Latest news with #UniversalLanguage
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Winnipeg-born director wins big at Canadian Screen Awards
Matthew Rankin began his speech in Farsi, took a detour into French and wound back toward English when accepting the Canadian Screen Award for achievement in direction Sunday for Universal Language, a feature film set at a dreamy intersection connecting Winnipeg to Tehran. 'This is delightful,' Rankin told the crowd at CBC's Broadcast Centre in downtown Toronto. 'I'm from Winnipeg — I'm not accustomed to winning anything — so this is really weird and sweet and nice, so thank you very much.' It's a line that Rankin will now be forced to retire: with six wins — including original screenplay, editing, costume design, casting and art direction, handed out at Saturday's industry gala for cinematic arts — Universal Language, shot in Winnipeg and Montreal, was a repeat champion on Sunday night. Chris Young / The Canadian Press Matthew Rankin won as best director; his Universal Language took home five more awards. Based for several years in Quebec, which Rankin hailed as 'one of the last places where art and culture is thought of and defended as a public good,' the director, who also co-wrote and co-starred in the film, was quick to mention his upbringing at the Winnipeg Film Group, where as a teenager he enrolled in filmmaking workshops. 'I really want to take the opportunity to thank all the weirdos of the Winnipeg Film Group,' he said, later mentioning the late Cinematheque programmers Dave Barber and Jaimz Asmundson in a message shared with the Free Press. 'This is where I learned how to make movies in an artist-run centre. Those people are really keeping Winnipeg weird, and I love that.' Universal Language, which was the Canadian submission to this year's Academy Awards for best international feature, had its world première in competition at Cannes. Last spring after a sold-out local première at the Centre culturel franco-manitobain, Rankin carved up several Jeanne's cakes with the film's title written on top in green Farsi script. In a five-star review for the Free Press, Alison Gillmor wrote that 'while the film is laugh-out-loud funny — literally — it is also, by the end, as the wandering characters are finally brought together, ineffably sad and delicate.' 'Rankin's work has always been clever and comic, but there's a new tenderness here as the filmmaker brings in autobiographical strands, fusing them into a poetic expression of regret, longing and the meaning of home and family,' she added. Rankin, who in addition to French and Farsi is also learning Esperanto, has built a stellar career playing with the narrative strands of Canadian identity and political memory. His debut feature The Twentieth Century is a fantastical reimagining of former prime minister William Lyon Mackenzie King's origin story, while short films including 2014's Mynarski Death Plummet and 2010's Negativipeg are more localized, equally rewarding experiments in semi-fiction. Monthly What you need to know now about gardening in Winnipeg. An email with advice, ideas and tips to keep your outdoor and indoor plants growing. In February, Universal Language — co-written by Rankin, Ila Firouzabadi (who took home the best casting award) and Pirouz Nemati (who lost the award for leading performance in comedy to Cate Blanchett in Guy Maddin's Rumours) — was named best Canadian feature by the Toronto Film Critics Association, earning a $50,000 prize. Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television Universal Language co-writers and co-stars Pirouz Nemati (left) and Matthew Rankin 'This is a movie we made with our whole heart,' Rankin said Sunday. 'We all know what political moment we're living in. Every day there are new Berlin Walls shooting up all around us and pitting us against each other into very cruel binaries, and if our film stands for anything, it stands for the fact that kindness can, in fact, be a radical gesture, and that's really what we believe in now more than ever.' Other Winnipeg-related winners at the awards include the locally made Wilfred Buck, which nabbed David Schmidt an award for best editing of a feature-length documentary, and local writer Scott Montgomery as part of a team of winners for best writing, animation, for the Apple TV+ prodution Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin. The 2025 Canadian Screen Awards show, which aired live June 1 on CBC and CBC Gem, is also available to stream on Crave as of 8 p.m. Monday. Ben WaldmanReporter Ben Waldman is a National Newspaper Award-nominated reporter on the Arts & Life desk at the Free Press. Born and raised in Winnipeg, Ben completed three internships with the Free Press while earning his degree at Ryerson University's (now Toronto Metropolitan University's) School of Journalism before joining the newsroom full-time in 2019. Read more about Ben. Every piece of reporting Ben produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Hamilton Spectator
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
‘The Apprentice' wins best film at Canadian Screen Awards
