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1st Genie Awards
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1980 Canadian film awards
April 2026
December 2023
1 Genie Awards March 20, 1980 Royal Alexandra Theatre, Toronto Bruno GerussiBen Wicks The Changeling The Changeling 29th CFAs 2nd
The 1st Genie Awards were presented on March 20, 1980, and honoured films released in 1979.Jay Scott, "Changeling wins Genie as year's best movie". The Globe and Mail, March 21, 1980.
Immediately after the 1978 Canadian Film Awards, which were nearly cancelled due to disputes and controversy, industry leaders met to design a new awards organization based on the academy system of industry nomination and secret ballot. Members of the Canadian Film Awards committee were skeptical about nominator qualifications, and about the motivations of those who wanted the academy system, fearing that they would imitate the American model and that big-budget commercial films would swamp Canadian films.Maria Topalovich, And the Genie Goes To...: Celebrating 50 Years of the Canadian Film Awards. Stoddart Publishing, 2000. 0-7737-3238-1. pp. 117-199.
After a year of discussion, it was agreed that 14 members of the CFA committee and 14 elected representatives from industry organizations would form a board to oversee a new association whose mandate was to stimulate higher standards of filmmaking, foster educational service and develop public awareness of the industry. On April 11, 1979, the creation of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television was formally announced.Maria Topalovich, And the Genie Goes To...: Celebrating 50 Years of the Canadian Film Awards. Stoddart Publishing, 2000. 0-7737-3238-1. pp. 117-199.
For the first time 500 filmmakers were responsible for nomination and voting. Films were screened for members in Montreal and Toronto and then chosen by secret nomination and final ballot before being submitted to an impartial accounting firm.Maria Topalovich, And the Genie Goes To...: Celebrating 50 Years of the Canadian Film Awards. Stoddart Publishing, 2000. 0-7737-3238-1. pp. 117-199.
Ceremony
The first Genie Awards, as they were now known, were given out at a gala event at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto with actor Bruno Gerussi as host.1980 Genie Awards Program https://archive.org/details/genieawardsprogr0000unse/page/40/mode/2up archive.org Archive.org 25 March 2023Duart Snow, "Enter Genie, son of old Etrog". Ottawa Journal, March 15, 1980.Jay Scott, "Changeling leads Canadian Film Award nominees". The Globe and Mail, February 8, 1980.
The show was broadcast live on CBC Television and was noted for its Oscars-like production design, with production numbers including a jazz dance performance by Jeff Hyslop and Karen Kain set to the tune of "Dancing in the Dark", and female impersonator Craig Russell in character as Judy Garland.Meg Floyd, "Jazzing up the Genies". The Globe and Mail, March 15, 1980.
On March 19, cartoonist Ben Wicks hosted a luncheon for the 105 entrants in the non-feature categories.Rick Groen, "NFB, Brittain dominate TV Genie awards". The Globe and Mail, March 20, 1980. Also this year, on November 6, and under the administration of the academy, the Canadian Film Editors Guild, the Canadian Society of Cinematographers and the Canadian Film Sound Society hosted the 1980 Film Craft Awards.Maria Topalovich, And the Genie Goes To...: Celebrating 50 Years of the Canadian Film Awards. Stoddart Publishing, 2000. 0-7737-3238-1. pp. 117-199.
Controversies
The event was not without controversy. Despite having duly released three nominations in the category of Editing in a Dramatic Film (Non-Feature), the jury used the moment of presentation to announce that they had deemed none worthy of an award. Producer Sam Levene, in his acceptance speech for another award, called the decision an "arrogant slap in the face" to the nominees. The fact that no French language films won any major awards was an issue. Award winner Christopher Plummer used his speech to criticize the distinction made between Canadian and foreign actors, calling on the academy to treat "Canadian or Samothracian" actors equally. The Foreign Actors categories were dropped in 1984.
