In lieu of the Toronto International Film Festival’s customary awards brunch marking the end of the 10-day extravaganza, a press conference was held wherein festival director Piers Handling thanked the industry for its support after TIFF had adjusted its program out of respect for the catastrophe in the U.S.

In a radical change from what is usually the highest-profile affair in Toronto that day, TIFF’s announcement of the prize-winners attracted much less of the usual media attention. The Toronto-City Award for Best Canadian Feature Film ($25,000) went to Atanarjuat (The Fast Runner) from Zacharias Kunuk, the winner of this year’s Cannes Camera d’Or for best first feature film. Set in Igloolik, the film is Canada’s first feature-length fiction film written, produced, directed and performed by Inuit.

The Citytv Award for Best Canadian First Feature ($15,000) went to the Winnipeg comedy Inertia, Sean Garrity’s directorial debut produced by Brendon Sawatsky. The film follows the twisted, absurd and humorous relationships among a group of friends.

Film(Dzama), a reflexive and absurdist fictional biography of real-life pop artist Marcel Dzama, from Winnipeg filmmaker deco dawson, won the John Spotton Award for Best Canadian Short Film ($2,500 in cash and $7,500 in film services). The AGF People’s Choice Award went to the French film Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amelie Poulain, which follows a woman’s comedic adventures as she tries to bring joy to others.

The FIPRESCI Award went to Inch’Allah Dimanche by France’s Yamina Benguigui, a look at the life of an Algerian woman who follows her estranged husband to France in the 1970s. One of the films recognized by critics was Canadian Asghar Massombagi’s Khaled, about a young boy who hides his mother’s death. The tale won a special mention from the FIPRESCI jury. Another special mention went to Be My Star from Valeska Grisebach (Austria/Germany), a story of bittersweet teenage love.

Critical kudos, in the form of the Volkswagen Discovery Award, went to the Chicken Rice War from Singapore’s Cheah Chee Kong, also known as CheeK. The debut was billed as Singapore’s first modern romantic comedy and is based on Romeo and Juliet.

-www.e.bell.ca/filmfest/2001