian filmmakers, but this year we have slim pickings. Here are the noms for the Canadian Oscars...