THE VANCOUVER FILM CRITICS CIRCLE NAMES ROOM BEST CANADIAN FILM; ROOM, SLEEPING GIANT AND HAIDA GWAII: ON THE EDGE OF THE WORLD ALL WIN MULTIPLE AWARDS

VANCOUVER, B.C. (January 6, 2016) – Room, scripted by Irish-Canadian Emma Donoghue and directed by Lenny Abrahamson, has been named Best Canadian Film by the Vancouver Film Critics Circle. A riveting and ultimately uplifting tale of a mother and son escaping confinement, the Canadian-Irish coproduction also scored Donoghue Best Screenplay for a Canadian Film. The film’s powerful lead performances were also honoured, with young Vancouver-born Jacob Tremblay claiming Best Actor in a Canadian Film and Brie Larson earning Best Actress in a Canadian Film. Tremblay’s performance was also recognized by the VFCC with a special $500 cash prize sponsored by the Union of BC Performers.

Andrew Cividino’s emotionally complex, visually arresting coming-of-age drama Sleeping Giant earned three awards, including Best Director of a Canadian Film for Cividino, Best Supporting Actor in a Canadian Film for newcomer Nick Serino and Best First Film by a Canadian Director. The latter award included a $500 cash prize sponsored by Telefilm Canada.

British Columbia productions also enjoyed their share of the awards spotlight. Vancouver actress Tara Pratt won Best Supporting Actress in a Canadian Film for her work in Mark Sawers’ speculative satire No Men Beyond This Point.

Charles Wilkinson’s Haida Gwaii: On the Edge of the World enjoyed a banner evening. After winning Best Canadian Documentary, this insightful, involving portrait of breathtaking Haida Gwaii and the people who call it home also won Best British Columbia Film, which came with a $500 cash prize sponsored by the Canadian Media Production Association-BC Producers’ Branch. Wilkinson also won Best Director of a British Columbia Film, which included a $500 cash prize from the Directors Guild of Canada-BC Council.

Gabrielle Rose was named this year’s recipient of the Ian Caddell Award for Achievement. Presented to a British Columbian who has made a significant contribution to the province’s film industry, this award is named in honour of the VFCC’s cofounder who passed away in 2012. Having amassed almost 150 film and television credits (including the Oscar-nominated The Sweet Hereafter), Rose’s performances have proven integral to the success of countless local productions.

BEST CANADIAN FILM
Room

BEST ACTOR IN A CANADIAN FILM
Jacob Tremblay, Room

BEST ACTRESS IN A CANADIAN FILM
Brie Larson, Room

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A CANADIAN FILM
Nick Serino, Sleeping Giant

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A CANADIAN FILM
Tara Pratt, No Men Beyond This Point

BEST SCREENPLAY FOR A CANADIAN FILM
Emma Donoghue, Room

BEST DIRECTOR OF A CANADIAN FILM
Andrew Cividino, Sleeping Giant

BEST CANADIAN DOCUMENTARY
Haida Gwaii: On the Edge of the World

BEST FIRST FILM BY A CANADIAN DIRECTOR
Sleeping Giant, Andrew Cividino
($500 cash prize sponsored by Telefilm Canada.)

BEST BRITISH COLUMBIA FILM
Haida Gwaii: On the Edge of the World
($500 cash prize sponsored by the Canadian Media Production Association-BC Producers’ Branch.)

BEST DIRECTOR OF A BRITISH COLUMBIA FILM
Charles Wilkinson, Haida Gwaii: On the Edge of the World
($500 cash prize sponsored by the Directors Guild of Canada-BC Council.)

IAN CADDELL AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT
Gabrielle Rose