Fifty Dead Men Walking grabs top prize at Vancouver festival
Last Updated: Saturday, October 11, 2008 | 11:57 AM ET
CBC News
Jim Sturgess, left, and Ben Kingsley in a scene from the film Fifty Dead Men Walking, which is based on a book by British spy Martin McGartland. (Jonathan Freeman)The Vancouver International Film Festival wrapped up its 16-day run by honouring Kari Skogland's Fifty Dead Men Walking with the Western Canada film award.
The movie, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, circles around the story of a young Irish hustler, enlisted as a British informant, who infiltrates the Irish Republican Army.
Based on the book by British spy Martin McGartland, the film generated lots of buzz this year partly due to McGartland's criticism of Skogland, who used former Irish Republican Army volunteers to screen the film for authenticity.
Nine other awards were handed out on Friday night, including the audience prize for French director Philippe Claudel's Il y a longtemps que je t'aime (I've Loved You So Long ).
The audience-nominated most popular Canadian film trophy went to Carl Bessai's Mothers & Daughters.
The National Film Board's award for most popular Canadian documentary went to Fierce Light: When Spirit Meets Action by artist Velcrow Ripper. The 97-minute film examines the historical roots of spiritual activism and its international implications on the modern world.
The non-fiction feature award went to Mexican documentary Born Without, directed by the late Eva Norvind, about severely handicapped Mexican actor and musician Jose Flores.
Other awards included:
- Most Promising Director of a Canadian Short: Drew McCreadie for The Valet.
- International Film Guide Inspiration: Cameron Labine for Control Alt Delete.
- Women in Film & Television Artistic Merit: Actress Tantoo Cardinal for her role in Mothers & Daughters.
- Audience Award for Environmental Film: Blue Gold: World Water Wars, a documentary directed by Sam Bozzo.
