Canadian Roy Dupuis has captured the best actor prize at the 19th Annual Tokyo International Film Festival for his portrayal of hockey legend Maurice Richard in the movie The Rocket.

The festival handed out its awards Sunday night, honouring the art house comedy Little Miss Sunshine with two trophies: best directing (Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris) and best performance by an actress to its young lead, Abigail Breslin.

Quebec actor Roy Dupuis garnered a best actor prize at the Tokyo International Film Festival for his portrayal of hockey great Maurice (The Rocket) Richard.
(Canadian Press)

The movie, about a dysfunctional family’s trip to a beauty pageant, also won the festival’s Audience Award.

The Rocket, directed by Charles Binamé, had its theatrical release in Canada in April. Dupuis also gets a cash prize of $5,000 US ($5,600 Cdn).

The 43-year-old actor is a mainstay in Quebec television and cinema. He's appeared in several television series such as La Femme Nikita, Scoop and The Last Chapter. He also played Lt. Gen. Romeo Dallaire in the 2006 film Shake Hands With The Devil.

The international jury handed the best film prize — worth $100,000 US ($112,000 Cdn) — to the French detective spoof OSS 117 Cairo Nest of Spies, starring comedian Jean Dujardin.

Surprise selection by international jury

It was considered an unexpected choice, even by the film's director, Michel Hazanavicius.

"It is very rare for a comedy to be chosen for any prize, let alone a high honour from a film festival," the director said in a press conference.

"I am surprised that we won, but I feel very, very honoured."

The jury — which was led by French director Jean-Pierre Jeunet, best known for films such as Delicatessen and Amélie — defended the decision:

"I am French, I don't want to hide from that, but I usually hate French cinema. I am a big fan of this film."

Jury member Bill Mechanic, a former CEO of Fox, concurred.

"It was the film that all of us could join in celebrating … because it was a fun movie to watch."

Japanese director Mitsuo Yanagimachi said he was the lone dissenter on the six-member jury.

"I do not think this film should have won the grand prize. Of the 16 films in competition that I saw, I think the Chinese, Korean and Hong Kong films were very, very strong."

Special Jury Prize to Thirteen Princess Trees

A Special Jury Prize was given out to the Chinese movie Thirteen Princess Trees, directed by Lu Yue.

Best Japanese Picture went to the documentary The Cats of Mirikitani, directed by American Linda Hattendorf. The film centres on a homeless 80-year-old Japanese American artist who confronts his past after 9/11.

Best Asian Film went to After This Our Exile, by Patrick Tam of Hong Kong. The movie will have its North American premiere Nov. 15 at Toronto's Reel Asian Film Festival.

The movie, starring Aaron Kwok and Charlie Yeung, follows the disintegration of a family. It marks the directorial return of Tam, once hailed as one of the pioneers of Hong Kong's New Wave of cinema during the 1980s. Tam left directing 17 years ago to focus on film editing.