'The Apprentice,' a Canada-Ireland-Denmark co-production about the early years of U.S. President Donald Trump, won best motion picture at Sunday's Canadian Screen Awards. Toronto's Daniel Bekerman is the lead producer of the Ontario-shot film, which portrays how Trump honed his persona, power tactics and media savvy under the mentorship of controversial fixer Roy Cohn. The drama bested 'Universal Language,' 'Darkest Miriam,' 'Gamma Rays,' 'Village Keeper' and 'Who Do I Belong To.' The film has won five Screen Awards in total, including best performance in a lead role for Sebastian Stan's turn as Trump, and best supporting actor for Jeremy Strong's portrayal of Cohn. Back in May, Bekerman told The Canadian Press that Trump's threat to impose a 100 per cent tariff on foreign films, citing national security, felt like a veiled reference to 'The Apprentice.' Bekerman denied that his film is a national security threat but said it might instead be 'an ego security threat' for Trump. 'This is not some sort of political attack film,' Bekerman said. 'It's actually not at all what it is. It is a humanistic story about choices people make in their lives and the consequences of those choices.' Trump's team attempted to block the film's theatrical release last fall, calling it 'election interference by Hollywood elites' and threatening to file a lawsuit. This year's Canadian Screen Awards bash was hosted by Edmonton-born comedian Lisa Gilroy in Toronto, capping off a multi-day celebration of Canadian film, television and digital storytelling. The televised ceremony put a bow on three days of awards shows, where major winners included the documentary 'The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal' and Matthew Rankin's film 'Universal Language.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 1, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
‘Universal Language' leads film contenders heading into Canadian Screen Awards
An absurdist Winnipeg-set fever dream and a millennial identity dramedy are among the leading contenders heading into tonight's Canadian Screen Awards. Matthew Rankin's 'Universal Language' picked up five awards in the film categories at a ceremony over the weekend and will compete for several more tonight, capping off a multi-day celebration of Canadian film, television and digital storytelling. It's vying for the best film trophy against 'The Apprentice,' 'Darkest Miriam,' 'Gamma Rays,' 'Village Keeper' and 'Who Do I Belong To.' Jasmeet Raina's Crave dramedy series 'Late Bloomer' won four awards at a gala for scripted television on Saturday, and is in contention tonight for best comedy series. It's up against CTV's 'Children Ruin Everything,' CBC's 'One More Time' and Crave's 'Don't Even' and 'Office Movers.' Edmonton-born comedian Lisa Gilroy says there's no better time to spotlight homegrown talent as she hosts tonight's Canadian Screen Awards, airing live from Toronto on CBC and CBC Gem. 'I know how hard it is to get TV shows and movies made (in Canada), and I'm so excited to celebrate the stuff that has been made,' she said in an interview earlier this month. 'It is so good and so funny. And we deserve to party.' 'Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent,' which led all nominees overall with 20, is up for several trophies tonight. It won two awards on Saturday for best writing in a drama series and best sound in fiction. It will square off for best drama series against CBC's 'Allegiance' and 'Bones of Crows,' Hollywood Suite's 'Potluck Ladies' and CTV's 'Sight Unseen.' 'Law & Order Toronto' actors Kathleen Munroe and Aden Young compete for best lead performer in a drama series against Grace Dove of Crave's 'Bones of Crows,' Mayko Nguyen of Citytv's 'Hudson & Rex' and CBC stars Supinder Wraich of 'Allegiance,' Hélène Joy of 'Murdoch Mysteries, Michelle Morgan of 'Heartland' and Vinessa Antoine of 'Plan B.' 'Universal Language' stars Rojina Esmaeili and Pirouz Nemati are nominated for best performance in a leading comedy film role. They're up against Maïla Valentir of 'Ababooned,' Paul Spence of 'Deaner '89,' Taylor Olson of 'Look at Me,' Emily Lê from 'Paying for It,' Cate Blanchett of 'Rumours' and Kaniehtiio Horn of 'Seeds.' Up for best performance in a leading drama film role are Sebastian Stan of 'The Apprentice,' Oshim Ottawa of 'Atikamekw Suns,' Britt Lower of 'Darkest Miriam,' Carrie-Anne Moss of ':Die Alone,' Chaïmaa Zineddine Elidrissi of 'Gamma Rays,' Sean Dalton of 'Skeet,' Christine Beaulieu of 'The Thawing of Ice,' and Olunike Adeliyi of 'Village Keeper.' In a last-minute programming shift on Thursday, the Canadian Screen Awards announced it would broadcast live on television — reversing earlier plans for a streaming-only show. Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television CEO Tammy Frick previously said going online-only allowed the show to be more 'flexible.' Some top nominees had expressed disappointment in March, telling The Canadian Press that a televised broadcast is key to spotlighting Canadian talent. The Academy said the decision to return to CBC TV came down to NHL scheduling — with no playoff game on Sunday, the two-hour show could air live. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 1, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘Universal Language' leads film contenders heading into Canadian Screen Awards
