DENIS VILLENEUVE BEGINS PRE-PRODUCTION ON "AN ENEMY" STARRING JAKE GYLLENHAAL

Denis Villeneuve & Mr. Will-W.

Although it doesn't begin filming in Toronto until late May, Director Denis Villeneuve is in Toronto beginning Pre-Production on his upcoming Thriller An Enemy, starring Jake Gyllenhaal. Villeneuve was spotted walk along King Street earlier today with a Friend, presumably heading to Dinner. The three-time Genie Award Winner, represented us well at the Oscars in 2010 with his acclaimed Feature, Incendies in the Best Foreign Picture Category.

An Enemy will have Gyllenhaal starring as a Man who sees his own Double on a Rental DVD, going on a search to find him, only to turn both their lives upside-down. The Film, which is set to wrap mid-July, is just one of many exciting Projects slated for Toronto over the next few months! 

 Click here to read more about what's coming to our City!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

"MONSIEUR LAZHAR", VIGGO MORTENSEN AND MORE WIN BIG AT 32ND ANNUAL GENIE AWARDS

Philippe Falardeau & Viggo Mortensen win at 32nd Annual Genie Awards

Monsieur Lazhar, Canada's representative Film in the Foreign Film category at the Oscars this year, won big tonight at the 32nd Annual Genie Awards, held at  the Harbour Westin Castle Conference Centre tonight.  The Awards honour the best in Canadian Film and were hosted by CBC's George Stroumboulopoulos alone after Funnywoman Andrea Martin who originally was scheduled to Co-host, had to bow-out due to a scheduling conflict.

Directed by Quebec Director Philippe Falardeau, Monsieur Lazhar is a Drama about a School Teacher who helps a class of students overcome the loss of their former Teacher, winning top honour of Best Motion Picture this evening. In addition, the Film was victorious in the categories of Achievement in Direction, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Best Supporting Actress (Sophie Nelisse) and Best Actor (Mohamed Said Fellag), tallying at a total six Genies.

Making a surprise appearance tonight was Academy Award Nominee Viggo Mortensen, whose visit to Toronto confirmed rumours that he would win Best Supporting Actor for his work in David Cronenberg's A Dangerous Method.  The Film, which like Monsieur Lazhar is distributed in Canada by eOne Films, went on to win a total five Genies tonight including Original Score, Art Direction, Sound Editing and Overall Sound.

Another prominent Winner tonight was Alliance Films' Café de Flore, which saw Actress Vanessa Paradis go on to win for Best Actress and also get recognized for Achievement in Makeup and Visual Effects. One Security Guard tells me they were on heightened alert with rumours of Johnny Depp allegedly accompanying Paradis on a flight to Toronto, but this alas amounted to nothing more than rumour.

"BARNEY'S VERSION" RECEIVES 11 GENIE NOMINATIONS

Rosamund Pike at TIFF 2010

Congratulations to the Cast and Crew of Barney's Version, which received an astonishing eleven nominations at this year's Genie Awards.  The Comedy/Drama received nods in the categories of Best Lead Actor (Paul Giamatti), Best Lead Actress (Rosamund Pike), Best Supporting Actor (Dustin Hoffman) and Best Supporting Actress (Minnie Driver).  Director Richard J. Lewis is also up for Best Director.

Following closely behind Barney's Version is Denis Villeneuve's Incendies with a total ten nominations.  It is considered the closest threat to Barney's Version in the coveted Best Picture category. The Film is Canada's entry at the Oscars for Best Foreign Picture.

The Ceremony which will be held in Ottawa on March 10, 2011 at the National Arts Centre, honours the best in Canadian Film and will be broadcast on CBC. 

For more on The Genies, click here.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)