Cinefranco Winners 2010

Cinéfranco is proud to announce its 2010 award winners

Tuesday, May 4, 2010:  Cinéfranco, English Canada’s largest celebration of international francophone cinema is proud to announce its 2010 award winners from its thirteenth edition in Toronto that took place Friday, March 26 to Saturday, April 3, 2010. 

Cinéfranco is an annual oasis for lovers of francophone cinema. This year’s festival presented 12 Canadian Premieres, 10 English Canadian Premieres and a showcase of 30 features and 10 shorts, a tribute to the controversial Québec nationalist Pierre Falardeau, a spotlight on Swiss films and a free panel on Francophone documentary. 

Winner - Radio Canada Prize for the audience favourite film is

“FEMALE AGENTS” by Jean-Paul Salomé.

Followed very closely by “Everybody’s couch” by Dominic Desjardins.  A special mention to the Québecois documentary “Africorama” by Richard Lacombe followed by the French comedies “Le Coach” by Olivier Doran and “Special Correspondants” by Frédéric Auburtin.

Audiences were sensitive to how the winning film “Les femmes de l’ombre” successfully brought together the adventurous and suspenseful side of the heroic missions of these women who fought for the freedom of Europe during WWII. Regarding drama, it’s noteworthy to mention that “La journée de la jupe” (France / Belgium), “Les 7 jours du talion” (Québec) and the closing film “Complices” (Switzerland) triggered great emotional reactions.

Winner - TFO Prize for best youth film 2010 is

“LE PETIT NICOLAS” by Laurent Tirard with a special mention for “Little Giants”.

The TFO Prize for Best youth film was determined for its educational content, the quality of the French in the film as well as the quality of acting and the relevance of the topic for youth.

By selecting “Le Petit Nicolas” as the winner among the 7 films in competition for the TFO Best Youth Film, the junior jury expressed how they were charmed by the topic of the film, the acting of its young protagonists and how they appreciated the educational value of the depiction of everyday life in the 60’s in France.

The meticulous details assigned to the costumes, to the children language, to the social values of the time and the humor within the film will motivate young readers to discover the books of “ Le Petit Nicolas” which are being studied in French classes all over Toronto and the GTA schools.

The members of the junior jury were particularly gripped by the sociological inquiry charged with great emotion and sensitivity regarding the disadvantaged background of the young protagonists in this remarkable documentary.