Award winners and nominees
Films
Best Motion Picture Outstanding Theatrical Short The Changeling – Chessman Park Productions, Garth Drabinsky and Joel B. Michaels producers, Peter Medak directorThe Changeling https://cfe.tiff.net/canadianfilmencyclopedia/content/films/changeling cfe.tiff.net Canadian Film Encyclopedia 25 March 2023
Cordélia – National Film Board of Canada, Jean-Marc Garand, Jacques Gagné and Roger Frappier producers, Jean-Marc Garand directorCordélia http://onf-nfb.gc.ca/fr/notre-collection/?idfilm=1457 onf-nfb.gc.ca National Film Board of Canada 27 March 2023
Klondike Fever – CFI Investments, Gilbert W. Taylor and Harry Alan Towers) producers, Peter Carter directorKlondike Fever https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b734e8b28 https://web.archive.org/web/20181230061106/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b734e8b28 dead December 30, 2018 bfi.org.uk British Film Institute 26 March 2023
Meatballs – Famous Players, CFDC and Haliburton Films, Daniel Goldberg, John Dunning and André Link producers, Ivan Reitman directorMeatballs https://cfe.tiff.net/canadianfilmencyclopedia/content/films/meatballs cfe.tiff.net Canadian Film Encyclopedia 25 March 2023
Running – CFDC, Robert M. Cooper, John M. Eckert and Ronald I. Cohen producers, Steven Hilliard Stern directorhttps://www.nytimes.com/1979/11/02/archives/screen-running-winning-and-losingmarathon-mania.html Canby Vincent November 2, 1979 Screen: 'Running,' Winning and Losing: Marathon Mania The New York Times C7 Nails – National Film Board of Canada and Mercury Pictures, Phillip Borsos producer and directorNails http://onf-nfb.gc.ca/en/our-collection/?idfilm=13244 onf-nfb.gc.ca National Film Board of Canada 27 March 2023
Twice Upon a Time... (Il était deux fois) – National Film Board of Canada, Roman Kroitor and Stefan Wodoslawsky producers, Giles Walker directorTwice Upon a Time... http://onf-nfb.gc.ca/en/our-collection/?idfilm=13259 onf-nfb.gc.ca National Film Board of Canada 27 March 2023
Track Stars: The Unseen Heroes of Movie Sound – Film Arts, Movement Films, Terry Burke and Don Haig producers, Terry Burke directorTrack stars, the unseen heroes of movie sound https://www.worldcat.org/title/track-stars-the-unseen-heroes-of-movie-sound/oclc/220850444?referer=di&ht=edition worldcat.org WorldCat 26 March 2023 Outstanding Documentary 30 Minutes and Under Outstanding Documentary 30 Minutes and Over Priory: The Only Home I've Got – National Film Board of Canada, Anne Wheeler and Tony Karch producers, Mark Dolgoy directorPriory, the Only Home I've Got http://onf-nfb.gc.ca/en/our-collection/?idfilm=12991 onf-nfb.gc.ca National Film Board of Canada 27 March 2023
It's Not an Illness – Claire Prieto producer, Roger McTair director
Taking Chances – Mobius Productions, Marilyn Belec producer, Robert Lang directorTaking Chances https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b776813b3 https://web.archive.org/web/20230326074017/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b776813b3 dead March 26, 2023 bfi.org.uk British Film Institute 26 March 2023 Paperland: The Bureaucrat Observed – National Film Board of Canada, Donald Brittain and Marrin Canell producers, Donald Brittain directorPaperland: The Bureaucrat Observed http://onf-nfb.gc.ca/en/our-collection/?idfilm=13277 onf-nfb.gc.ca National Film Board of Canada 27 March 2023
Cities: Glenn Gould's Toronto – John McGreevy Productions and Nielsen-Ferns International, John McGreevy and Pat Ferns producers, John McGreevy directorGlenn Gould's Toronto http://screenculture.org/cesif/film/glenn-goulds-toronto screenculture.org CESIF 25 March 2023
Dieppe 1942 – Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Terence Macartney-Filgate producer and director Outstanding TV Drama 30 Minutes and Under Outstanding TV Drama 30 Minutes and Over Bravery in the Field – National Film Board of Canada, Roman Kroitor and Stefan Wodoslawsky producers, Giles Walker directorBravery in the Field http://onf-nfb.gc.ca/en/our-collection/?idfilm=12814 onf-nfb.gc.ca National Film Board of Canada 2 February 2023
Revolution's Orphans – National Film Board of Canada, Rob Iveson and Roman Kroitor producers, John N. Smith directorRevolution's Orphans http://onf-nfb.gc.ca/en/our-collection/?idfilm=66388 onf-nfb.gc.ca National Film Board of Canada 2 February 2023 2 February 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230202192415/http://onf-nfb.gc.ca/en/our-collection/?idfilm=66388 dead
