OTTAWA - Denis Villeneuve's Oscar-nominated saga "Incendies" blazed through the Genie Awards to claim Canada's top film prizes Thursday, clinching wins for best film, best director, best adapted screenplay and best actress.
The dark drama won a leading eight Genies at the bash, marking the second year in a row that Villeneuve dominated the country's most prestigious awards.
Last year, the soft-spoken Quebec director swept the field with his haunting, black-and-white rendering of the Montreal massacre, "Polytechnique."
Despite the back-to-back triumphs, Villeneuve bemoaned a lack of support for francophone films in English Canada.
"Last year I won for 'Polytechnique.' I won nine Genie awards. I made the front page everywhere in Quebec. But here, in the Globe and Mail, I was just beside dead people, at the end of the last page," Villeneuve said on the red carpet before the trophies were handed out.
"It's like it doesn't exist (in English Canada). It's really sad always when I go to the Toronto (International) Film Festival. We hear a lot about the Toronto film festival in Quebec . . . but not much in the rest of Canada. I don't know why but it's really sad."
"Barney's Version," the cinematic adaptation of Mordecai Richler's sprawling final novel, followed close behind "Incendies" with seven prizes, including acting trophies for stars Paul Giamatti, Dustin Hoffman and Minnie Driver.
The Hollywood heavyweights were notably absent at the ceremony, leaving the presenters to accept the trophies on their behalf.
Giamatti took the best actor prize for his portrayal of curmudgeonly, hockey-mad protagonist Barney Panofsky, widely seen as an alter-ego of Richler himself. In January, the "Sideways" star also won a Golden Globe for the role, using his acceptance speech to profess his love for Canada and Montreal, where the film was shot.
"I'm very very sorry not to be there in person this evening," Giamatti said in a statement read by co-star Rachelle Lefevre.
"This is a hugely gratifying honour to receive. To be acknowledged in the country that produced this great film, the tremendous novel it's based on and the uniquely brilliant Mordecai Richler, is pleasing and moving to me beyond words."
In a pre-telecast ceremony, screen legend Hoffman won the best supporting actor Genie for his turn as Panofsky's free-spirited father, Izzy. Driver earned the best supporting actress trophy for playing Giamatti's status-obsessed second wife.
"Incendies" claimed the remaining acting prize. Belgian actress Lubna Azabal fought back tears as she took the stage to offer an emotional thank you to Villeneuve for guiding her through a harrowing role as a mother with a violent, war-torn past.
The acclaim for "Incendies" -- which Villeneuve made at the same time as "Polytechnique" -- has catapulted the acclaimed director into a new stratosphere. At last month's Academy Awards, he brushed shoulders with heavyweight filmmakers Steven Spielberg, Francis Ford Coppola and Alejandro GonzDalez IInDarritu.
"Incendies" ultimately lost the Oscar for best foreign-language film to Denmark's "In A Better World."
Villeneuve appeared genuinely surprised to win for his "Incendies" screenplay, which is based on a play by Montreal-based Wajdi Mouawad. Villeneuve has long thanked the playwright for allowing him free rein with the source material.
"I did not expect to win this, the competition was pretty tough," Villeneuve said.
In accepting the prize for best director, he thanked friends in Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan for making the film possible.
"Thank you very much, it goes straight to my heart."
As Genie host, film and TV star William Shatner injected humour early on with some digs at that other awards bash, the Academy Awards.
"They wanted a host that appeals to a younger, hipper audience. Then they watched the Oscars," the 79-year-old Shatner quipped.
Another Canadian Oscar contender -- Montreal makeup artist Adrien Morot -- was also lauded Thursday night. He won the Genie for achievement in makeup along with Rejean Goderre, Valli O'Reilly and Micheline Trepanier.
Morot lost out at the Oscars to "The Wolfman."
The Genie for best documentary, meanwhile, went to Montreal filmmaker Lixin Fan for "Last Train Home." He was also nominated for a prestigious Directors Guild of America Award for the film. He shared the Genie recognition with Mila Aung-Thwin and Daniel Cross.
The Jay Baruchel comedy "The Trotsky" also got some love from the Genies, with an original screenplay nod for Jacob Tierney, who directed the film.
Although several of the most high-profile nominees were not on hand, many homegrown celebrities turned out to salute Canadian cinema, including Shannon Tweed, Tyler Labine, Gordon Pinsent and Baruchel, who claimed a fan choice award.
The Genie Awards -- celebrating their 31st year -- featured performances from Melissa Etheridge, Serena Ryder, Johnny Reid and Karkwa.
The Golden Reel Award, given to the country's top box office contender, was presented to the 3D spectacle "Resident Evil: Afterlife."
The Claude Jutra Award, which goes to a first-time director, was presented to Jephte Bastien for his film "Sortie 67" ("Exit 67").
