In the leadup to Oscar night, Quebec director Denys Arcand and his Les Invasions barbares scored big at the Prix Jutra in Montreal, taking five trophies on Feb.22, just one day after a three-win show at Les Cesar in Paris. Invasions won best director and best screenplay for Arcand at the sixth annual Jutras plus best film, picked up by producers Denise Robert and Daniel Louis, and best actress for Marie-Josee Croze.

But Jean-Francois Pouliot’s comedy La Grande seduction led the Quebec awards with eight wins, including the Billet d’or Desjardins for the highest box-office gross. It earned more than $6.2 million by the end of 2003. As of Feb. 19, the Max Films production had grossed over $8 million and was showing in 36 theaters at the end of February. Pierre Collin and Clemence DesRochers won best supporting actor and actress, respectively. Allen Smith took home the trophy for best director of photography, Normand Sarrazin for best art direction and Dominique Fortin for best editing. Claude Hazanavicius, Marcel Pothier and Michel Descombes won for best sound.

Serge Theriault won best actor for his lead role in Gaz Bar Blues, directed and written by Louis Belanger. The film also received best music for compositions by Guy Belanger and Claude Fradette

The top documentary award was shared by A hauteur d’homme, directed by Jean-Claude Labrecque for Productions Virage, and Roger Toupin, epicier variete from director Benoit Pilon for Amazone Film.