B. C. film’s time to roar
Fourteenth annual award ceremony celebrates the best work by locals
Amanda Tapping is going to have a busy weekend. The acclaimed actress will co- host the Leo Awards, at which her series Sanctuary leads the nominations with 18.
Amanda Tapping is going to have a busy weekend. The acclaimed actor will co- host the Leo Awards with Robin Dunne. And her series Sanctuary leads the Leo nominations with 18, including one for Tapping as best female lead in a dramatic series.
The Leos don’t have the cachet of the Oscars, or even the Geminis. But for the last 14 years, the show has been celebrating the best in B. C. film and television in a two- night extravaganza.
This year’s Leos have moved uptown to the Hotel Vancouver from the Bayshore. Friday night is an informal, “cocktail attire” event where most of the craft awards will be handed out. Saturday is the glitzy red carpet, black tie- and- tuxedo night where the stars come out to shine.
About 900 people are expected to attend ( 400 Friday, 500 Saturday). It isn’t cheap ($ 150 Friday, $ 225 Saturday, $ 125 Friday or $ 175 Saturday if you’re a nominee), but Leos president Walter Daroshin says the event gives film industry types a rare chance to get together and schmooze.
“Put it in perspective,” says Daroshin. “We only really do this once a year. The industry gathers in its own way during the course of the year, but usually in a fragmented sense: There are industry events that are specific to various genres of programming, or different guilds and unions and associations that have gatherings.
“[ And] the film festival is primarily audience driven. But this is all industry people, for the most part. There are some [ members of the] public that attend, but it’s mostly all [ industry people]. That’s what is different, we’re all seeing each other for the first time since last year. A lawyer might share a table with a picture editor or a sound designer.”
Arctic Air has nine nominations on the TV side, followed by Blackstone with six and Smallville with four. Carl Bessai’s Sisters & Brothers leads the feature film nominees with 12, followed by Hamlet ( eight nominations), Marilyn ( eight), Sunflower Hour ( seven) and Donovan’s Echo ( eight).
“Carl Bessai has done some wonderful work over the years,” said Daroshin. “He’s the epitome of a local, independent, indigenous filmmaker who just does what he does. He’s the poster child. When you think about the Leo Awards and B. C., you point to someone like that.”
There is an eclectic mix of nominees, a byproduct of the Leos mandate.
“Our intention is not to [ just] celebrate programs that are either shot in British Columbia or about British Columbia, our intention is to celebrate the individuals who are responsible for the creative and financial aspects of programs who happen to be a B. C. resident,” he explains.
“A number of years ago, for example, [ there was] Capote, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman. It appeared to be an American film, for all intents and purposes, looked like a Hollywood film, with an American star, an American director.
“But [ the late] Bill Vince and his [ Vancouver] company were the producing partners who controlled the creative and financial aspects of the program. So when we awarded Capote the Leo award for best picture, it was in recognition of the British Columbia component.”
Sisters & Brothers is up against Daydream Nation, Doppelgänger Paul, Marilyn and The Odds for best feature. Sanctuary’s competition for best dramatic series are Arctic Air, Blackstone, and Endgame.
Tapping faces some top competition for best female lead, where Meg Tilly is nominated for Bomb Girls, Erin Karpluk is nominated for Being Erica, Carmen Moore is up for Blackstone and Laura Mennell will represent Alphas.
The ticket price includes dinner with wine, and a champagne reception.