Has it been a year already? So many movies that we didn’t get a chance to see. But why should that stop us, or anyone else for that matter, from making predictions about who will go home happiest after this year’s Genie Awards? And so we ask: Predictions for Genie night?

I think Necessities of Life will sweep the Genies. It’s a wonderful film.
Jennifer Kawaja, Sienna Films,
Producer, Diamonds

I think best picture is a toss-up between Passchendaele and Normal. Politically, Paul Gross is favored in Canada, so it may fall his way. I actually haven’t seen a lot of the nominated films. In the U.S., you know about a film before it comes out… Passchendaele was given that kind of P&A treatment, which a lot of Canadian films don’t receive. That’s part of the game. You’ve gotta spend money to make money.
Frank Cassini,
Actor, Watchmen

It will be the year for Necessities of Life – a remarkable film that still haunts me weeks after viewing it. Guy Maddin’s My Winnipeg should also win for its audacity and fertility of cinematic ideas that I plan on borrowing as often as I can.
Joe MacDonald,
Producer, Night Mayor

Kristin Booth is lovely, funny and honest in Young People Fucking, Rosamund Pike is extremely endearing and thoughtful in Fugitive Pieces, and of course, Susan Sarandon gives nothing short of a powerhouse performance in Emotional Arithmetic… Their performances are inspiring, and certainly award-worthy.
Paula Brancati,
Actress, Degrassi: The Next Generation and Being Erica

In the documentary category, Up the Yangtze and My Winnipeg are not only two of the best Canadian documentaries this year, they are among any international top-10 list of best docs of 2008. The hockey fan and surrealist in me predicts My Winnipeg wins in a shoot-out.
Sean Farnel,
Director of programming, Hot Docs