Sturla Gunnarsson’s Rare Birds was the big winner at the first annual DGC Awards held at Toronto’s exclusive Boulevard Club Oct. 5. Rare Birds took home four of the 14 trophies including outstanding achievement in direction for Gunnarsson, production design for Pam Hall and picture editing for Jeff Warren.

Marking its 40th anniversary, the guild presented DGC Awards in 13 categories to members for achievements in feature films, television movies and series.

‘We’ve finally grown up,’ said longtime member Grace Gilroy, recipient of a distinguished service award. ‘This is something we’ve talked about for years. We finally did it.’

In a room that could only fit the nominees, DGC president Alan Goluboff admitted to the crowd that the guild had not anticipated the high interest and promised that a larger venue would be chosen next year.

The evening was hosted by Kids In The Hall and News Radio star Dave Foley.

Other directors recognized on the evening included Norman Jewison, who received the first DGC lifetime achievement award; Allan King, who picked up a distinguished service award; Bruce McDonald, who won in the outstanding achievement in a television series – children’s category for Degrassi: The Next Generation ‘Mother and Child Reunion;’ and Jeremy Podeswa, who won for his work on MOW After the Harvest.

Other winners were:

* Shawn Levy for Famous Jett Jackson: The Movie, children’s TV movie/miniseries category

* David Winning for Twice in a Lifetime ‘Moonshine Over Harlem,’ TV movie/miniseries – drama

* Michael Kennedy for Made in Canada ‘Creative Bookkeeping,’ comedy TV series

* John Houston for Nuliajuk, Mother of the Sea Beasts, documentary

* Grant Bone, Kathy Choi, Janice Ierulli, Garrett Kerr, E. Angie Pajek, Phong Tran and Brandon Walker for Life With Judy Garland: Me & My Shadows, sound editing.