Telefilm Canada presented the eighth annual Guichet d’or award on Wednesday to Xavier Dolan for his latest film and recent French-language Canadian Oscar submission.
Dolan earned a cash prize of $40,000, claiming both $20,000 prizes for writer and director, in recognition of Mommy’s record domestic box office of CA$3.3m (USD 2.6m) in Canada in 2014.
The film won nine Canadian Screen Awards including best picture, best director and best original screenplay. Antoine Olivier Pilon, Anne Dorval and Suzanne Clément won best actor, best actress and best supporting actress, respectively.
Mommy is nominated for 10 Jutra awards celebrating Quebec cinema. The Jutras will be held on March 15.
“While most prizes that recognise box-office performance are awarded to producers and distributors, we wanted to pay tribute to the creative talents that bring our movie industry to life and drive its success,” said Telefilm Canada executive director Carolle Brabant.
“Mommy has had an incredible career since its release. Audiences everywhere have been profoundly moved by the film, and it has been one of the most talked-about movies of the year.”
“I’m obviously honoured to receive this award,” said Dolan. “At a time when the arts community, like the industry more broadly, is engaged in self-questioning, this recognition proves that Quebec audiences are capable of having a real passion for a kind of home-grown cinema that doesn’t claim to be in the film d’auteur or commercial genre – but simply a sincere and honest labour of love.”
Photo: Cindy Boyce
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