The Spirit of the River to China – Barb Wiseberg and Barry Pearson producers Certain Practices – Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Bill Gough and Sam Levene producers
For the Record: "Every Person Is Guilty" – Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Sam Levene and Vivienne Leebosh producers
The Wordsmith – Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Robert Sherrin and Robert Allen producers, Claude Jutra director Outstanding AnimationOutstanding Independent Film Every Child (Chaque enfant) – National Film Board of Canada, Derek Lamb producer, Eugene Fedorenko directorChaque enfant http://onf-nfb.gc.ca/fr/notre-collection/?idfilm=905 onf-nfb.gc.ca National Film Board of Canada 27 March 2023
Caninabis – National Film Board of Canada, Gaston Sarault producer, Kaj Pindal directorCaninabis http://onf-nfb.gc.ca/en/our-collection/?idfilm=12995 onf-nfb.gc.ca National Film Board of Canada 27 March 2023
Tukiki and His Search for a Merry Christmas – Atkinson Film-Arts, Titlecraft, Pooled Film Services, W.H. Stevens, Jr. and Beryl Friesen producers, Vic Atkinson directorTukiki and His Search for a Merry Christmas https://en.kinorium.com/218050/ kinorium.com Kinorium 26 March 2023 Track Stars: The Unseen Heroes of Movie Sound – Film Arts and Movement Films, Don Haig and Terry Burke producers, Don Haig director
Cities: Glenn Gould's Toronto – John McGreevy Productions, Nielsen-Ferns International, Pat Ferns and John McGreevy producers, John McGreevy directorGlenn Gould's Toronto 1979 https://ocul-yor.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/fulldisplay?docid=alma991009101089705164&context=U&vid=01OCUL_YOR:YOR_DEFAULT&lang=en ocul-yor.primo.exlibrisgroup.com York University 26 March 2023
Tukiki and His Search for a Merry Christmas – Atkinson Film-Arts, Titlecraft, Pooled Film Services, W.H. Stevens, Jr. and Beryl Friesen producers, Vic Atkinson director
Feature film craft awards
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role Christopher Plummer, Murder by Decree
Geoffrey Bowes, Something's Rotten
Robin Gammell, Klondike Fever
Thomas Hauff, Summer's Children
Stephen Lack, The Rubber Gun Kate Lynch, Meatballs
Micheline Lanctôt, A Scream from Silence {Mourir à tue-tête)
Louise Marleau, (Heartbreak (L'arrache-coeur)
Claire Pimparé, Yesterday
Louise Portal, Cordélia Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role Gordon Pinsent, Klondike Fever
Harvey Atkin, Meatballs
Lawrence Dane, Running
Chris Makepeace, Meatballs
Saul Rubinek, Agency
Robert A. Silverman, The Brood Geneviève Bujold, Murder by Decree
Helen Burns, The Changeling
Patricia Collins, Summer's Children
Barbara Gordon, Wild Horse Hank
Frances Hyland, The Changeling Best Performance by a Foreign Actor Best Performance by a Foreign Actress George C. Scott, The Changeling
Michael Douglas, Running
Bill Murray, Meatballs
Will Sampson, Fish Hawk
Rod Steiger, Klondike Fever Trish Van Devere, The Changeling
Susan Anspach, Running
Samantha Eggar, The Brood
Sally Kellerman, It Rained All Night the Day I Left
Cloris Leachman, Yesterday Best Achievement in Art Direction Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design Trevor Williams, The Changeling
Denis Boucher and Vianney Gauthier, Cordélia
Seamus Flannery, Fish Hawk
Seamus Flannery, Klondike Fever
Wolf Kroeger, It Rained All Night the Day I Left
Roy Forge Smith, Yesterday
Carol Spier, The Brood Louise Jobin, Cordélia
François Barbeau, Chocolate Eclair (Éclair au chocolat)
Linda Matheson, Fish Hawk
Patti Unger, Klondike Fever
Julie Whitfield, Something's Rotten
Julie Whitfield, Tanya's Island Best Achievement in Cinematography Best Achievement in Direction John Coquillon, The Changeling
Miklós Lente, Agency
Pierre Mignot, Cordélia
Reginald H. Morris, Murder by Decree
Laszlo George, Running Bob Clark, Murder by Decree
Peter Carter, Klondike Fever
Anne-Claire Poirier, A Scream from Silence (Mourir à tue-tête)
Donald Shebib, Fish Hawk
Eric Till, Wild Horse Hank Best Achievement in Film Editing Best Achievement in Sound Editing Stan Cole, Murder by Decree
George Appleby, Wild Horse Hank
Jean Beaudin, Cordélia
Debra Karen, Meatballs
Debra Karen, Yesterday
Marcel Pothier, Heartbreak (L'arrache-coeur)
