1st Genie Awards
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The 1st Genie Awards were the first ever Genie Awards. They were presented on March 20, 1980 and honoured films released in 1979. They were given out at a gala event at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto with Bruno Gerussi as host. A luncheon the day before the gala saw the non-feature film awards presented. The show was broadcast on CBC Television and was noted for its Oscars-like production design. The show was not without controversy: Award winner Christopher Plummer used his speech to criticize the distinction made between Canadian and foreign actors. The fact that no French language films won any major awards was also a source of some controversy.
Award winners
- Best Motion Picture — Garth Drabinsky and Joel B. Michaels, The Changeling
- Director — Bob Clark, Murder by Decree
- Actress — Kate Lynch, Meatballs
- Actor — Christopher Plummer, Murder by Decree
- Supporting Actor — Gordon Pinsent, Klondike Fever
- Supporting Actress — Geneviève Bujold, Murder by Decree
- Foreign Actor — George C. Scott, The Changeling
- Foreign Actress — Trish Van Devere, The Changeling
- Original Script — Len Blum, Dan Goldberg, Janis Allen, Meatballs
- Adapted Screenplay — William Gray and Diana Maddox, The Changeling
- Art Design — Trevor Williams, The Changeling
- Best Achievement in Cinematography — John Coquillon, The Changeling
- Outstanding Cinematography in a Dramatic Film (Non-Feature) — Savas Kalogeras, Bravery in the Field
- Outstanding Cinematography in a Documentary (Non-Feature Film)) — Roger Rochat, Le Pilier de Cristal
- Costume Design — Louise Jobin, Cordélia
- Music — Carl Zittrer and Paul Zaza, Murder by Decree
- Sound — Joe Grimaldi, Austin Grimaldi, Doni Pigat, Karl Scherer, The Changeling
- Sound Editing — Patrick Drummond, Dennis Drummond, Robert Grieve, The Changeling