Ivan Reitman’s first visit to Nova Scotia since he immigrated in 1951 and took his first steps on Canadian soil at Halifax’s Pier 21, was certainly the buzz of the 24th Atlantic Film Festival, especially after the veteran Canadian comedy director/producer announced his plans to work on a feature with local heroes the Trailer Park Boys.

Reitman will produce the TPB movie, with series creator Mike Clattenburg on slate to direct. Clattenburg and Trailer Park Boys stars Robb Wells, Mike Smith and John Paul Tremblay are currently developing the script.

Reitman was honored at the festival’s Academy Luncheon and a retrospective of his films, including Stripes, Ghost Busters and Twins, screened throughout the fest.

Despite the melding of the best in Canadian comedy, it was a feature-length documentary that ended up being the festival’s big winner this year.

Tighter than usual security measures did not deter audiences from attending the Sept. 24 screening of the National Film Board feature documentary What Remains of Us. People turned out in droves to watch the film about how Tibetans reacted to a video message from their exiled leader the Dalai Lama, which was smuggled into Tibet.

The film received two prolonged standing ovations and a near-perfect score from a very emotional audience, making it the recipient of the 2004 People’s Choice Award at the festival’s closing-night party on Sept. 25. What Remains of Us, directed by Francois Prevost and Hugo Latulippe, also won this year’s award for best Canadian feature.

‘It shows that there is a strong doc market in Halifax,’ says festival executive director Gregor Ash. ‘The audience gave the film 9.99 [out of 10] in the people’s choice vote. That’s the highest a film has ever received. Even Bowling for Columbine didn’t come close.’ Halifax is home to one of the largest Buddhist populations in North America.

Meanwhile, the award for best documentary went to Pleasant Street, helmed by Gerry Rogers, who also won best director for her work on the one-hour doc about how she and two neighbors came together after being diagnosed with cancer.

The award for best short went to JoDee Samuelson’s Mabel’s Saga, a 15-minute celebration of menopause as a natural transition. Adriana Maggs won the outstanding writing award for I Dare Not Go, a dramatic short about subjective memory and overcoming grief. Jim Fowler won best male performance for his role in Chamberpiece, directed and written by Halifax’s Glenn Walton. Best female performance went to Ellen Page – a former Playback 10 to Watch finalist – for her role in the festival’s opening-night film Wilby Wonderful from writer/director Daniel MacIvor.

This year’s festival boasts a 3% attendance increase from last year, with more than 23,700 in attendance and 22 sold-out screenings and events.

In the first days after the festival ended, Ash was already busy preparing for next year, which will mark the 25th anniversary of the AFF.

‘Overall it was a very good year,’ says Ash. ‘It positioned us really well for the 25th anniversary next year.’

In addition, Ash says industry response to this year’s events suggests that attempts to brand AFF as an international boutique festival are being well received, especially with the support of Strategic Partners, the festival’s signature industry event focusing on coproduction.

‘The way the festival and Strategic Partners are meshing together is putting the overall experience firmly on the international map,’ he says.

-www.atlanticfilm.com