Ron Wisman, Fish Hawk Patrick Drummond, Dennis Drummond and Robert Grieve, The Changeling
Michael Clark and Brian French, Wild Horse Hank
Kenneth Heeley-Ray, Agency
Kenneth Heeley-Ray, Murder by Decree
Marcel Pothier, Chocolate Eclair (Éclair au chocolat) Best Achievement in Sound Outstanding Original Music Score Joe Grimaldi, Austin Grimaldi, Dino Pigat and Karl Scherer, The Changeling
David Appleby and Joe Grimaldi, Murder by Decree
Gary C. Bourgeois and Richard Lightstone, Meatballs
Joe Grimaldi and Bryan Day, The Brood
Owen Langevin, Joe Grimaldi and David Appleby, Running Carl Zittrer and Paul Zaza, Murder by Decree
Hagood Hardy, Klondike Fever
Paul Hoffert, Wild Horse Hank
Alain Leroux, It Rained All Night the Day I Left
Howard Shore, The Brood Best Original Screenplay Best Screenplay Adapted from Another Medium Len Blum, Dan Goldberg and Janis Allen, Meatballs
Mireille Dansereau, Heartbreak (L'arrache-coeur)
Allan Moyle, John Laing and Stephen Lack, The Rubber Gun
Jim Osborne, Summer's Children
Anne Claire Poirier and Marthe Blackburn, A Scream from Silence (Mourir à tue-tête)
Steven Hilliard Stern, Running William Gray and Diana Maddox, The Changeling
Ted Allan, It Rained All Night the Day I Left
Jean Beaudin and Marcel Sabourin, Cordélia
R. J. Dryer and Martin Lager, Klondike Fever
Jean-Claude Lord and Jean Salvy, Chocolate Eclair (Éclair au chocolat)
Non-feature craft awards
Outstanding Performance by an Actor Outstanding Performance by an Actress Rudi Lipp, Revolution's Orphans
Ken Pogue, For the Record: "Every Person Is Guilty"
Saul Rubinek, The Wordsmith Martha Henry, The Newcomers
Lynne Griffin, For the Record: "Every Person Is Guilty"
Bronwen Mantel, Revolution's Orphans
Janet Ward, The Wordsmith Outstanding Cinematography in a Dramatic Film Outstanding Cinematography in a Documentary Savas Kalogeras, Bravery in the Field
David De Volpi, Revolution's Orphans
Kenneth W. Gregg, For the Record: "Every Person Is Guilty" Roger Rochat, Ice Birds (Le Pilier de cristal)
Ron Orieux, Nails
Barry Perles and Douglas Kiefer, Paperland: The Bureaucrat Observed
Charles Stewart, Dieppe 1942 Outstanding Direction in a Dramatic Film Outstanding Direction in a Documentary Paul Almond, For the Record: "Every Person Is Guilty"
Barry Healey, The Night Before the Morning After
John N. Smith, Revolution's Orphans Donald Brittain, Paperland: The Bureaucrat Observed
Phillip Borsos, Nails
Terence Macartney-Filgate, Dieppe 1942 Outstanding Art Direction Outstanding Editing in Documentary Milton Parcher, The Wordsmith
William Beeton, Riel
Earl Preston, Revolution's Orphans Richard Todd, Paperland: The Bureaucrat Observed
Thomas Berner, Dieppe 1942
Raymond Hall, Nails
Andy Malcolm and Terry Burke, Track Stars: The Unseen Heroes of Movie Sound Outstanding Editing in a Dramatic Film Outstanding Sound in a Non-Feature Film Not awarded
Haida Paul, The Night Before the Morning After
Arla Saare, The Wordsmith
Myrtle Virgo, For the Record: "Every Person Is Guilty" Tony Van den Akker, Al Caruso, Andy Malcolm and Terry Burke, Track Stars: The Unseen Heroes of Movie Sound
Hans Oomes and Bernard Bordeleau, Paperland: The Bureaucrat Observed
Alex Taylor, Michael Lax and Austin Grimaldi, Dieppe 1942 Outstanding Screenplay Outstanding Non-Dramatic Script Mordecai Richler, The Wordsmith
Barry Healey, The Night Before the Morning After
János Szanyi, Laszlo Gefin and John N. Smith, Revolution's Orphans
Ralph L. Thomas, For the Record: "Every Person Is Guilty"
Ronald Blumer, John Random and Donald Brittain, Paperland: The Bureaucrat Observed
Timothy Findley and William Whitehead, Dieppe 1942
Glenn Gould, Cities: Glenn Gould's Toronto Outstanding Original Music Score Golden Reel Award Michael Conway Baker, Nails
Hagood Hardy, Tukiki and His Search for a Merry Christmas
Rick Wilkins, Dieppe 1942 Daniel Goldberg and Ivan Reitman, Meatballs Special Awards Air Canada Award: George Destounis (Famous Players president), for outstanding contributions to the business of filmmaking in Canada
John Grierson Award: Rex Tasker, for outstanding contributions to Canadian cinema
Certain Practices, for direction, screenplay and editing
Every Child (Chaque enfant) — Hans-Peter Strobl for sound
References
Genie
Genie
Category:1980 controversies
Category:March 1980 in Canada
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