It was a three-way tie for first place at this year’s DGC Awards, where three wins each went to David Cronenberg’s Spider, second-season eps of Degrassi: The Next Generation and to CBC’s Trudeau.

Spider – which also has a best directing Genie and a best Canadian film win from last year’s Toronto International Fim Festival – scored for best directing, best long-form sound editing and best feature at the second annual DGC honors, held Oct. 4 at the posh Carlu hall in downtown Toronto.

Cronenberg, who was not at the show, edged out contenders Atom Egoyan (Ararat), Wiebke von Carolsfeld (Marion Bridge) and Mario Azzopardi (Savage Messiah).

Host Dave Foley joked with the crowd about the big winner. ‘Does anyone else think that Cronenberg’s headshot is just plain creepy?’ he asked, as the director’s mug glared down from the big screen. ‘I’m glad he’s not here.’

Best TV movie went to Trudeau, as did best long-form picture editing and best television directing for Jerry Ciccoritti. Degrassi: TNG took best short picture editing, best kids series and best TV series directing for Bruce McDonald’s ep ‘White Wedding.’ Made in Canada’s ‘Beaver Creek Valentine’ ep scored the win for best comedy series.

A lifetime achievement award also went to Daryl Duke who, over the past half-century, has directed such hits as The Thorn Birds and Tai-Pan. ‘I cannot imagine exchanging the life of a director for any other,’ said Duke, tearing up. ‘To be a director is to be in love with phantoms, ghosts, attractive ghosts. Honoring me tonight makes it all permanent and for that I thank you.’

The DGC hands out craft awards, which go to individuals, and team awards, which go to all guild members who worked on a winning project.

2003 Directors Guild of Canada Awards

Team awards

* Outstanding Achievement in a Feature Film: Spider – David Cronenberg, director

* Outstanding Achievement in a Television Movie/Miniseries: Trudeau – Jerry Ciccoritti, director

* Outstanding Achievement in a Television Series – Drama: Queer As Folk – Kelly Makin, director

* Outstanding Achievement in a Television Series – Comedy: Made in Canada ‘Beaver Creek Valentine’ – Michael Kennedy, director

* Outstanding Achievement in a Television Series – Children’s: Degrassi: The Next Generation ‘When Doves Cry’- Bruce McDonald, director

* Outstanding Achievement in a Documentary: Prisoner Of Paradise – Malcolm Clarke, director

Craft awards

* Outstanding Achievement in Direction – Feature Film: – David Cronenberg for Spider

* Outstanding Achievement in Direction – Television Movie/Miniseries: Jerry Ciccoritti for Trudeau

* Outstanding Achievement in Direction – Television Series: Bruce McDonald for Degrassi: The Next Generation ‘White Wedding’

* Outstanding Achievement in Production Design – Long Form: Nancey Pankiw for The Salem Witch Trials

* Outstanding Achievement in Production Design – Short Form: Ian Brock for Street Time ‘No Excuses’

* Outstanding Achievement in Picture Editing – Long Form: Dean Soltys for Trudeau

* Outstanding Achievement in Picture Editing – Short Form: Stephen Withrow for Degrassi: The Next Generation ‘When Doves Cry’

* Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Long Form: Tony Currie, David Evans and Wayne Griffin for Spider

* Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Short Form: Sue Conley, Mishann Lau and Dale Sheldrake for Queer As Folk

* Lifetime Achievement Award: Daryl Duke

* Distinguished Service Awards: Richard Ballentine, Syd Banks, Robert Barclay, Don Haldane and Don Williams

-www.dgc.ca