OTTAWA — Paul Gross’ First World War epic, Passchendaele, led the Genie battle on Saturday with six wins including best motion picture, though there was also a political fight brewing at the ceremony as presenters rallied in support of the CBC and other cultural causes.

Passchendaele also picked up Genies for art direction, costume design, overall sound, and sound editing at the 29th Canadian film awards, plus the previously announced Golden Reel for its $4.45-million take at the domestic box office.

The movie is ‘dedicated to all the Canadian Forces and all the sacrifices they have made for us,’ stated producer Francis Damberger, speaking on behalf of Gross who is working in Los Angeles.

Close behind was Ce qu’il faut pour vivre/The Necessities of Life, which won four Genies including best director for first-timer Benoît Pilon and best actor for Natar Ungalaaq for his role as a tuberculosis patient. Necessities‘ Richard Comeau was also recognized for editing, and Bernard Émond for original screenplay.

Though it arrived with six nominations, Maman est chez le coiffeur/Mommy Is at the Hairdresser’s was shut out completely, while Tout est parfait/Everything Is Fine, which had seven, went home with only the previously announced Claude Jutra Award.

Ellen Burstyn won best actress for her turn in The Stone Angel. Prior to that award, presenter Wendy Crewson pleaded for Prime Minister Stephen Harper to support the CBC.

‘Oh, glorious leader, please save our national broadcaster,’ Crewson urged. Later she quipped she would be hosting a Genie after-party — really a pro-CBC rally — on Sussex Drive, where Harper lives.

Host Dave Foley also expressed support for the pubcaster prior to the show, and called on the feds to free up screens for Canadian films.

‘It’s not the state of the moviemaking; it’s the state of the movie watching,’ he noted. ‘We need legislation that requires a percentage of the films playing to be Canadian.’

The ceremony was held on a makeshift stage, with folding chairs for the 800 audience members, inside Ottawa’s Canadian Aviation Museum. A large Douglas DC-3 was the backdrop.

‘I’m surrounded by flightless airplanes. It’s sort of what it feels like being in Canadian show business,’ joked Foley.

The Stone Angel picked up a second Genie for best original music score for John McCarthy. The remaining winners were limited to one trophy each. Fugitive Pieces was recognized for cinematography, Amal for original song and Borderline for its adapted screenplay. Sleeping Betty went home with best animated short, Up the Yangtze with best documentary and Next Floor won best live-action short.

Best supporting actor went to Normal‘s Callum Keith Rennie, and best supporting actress to Kristin Booth for the controversial Young People Fucking.

‘I wasn’t prepared for this at all… Thank you, Ottawa,’ said Rennie. He later told Playback Daily that he was so shocked because he’s not a great judge of his own work.

A clearly emotional Booth, who joked pre-show she would use the f-word as many times as possible if she won, said, ‘I’m so fucking excited.’ Recovering, she added that, ‘commercial and entertainment should not be dirty words in this country.’