As the 2004 Vancouver International Film Festival wrapped during the recent hiatus I thought I'd recap the award winners for those interested in tracking certain films as well as new product from around the globe.

The AGF People's Choice Award for Most Popular International Film (a popular vote, not monetary):
MACHUCA (Chile), directed by Andres Wood

runners up:
THE WORLD ACCORDING TO BUSH (France) dir. William Karel
BEAUTIFUL BOXER (Thailand), dir. Ekachai Uekrongtham
THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES (Brazil/USA/Argentina/Chile/Peru) dir. Walter Salles HARI OM (India) dir. Bharatbala

The Federal Express Award for Most Popular Canadian Film (popular vote, not monetary):
(tie)
WHAT REMAINS OF US (Quebec), by François Prévost and Hugo Latulippe
BEING CARIBOU (British Columbia), by Leanne Allison and Diana Wilson

runners up:
SHAKE HANDS WITH THE DEVIL: THE JOURNEY OF ROMEO DALLAIRE (Ontario), dir:Peter Raymont
EVERYONE (British Columbia), dir:Bill Marchant
SCAREDSACRED (British Columbia), dir:Velcrow Ripper

The Citytv Western Canada Feature Film Award
(for Best Feature Film from Western Canada) - award and $12,000 from Citytv:
SEVEN TIMES LUCKY (Manitoba), by Gary Yates

The Keystone Award
(for Best Young Western Canadian Director of a Short Film - award with $5,000 cash prize sponsored by International Keystone Entertainment)
Jennifer Calvert for RIVERBURN (British Columbia).
"For its surehanded treatment of the familiar themes of adolescent alienation and sexual awakening".

Special mention is given for the excellence of the two animated entries, Steven K.L. Olson's JUDAS' PANE, and Jason White's OF BURNING HILLS.


The National Film Board Award for Best Documentary Feature
Jessica Yu for IN THE REALMS OF THE UNREAL (USA).
"For its empathetic and innovative portrayal of a complex and problematic artist in a way that illuminates the convergence of his life and work."

Dragons & Tigers Award for Young East Asian Cinema
(for first or second feature - award wth cash prize )
THE SOUP, ONE MORNING (Japan) by Takahashi Izumi
"For its visual and emotional precision in mapping out the slow decay of a relationship. The film gradually accumulates an overwhelming power, which can only come from feelings that the director and his actors have experienced and inhabited for themselves."

The Women in Film and Video Vancouver Artistic Merit Award
Actress Joely Collins for THE LOVE CRIMES OF GILLIAN GUESS (British Columbia), for her outstanding performance.

The remaining 25 of the 30 most popular international films (a total of 373 were exhibited, ranked as very good - excellent by the voting audience:

Thomas Grube and Enrique Sánchez Lansch’s RHYTHM IS IT! (Germany)
Ian Gabriel’s FORGIVENESS (South Africa)
Xiao Jiang’s ELECTRIC SHADOWS (Meng Ying Tongnian) (China)
Gastón Biraben’s CAPTIVE (Cautiva) (Argentina)
Shona Auerbach’s DEAR FRANKIE (UK)
Jeremy Earp and Sut Jhally’s HIJACKING CATASTROPHE: 9/11, FEAR AND THE SELLING OF AMERICAN EMPIRE (USA)
Richard Eyre’s STAGE BEAUTY (UK)
Nicole Kassell’s THE WOODSMAN (USA)
Kore-eda Hirokazu’s NOBODY KNOWS (Daremo Shiranai) (Japan)
Thomas Riedelsheimer’s TOUCH THE SOUND (UK/Germany)
Nimród Antal’s KONTROLL (Hungary)
Itthi-sunthorn Wichailak’s THE OVERTURE (Hoam-rong) (Thailand)
Jan Hrebejk’s UP AND DOWN (Horem Padem) (Czech Republic)
Ryu Seung-Wan’s ARAHAN (South Korea)
Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche’s TRAVELLERS AND MAGICIANS (Bhutan)
Lars von Trier and Jørgen Leth’s THE FIVE OBSTRUCTIONS (Denmark)
Vít Klusák and Filip Remunda’s CZECH DREAM (Czech Republic)
Hilmar Oddsson’s COLD LIGHT (Kaldajos) (Iceland)
Phil Grabsky’s THE BOY WHO PLAYS ON THE BUDDHAS OF BAMIYAN (UK)
Stefan Fjeldmark, Thorbjørn Christoffersen and Kresten Vestbjerg Andersen’s TERKEL IN TROUBLE (Terkel I Knibe) (Denmark)
Maren Ade’s THE FOREST FOR THE TREES (Der Wald Vor Lauter Baumen) (Germany)
Michaela Pavlátova’s FAITHLESS GAMES (Czech Republic)
Joseph Cedar’s CAMPFIRE (Medurat Hashevet) (Israel)
Gandulf Hennig’s FALLEN ANGEL: GRAM PARSONS (Germany/UK)
Manuel Gutiérrez Aragón’s YOUR NEXT LIFE (La Vida que te espere) (Spain)