The decidedly male story of real Canadian World War One flying ace Billy Bishop, was an odd choice fore opening gala film, but Billy Bishop Goes To War was well received and director Barbara Willis Sweete was named Honourary Director for the 2012 festival.

The FeFF also honoured Carol Whiteman. In addition to being a successful producer, Whiteman is President & CEO of the Creative Women Workshops Association (CWWA) and is involved in The Women In The Director’s Chair Program. Like director Sweetem Whiteman was honoured with a Best In The Biz Tribute and given the Female Eye 2012 Maverick Award.

It had previously announced that Alanis Obomsawin, (pictured) one of Canada’s most distinguished documentary filmmakers, would be given the first Female Eye Lifetime Achievement Award. Obomsawin was also given a Best In The Biz Tribute that was moderated by Marc Glassman, editor, POV Magazine.

The festival's closing gala was Nancy Savoca’s new film Union Square, starring Mira Sorvino and Tammy Blanchard. Following the screening there was an intimate conversation with Savoca about the making of the film which will have its North American theatrical release on July 13, 2012. It won the coveted Best of Show Award Savoca, a mulit-award-winning director, was celebrated with a Best In The Biz Tribute, alongside her husband, and producing partner Rich Guay.

Following is a complete list of awards handed out at the 2012 Female Eye Film Festival:

Female Eye Inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award– Alanis Obomsawin (Montreal, Quebec, Canada)
Female Eye Film Festival Honourary Director Award- Barbara Willis Sweete (Toronto, ON, CAN)
Female Eye Maverick Award – Carol Whiteman (Vancouver, BC, CAN)
Best of Show– UNION SQUARE, Dir. Nancy Savoca (New York, NY, US)
Best Canadian Feature Film – THE HOUSE,Dir. Desiree Lim (Vancouver, BC, CAN)
Best Foreign Feature - BIR AVUÇ DENIZ (A HANDFUL OF SEA). Dir. Leyla Yilmaz (Turkey)
Best Debut Feature– BEAT DOWN, Dir. Deanne Foley (St. John’s, NL, CAN)
Best Documentary– A LOT LIKE YOU, Dir. Eliaichi Sadikiel Kimaro (Tanzania)
Best Short Film– ALONG THE ROAD, Dir. Gabrielle Nadeau (Quebec, CAN)
Best Animation–MOTHER’S COLOURS , Dir. Joyce Borenstein (Quebec, CAN)
Best Experimental Film–THE INHERITANCE, Dir. Vanessa Revard Roman and Sandra Olmsted (St. Louis, MO, USA)

SCREENPLAY AWARDS

Best Screenplay –SITTING ON THE EDGE OF MARLENE, Ana Valine (Vancouver, BC, CAN)
Best Reserve– GOLETA POSTAL, Jennifer Harrison (Anood, NJ, USA)
Best Low Budget Screenplay– A CERTAIN GIRL, Michelle Beyda (Sunnyvale, CA, USA)
Best Fresh Voice– BY ELECTION, Anders Whist (Toronto, ON, CAN)
Audience Choice Screenplay– ME & BOO, Danielle Bourgon (Toronto, ON, CAN)