Canadian Screen Awards 2015: Mommy big film winner, Orphan Black takes top TV trophies

The critically acclaimed Montreal-based film Mommy was the darling of Sunday's Canadian Screen Awards, taking home nine trophies including best motion picture. 

The night also saw CBC win another two awards, adding to 18 garnered during two ceremonies held earlier this week.

Sunday’s two-hour gala, hosted by comedian Andrea Martin and broadcast on CBC TV, was the culmination of week-long festivities in Toronto honouring the best in Canadian film, television and digital programming.  

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Mommy is about a widowed mother, Diane Després, struggling with the difficulty of raising her violent son. Both Anne Dorval, who plays Després, and Antoine Olivier Pilon, who plays her son Steve, took home awards for best actress and actor in a leading role.

Montreal-born director Xavier Dolan also took the best original screenplay award, as well as achievement in direction. The film, set in Montreal's South Shore neighbourhood, has garnered critical acclaim around the world and won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival last year. 

Dolan dedicated the writing prize to his mother at a pre-show gala that took place before Martin took the stage to helm the star-studded telecast.

"It's too bad this is not on the air, I would have loved my mom to hear that," Dolan said to chuckles from the audience.

"I'd love to thank my mother and dedicate this award to her, I truly mean it. In spite of our differences she is the most absolute source of inspiration to me. And I don't call her as often as I should and we don't see each other as often as she'd wish but she should know."

Pompeii, a historical disaster film, also swept up five awards including achievement in art direction and visual effects.

"What’s extraordinary is when you take a look at the movie and realize that it was actually shot in Toronto, it is a great testament to the talent and the digital role that now exists in film, and that Canada can do that as well as anyone," said actor Kiefer Sutherland, who plays a villain in the film, in an interview with CBC's Eli Glasner on the red carpet.

Famed director David Cronenberg's satirical Hollywood drama Maps to the Stars nabbed two awards — original score and a best supporting actor win for John Cusack.

Some Hollywood glitz came by way of Cusack's co-star Moore, who had been up against Dorval in the best actress category for her turn as an aging starlet in Cronenberg's dark comic film.

Fresh off her Oscar win for Still Alice, Moore also joined a list of presenters including Bruce Greenwood, Eugene Levy and Sutherland.

CBC wins another 2 trophies

On the smaller screen, CBC added another two to its awards haul — best actor to Jonas Chernick for his role in political satire The Best Laid Plans, and best sports host to Ron Maclean for Hockey Night in Canada.

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Sunday’s accolades add to 18 awards garnered over the past week for CBC news, comedies, documentaries and sports programs.

TV fan favourite Orphan Black took home the prize for best dramatic series and best actress in a dramatic role for leading lady Tatiana Maslany. The popular series, which airs on Space, won a total of 10 trophies this year. 

"It's such an honour to be here tonight," Maslany said as she claimed her trophy.

"I'm so lucky to have this job, I feel so so lucky.... [To] all of the writers on our show and the cast and crew who are tireless and who fight for integrity and artistry at every level — thank you, thank you, I could not do this without you."

A big winner from previous years, Call Me Fitz, won two awards including best TV comedy series. Rounding out other major awards are The Amazing Race Canada for best reality series, and Bomb Girls: Facing the Enemy for best dramatic TV mini-series.

Host Martin kicked off the show with jabs at Canadian politeness and frigid temperatures, and shoutouts to famous faces in the audience, including friend Eugene Levy and recent Oscar-winner Julianne Moore. 

"Let's give out some awards before they turn this place into a condo!" Martin declared, as the show launched in earnest from downtown Toronto's glass-encased opera house.

Orphan Black and Mommy led the nominees overall with 13 apiece.

Other winners during the non-televised portion of the gala included:

• Achievement in Music - Original Score: Maps to the Stars
• Achievement in Music - Original Song: Dr. Cabbie
• Adapted Screenplay: Elephant Song
• Best Animated Short: Me and My Moulton
• Best Cinematography in a Feature Length Documentary: Everything Will Be
• Best Live Action Short Drama: Hole
• Best Short Documentary: Jutra
• Ted Rogers Best Feature Length Documentary: Super Duper Alice Cooper
• Best International Drama: Vikings

Below is a full list of winners from tonight's gala. On mobile? Click here to see the list.