The Canadian Images jury who made these selections was comprised of Beth Barrett, program manager of the Seattle International Film Festival; photographer, filmmaker and educator Dana Claxton; and filmmaker and chinlone (the national sport of Myanmar) expert Greg Hamilton. The Shaw Media Award for Best Canadian Feature Film includes a $20,000 cash prize. Commenting on their choice the jury said their decision was based on the film's "unflinching intimacy and atmosphere of containment with candour and lucidity." The jury also noted that VIFF presents one of the largest showcases of Québec films outside of that province.

The Canadian Images jury, represented by Dana Claxton, awarded a $2,000 cash award for Most Promising Director of a Canadian Short Film Award to Andrew Cividino of Ontario for We Ate the Children Last. The jury selected this film "for its creation of an apocalyptic, yet fully believable world."

Following are the Audience Awards announced last night in Vancouver:

Rogers People's Choice Award:

A Separation, directed by Asghar Farhadi has won the Rogers People's Choice Award. All of the festival's 375 films - dramas and nonfiction, short, mid- and feature length - were eligible, and festival-goers chose the most popular film by rating every film they saw on a scale of 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent).
VIFF Most Popular Nonfiction Film Award

The audience chose Sing Your Song, directed by Susanne Rostock for the VIFF most popular Nonfiction Film Award, which was presented by Festival Director, Alan Franey.

VIFF Most Popular Canadian Film Award

Starbuck, directed by Ken Scott, won the VIFF Most Popular Canadian Film Award. The award was announced by Canadian Images programmer Terry McEvoy.

NFB Most Popular Canadian Documentary Award

Peace Out, directed by Charles Wilkinson, won the NFB's Most Popular Canadian Documentary award and a prize of $2,500 in NFB technical services toward their next film from the Filmmaker Assistance Program.The award was presented by Tracey Friesen, executive producer at the National Film Board of Canada's Pacific and Yukon Centre.

VIFF Environmental Film Audience Award

People of a Feather, directed by Joel Heath, won the VIFF Environmental Film Audience Award. The award was announced by festival director, Alan Franey.

As previously reported by Northernstars.ca, The $10,000 Dragons & Tigers Award for Young Cinema went to Tibetan director Sonthar Gyal of China for The Sun-Beaten Path.