The Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television hosted a stellar evening last night for the 31st Annual Genie Awards.  

Jian Ghomeshi and Wendy Crewson hosted the pre-show, speeding things along in style.  Wendy killed it in the hot pink pantsuit -- tres Funkytown.

It was neck and neck between Incendies and Barney's Version, with our unofficial end of evening tally at 7/6 awards each.   Denis Villeneuve was up at the podium many times, articulate and full of humility, accepting Best Motion Picture, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Serena Ryder and Melissa Etheridge started the televised show with a bang.  A quintessential Canadian moment came when The Royal Winnipeg Ballet performed to Polaris Prize-winners Karkwa playing a Leonard Cohen tune.

Jay Baruchel won People's Choice Award for Best Canadian Film Star and made a sweet acceptance speech, thanking his mom and his fiancé, and saying that "this doesn't suck at all!"

William Shatner was quite a funny host, taking a dig at the Oscars and their efforts at attracting a younger demographic.  I have to say, the show was funnier and faster than the Oscars, and much more articulately hosted.  Shatner begged for a Lifetime Achievement Award for living so long.

Last Train Home won Best Doc, and it was interesting to learn that it was the first indie documentary to be released in China.

Jacob Tierney won Best Original Screenplay for The Trotsky, in a tight race with Adriana Maggs' DVD Club pick Grown Up Movie Star.  They were both equally fun to party with after, demonstrating the collegial spirit of the industry in Canada. 

I had a very funny conversation with my Canadian actor idol, Gordon Pinsent, which made my night.

My hometown did me proud, and it was great to see the National Arts Centre decked out for the event, a place I spent many an hour during high school.

The after party moved to The Arc Hotel, where the Incendies crew hid their numerous gold Genie statues in corners of sofas.  There were so many slung around the room I'm sure a few burgeoning filmmakers were tempted to tiptoe out with one under their coat.

Thank you the the Academy for hosting such a wonderful evening, celebrating the best in Canadian cinema. 

For more photos, check out our Academy page:

http://www.firstweekendclub.ca/academy-of-canadian-cinema-and-television.html

And these Facebook Pages:

http://www.facebook.com/GenieAwards

http://www.facebook.com/FirstWeekendClub