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11th October 2002 As in previous years, documentaries rated highly with audiences at the Vancouver International Film Festival, with Michael Moore's Bowling For Columbine (interview; review), an acerbic critique of American gun culture, voted Most Popular Film at the Vancouver International Film Festival 2002. The documentary which won a Special Jury prize at the Cannes film festival in May, is due for its North American release later this month. Moore was due to appear at the festival but broke off his scheduled visit at the last minute. Another documentary, Fix: Story Of An Addicted City, higlighting the drug and socio-economic problems of Canada's poorest community, tied for the audience award for "Most Popular Canadian Film". The film focuses on Vancouver's skid row, a block away from its touristy old town, where crack-users smoke openly in the high street. It came first-equal with Expecting, an improvised low-budget comedy drama that looks at the interactions between a group of bohemian friends when they come together to support a woman who is having a home-birth. Expecting being a Toronto-made film, cast and crew were unavailable to receive the award. However, Nettie Wild director of Fix: The Story Of An Addicted City received her award with long-term drug user and the spokesperson in the film for VANDU (Vancouver Drug Users). While others thanked their producers and funders Wilson had this message: "I'd just like to thank the downtown Eastside, the best community in Canada; the mayor to recognise that it is a great community; Nettie for doing this film and showing the world that we are alright. And just say, 'no' to the War On Drugs." The full list of awards are as follows: AIR CANADA PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD Winner: Michael Moore, Bowling For Columbine FEDERAL EXPRESS AWARD FOR MOST POPULAR CANADIAN FILM Winner: Fix: The Story Of An Addicted City; Expecting. TELEFILM CANADA AWARDS Jury: Katherine Monk (film critic); Anne Pélouas (journalist); John Pozer (filmmaker). BEST EMERGING WESTERN CANADIAN FEATURE FILM DIRECTOR ($5,000) Winner: Keith Behrman for Flower & Garnet CITYTV WESTERN CANADA SCREENWRITERS AWARD ($12,000) Presenter: Diane Boehme, Director of Independent Production for CHUM Television Winner: The Burial Society Special mention: Long life, Happiness and Prosperity BEST EMERGING WESTERN CANADIAN FILM DIRECTOR OF A SHORT OR MID-LENGTH FILM ($4,000) Winner: Michelle Porter for Big Shoes To Fell Special mention: Dylan Akio Smith for The Bug WOMEN IN FILM AND VIDEO ARTISTIC MERIT AWARD Presenter: Jacqueline Samuda, President, Women in Film and Video Vancouver Winner: in envelope Special mention: Sonja Bennett for Punch Winner: Jane McGregor, Flower & Garnet and Bitten DRAGONS AND TIGERS AWARD FOR YOUNG CINEMA ($5,000) Winner: Shanghai Panic Special mentions: Borderline; Eliana, Eliana; Border Line. Jury: Olivier Assayas (filmmaker), Marie-Pierre Macia (film programmer); Park Ki-Yong (filmmaker) NATIONAL FILM BOARD AWARD FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE Gambling, Gods and LSD CHIEF DAN GEORGE HUMANITARIAN AWARD Oasis - Director Lee Chang-Dong (South Korea) More VIFF coverage
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