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Stars shine at the 2016 Leo Awards

The Devout, On The Farm big winners at red carpet gala
2016 leo awards gala 0609_17

[Photo gallery below]

If the results of the final night of the 2016 Leo Awards tell us anything about our homegrown reel people, it’s that they don’t shy away from gut-punching work.

Now in its 18th year, the Leo Awards recognize achievements in the British Columbia film and television industry, handing out more than one hundred awards to on-screen talent and behind-the-scenes artists each year. On June 5, the 2016 edition wrapped up with a splashy red carpet gala at the Hyatt Regency hosted by actor Zak Santiago (The 100; Random Acts of Romance) and attended by a veritable Who’s Who of the local screen scene – and the work that was recognized was undeniably fearless and emotionally wrenching.

In the motion picture category, The Devout – Connor Gaston’s gripping drama about a father who believes that his dying daughter is a reincarnated 1960s astronaut – snapped up five Leo Awards, including Best Motion Picture, Best Screenwriting, and Best Performance nods for Charlie Carrick, Ali Liebert, and child actor Olivia Martin (who was unable to attend the gala because it was “past her bedtime,” according to The Devout producer Amanda Verhagen during her acceptance speech).

Siobhan Devine won Best Direction in a Motion Picture for Whistler Film Festival standout The Birdwatcher, about a terminally ill woman (portrayed by Camille Sullivan, who won for her performance in the DTES-centric Victory Square) who seeks out a relationship with her biological mother (Gabrielle Rose) so that her son and daughter will have someone to look after them upon her death.

On the small-screen front, CTV’s Motive took Best Dramatic Series; the popular “whydunit” and Leo Awards regular is in the midst of its final season. On the Farm – a made-for-TV movie based on Stevie Cameron’s 2011 book about the events leading up to the arrest of serial killer Robert Pickton – won Best Television Movie.

Peruse the full list of gala awards ceremony winners below. 

 

MOTION PICTURE

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Naim Sutherland

Charlotte's Song

BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE

Cameron McDonald

No Men Beyond This Point

BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE

Olivia Martin

The Devout

BEST MUSICAL SCORE

Kim Oxlund, Maya Saxell, Red Heartbreaker

Charlotte's Song

BEST SCREENWRITING

Connor Gaston

The Devout

BEST DIRECTION

Siobhan Devine

The Birdwatcher

BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE BY A MALE

Charlie Carrick

The Devout

BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE

Ali Liebert

The Devout

BEST MOTION PICTURE

The Devout

Amanda Verhagen, Daniel Hogg, Connor Gaston - Producers

 

SHORT DRAMA

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A MALE

Dylan Playfair

Never Steady, Never Still

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE

Camille Sullivan

Victory Square

BEST DIRECTION

Kathleen Hepburn

Never Steady, Never Still

BEST SHORT DRAMA

Never Steady, Never Still

Tyler Hagan, James Brown, Kathleen Hepburn - Producers

 

TELEVISION MOVIE

BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE

Iain Belcher

Ungodly Acts

BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE

Stephanie Bennett

Stolen Dreams

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

James Menard

R. L. Stine's Monsterville: The Cabinet Of Souls

BEST MUSICAL SCORE

Graeme Coleman

My Sweet Audrina

BEST SCREENWRITING

Dennis Foon

On the Farm

BEST DIRECTION

Peter DeLuise

R. L. Stine's Monsterville: The Cabinet Of Souls

BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE BY A MALE

Jonathan Scarfe

Love On The Air

BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE

Anastasia Lin

The Bleeding Edge

BEST TELEVISION MOVIE

On the Farm

Rupert Harvey - Producer

 

DRAMATIC SERIES

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Mark Chow

Motive – “A Problem Like Maria”

BEST MUSICAL SCORE

Schaun Tozer

The Romeo Section – “The China Shop”

BEST SCREENWRITING

Jesse McKeown

19-2 – “Orphans”

BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE

Osric Chau

Blood And Water – “108”

BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE

Lauren Lee Smith

This Life – “Everything Must Go”

BEST DIRECTION

David Frazee

The Romeo Section – “Elephant Faces East”

BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE BY A MALE

Jared Keeso

19-2 – “School”

BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE

Carmen Moore

Blackstone – “Flat Line”

BEST DRAMATIC SERIES

Motive

Rob Merilees, Rob LaBelle, Lindsay MacAdam, Louise Clark, Ben Brafman, Erin Haskett, Dennis Heaton, Sarah Dodd, Daniel Cerone - Producers

 

STUDENT PRODUCTION

BEST STUDENT PRODUCTION

The Blue Jet

Lawrence Lam – Producer