An absurdist Winnipeg-set fever dream and a millennial identity dramedy are among the leading contenders heading into tonight's Canadian Screen Awards. Matthew Rankin's 'Universal Language' picked up five awards in the film categories at a ceremony over the weekend and will compete for several more tonight, capping off a multi-day celebration of Canadian film, television and digital storytelling. It's vying for the best film trophy against 'The Apprentice,' 'Darkest Miriam,' 'Gamma Rays,' 'Village Keeper' and 'Who Do I Belong To.' Jasmeet Raina's Crave dramedy series 'Late Bloomer' won four awards at a gala for scripted television on Saturday, and is in contention tonight for best comedy series. It's up against CTV's 'Children Ruin Everything,' CBC's 'One More Time' and Crave's 'Don't Even' and 'Office Movers.' Edmonton-born comedian Lisa Gilroy says there's no better time to spotlight homegrown talent as she hosts tonight's Canadian Screen Awards, airing live from Toronto on CBC and CBC Gem. 'I know how hard it is to get TV shows and movies made (in Canada), and I'm so excited to celebrate the stuff that has been made,' she said in an interview earlier this month. 'It is so good and so funny. And we deserve to party.' 'Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent,' which led all nominees overall with 20, is up for several trophies tonight. It won two awards on Saturday for best writing in a drama series and best sound in fiction. It will square off for best drama series against CBC's 'Allegiance' and 'Bones of Crows,' Hollywood Suite's 'Potluck Ladies' and CTV's 'Sight Unseen.' 'Law & Order Toronto' actors Kathleen Munroe and Aden Young compete for best lead performer in a drama series against Grace Dove of Crave's 'Bones of Crows,' Mayko Nguyen of Citytv's 'Hudson & Rex' and CBC stars Supinder Wraich of 'Allegiance,' Hélène Joy of 'Murdoch Mysteries, Michelle Morgan of 'Heartland' and Vinessa Antoine of 'Plan B.' 'Universal Language' stars Rojina Esmaeili and Pirouz Nemati are nominated for best performance in a leading comedy film role. They're up against Maïla Valentir of 'Ababooned,' Paul Spence of 'Deaner '89,' Taylor Olson of 'Look at Me,' Emily Lê from 'Paying for It,' Cate Blanchett of 'Rumours' and Kaniehtiio Horn of 'Seeds.' Up for best performance in a leading drama film role are Sebastian Stan of 'The Apprentice,' Oshim Ottawa of 'Atikamekw Suns,' Britt Lower of 'Darkest Miriam,' Carrie-Anne Moss of ':Die Alone,' Chaïmaa Zineddine Elidrissi of 'Gamma Rays,' Sean Dalton of 'Skeet,' Christine Beaulieu of 'The Thawing of Ice,' and Olunike Adeliyi of 'Village Keeper.' Weekly A weekly look at what's happening in Winnipeg's arts and entertainment scene. In a last-minute programming shift on Thursday, the Canadian Screen Awards announced it would broadcast live on television — reversing earlier plans for a streaming-only show. Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television CEO Tammy Frick previously said going online-only allowed the show to be more 'flexible.' Some top nominees had expressed disappointment in March, telling The Canadian Press that a televised broadcast is key to spotlighting Canadian talent. The Academy said the decision to return to CBC TV came down to NHL scheduling — with no playoff game on Sunday, the two-hour show could air live. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 1, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
‘Universal Language,' ‘Wynonna Earp: Vengeance' top night 2 of Canadian Screen Awards
An absurdist dramedy set in an alternate-reality Winnipeg and a TV movie about a demon-slaying gunslinger dominated the Canadian Screen Awards on Saturday. 'Universal Language,' directed by and starring Matthew Rankin, led the film categories with five wins at a gala dedicated to the cinematic arts — one of several weekend ceremonies honouring the best in Canadian film, television and digital media. Among awards the French- and Farsi-language film nabbed were best casting and art direction. At a separate bash for scripted television, Tubi's 'Wynonna Earp: Vengeance' — a movie special reviving the cult supernatural series that wrapped in 2021 — led the pack with six awards. The production took home honours including best TV movie and best lead performer in a TV movie for Ottawa's Melanie Scrofano, who reprises her role as sharp-shooting heroine Wynonna Earp. Jasmeet Raina's Crave dramedy series 'Late Bloomer' also impressed in the television categories, picking up four wins including best writing in a comedy show, while Family Channel equestrian drama 'Beyond Black Beauty' grabbed four trophies including best youth fiction program. 'The Apprentice,' a Canada-Ireland-Denmark co-production exploring the early years of U.S. President Donald Trump, had a strong showing on the film side with three awards — notably best supporting actor for Jeremy Strong's portrayal of attorney Roy Cohn. 'Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent,' which led all nominees overall with 20, won two awards: best writing in a drama series and best sound in fiction. Montreal's Jacob Tierney took home best direction in a comedy show for the series finale of Crave comedy 'Letterkenny.' Vancouver's Marie Clements won best direction in a drama series for CBC/APTN historical drama 'Bones of Crows.' Winners in major categories — including best film and best TV comedy and drama — will be announced Sunday in a live CBC broadcast hosted by comedian Lisa Gilroy. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 31, 2025.
