The 27th Annual Genie Awards was a night of celebration for Charles Binamé, but he couldn’t help fretting over the state of the production industry.

The veteran Quebec helmer had plenty of reason to be happy at the film awards at Toronto’s Carlu event venue on Feb. 13, as he took home the best direction trophy and his feature The Rocket led the pack with nine awards overall, although losing in the best picture category to smash hit Bon Cop, Bad Cop.

But Binamé expressed plenty of concern over the current state of the Canuck film and TV industry, professing to reporters backstage that the Conservative government is not doing enough to resolve the Canadian Television Fund crisis.

‘The industry is in jeopardy because a rule has not been abided by,’ Binamé said, adding that the situation has gotten out of hand because the Tories and Canadian Heritage know what to, but ‘they just aren’t doing it.’

In light of cable companies Shaw Communications and Videotron pulling their support from the CTF, Heritage Minister Bev Oda has told both cablecos to resume their monthly payments, but without a clear ultimatum.

Binamé took more shots at Oda, noting his surprise that Canada’s heritage minister is in a position to make crucial decisions regarding the future of French-language cinema in this country, yet doesn’t speak French herself.

Meanwhile, the man who picked up the best picture prize remained modest.

‘Just because a movie is popular doesn’t mean it’s not good,’ Bon Cop producer Kevin Tierney told the audience upon receiving the gala’s highest honor, waving off disappointment that the bilingual action-comedy was shut out of all other categories but sound. Bon Cop also picked up the Golden Reel Award as biggest earner at the domestic box office in 2006, with a record-breaking $12.2 million.

The film’s stars, Colm Feore and Patrick Huard, locked lips for photographers in the press room prior to the gala.

‘I didn’t know he was such a good kisser!’ proclaimed Huard.

Trailer Park Boys The Movie, nom’d for three awards, went home empty-handed, as did French comedy Guide de la petite vengeange. Both were best picture contenders along with Un Dimanche à Kigali, which won for best adapted screenplay.

For a while, it seemed that the glitzy movie awards gala would take a C.R.A.Z.Y. turn, as The Rocket swept most Genie categories, echoing the success of Jean-Marc Vallée’s drama last year, though best picture bragging rights eluded the film about Quebec hockey legend Maurice Richard.

Meanwhile, B.C. native Carrie-Anne Moss spoiled a clean sweep for The Rocket in the acting categories, winning best supporting actress for Snow Cake. Top actor honors went to Roy Dupuis, as Maurice Richard, best actress to Julie LeBreton, as his wife Lucille Richard, and supporting actor to Stephen McHattie, who portrays Montreal Canadiens coach Dick Irvin Sr.

Dupuis held back tears as he recalled his friendship with Richard, who died in 2000.

‘He’s not dead, he’s still winning,’ Dupuis said as he paid tribute to the Habs icon.

The Rocket also picked up awards for best art direction for Michel Proulx, costumes for Francesca Chamberland, cinematography for Pierre Gill, and editing for Michel Arcand.

Other award winners include: animator Torill Kove for best animated short for The Danish Poet, Philippe Falardeau for original screenplay for Congorama and director Jennifer Baichwal for best documentary for Manufactured Landscapes.

Baichwal paid tribute to renowned industrial-environment photographer Ed Burtynsky, whose work is the film’s subject. ‘These photographs allow you to witness these places you’re responsible for, but never get to see,’ she said.

The Claude Jutra prize for first-time feature directors was shared by Julie Kwan (Eve and the Fire Horse), and Stéphane Lapointe (La Vie secrète des gens heureux).

www.genieawards.ca