VANCOUVER — Short films and small stories about big emotions dominated at this year’s Leo Awards, which saw Elijah, the made-for-TV movie about one politician’s role in scuttling the Meech Lake Accord, lead the pack with four awards. Normal, auteur Carl Bessai’s film about the aftermath of a fatal car accident, was honored with three awards at the 10th annual B.C. film and TV awards, held Friday and Saturday at Vancouver’s Westin Bayshore Hotel.

The weekend show, ably hosted by funnyman Gary Jones, offered no real surprises.

Elijah, starring Billy Merasty as Manitoba politician Elijah Harper, took the Leo for best feature-length drama, while screenwriter/producer Blake Corbet won for best screenwriting.

‘I want to thank the folks at CTV who believed it was possible to make a comedy about Canadian politics,’ said Corbet.

Elijah‘s other nods were for picture editing (Franco Pante and Lenka Svab) and musical score (Terry Frewer). Most of the film’s cast and crew, including Toronto-based Merasty, were on hand.

Normal‘s honors include a best direction nod for Bessai, and performance wins for actor Tygh Runyan and actress Camille Sullivan. ‘My special effect is actors, so thank you to my actors for this,’ Bessai said upon accepting his Leo.

Honors were spread out among contenders in the series categories. Tin Man, RHI Entertainment’s big-budget take on The Wizard of Oz for the Sci-Fi Channel, dominated with six wins: best makeup, production design, sound editing, overall sound, costume design and visual effects.

The best TV program Leo went to Fox’s Smallville, while CBC’s now-cancelled comedy jPod received four dramatic series Leos. It won for best screenwriting (Daegan Fryklind), female lead (Emilie Ullerup), and guest performances, both male (Ryan Robbins) and female (Babz Chula). A handful of placard-carrying jPod fans turned up at the ceremony’s red carpet to support the show.

Haddock Entertainment’s also-cancelled thriller Intelligence took two Leos: best direction (Stephen Surjik) and picture editing (Alison Grace). Tyler Labine won best male lead for his work in CW’s Reaper.

John Zaritsky’s acclaimed documentary The Suicide Tourist dominated the doc categories, as expected, taking six honors including best documentary program and a director nod for Zaritsky. ‘I always say that documentary filmmaking is a team sport, so I have to thank all the people who worked on The Suicide Tourist,’ said the director.

The short film Centigrade dominated its genre with five wins, including best short drama, direction (Colin Cunningham), overall sound, makeup and male performance (Cunningham). The film has qualified for Academy Awards competition, it was announced at the gala. Actor/director Cunningham was exuberant, but took a moment during his thank yous to pay tribute to Canadians serving overseas in Afghanistan.

The short film Dog Boy earned two short drama Leos: best musical score (Teresa Connors) and costume design (Julia Vidakovic).

Prolific prodco Paperny Films took home six Leos over the weekend. The comedy Road Hockey Rumble won three: best music/comedy/variety program, screenwriting and picture editing. Lifestyle program Glutton for Punishment also earned three: best program, direction and host (Bob Blumer).

The toon team behind Jibber Jabber dominated the animation categories, with Leos for best program, screenwriting, musical score and overall sound.