Oscar-winning feature film The Shape of Water and television miniseries Alias Grace were the big winners at the 2018 DGC Awards.

Handed out on Saturday night, the awards recognize excellence in film & television productions brought to life by Directors Guild of Canada members.

Academy Award Best Picture winner The Shape of Water took home three DGC Awards for Best Production Design (Paul Austerberry), Best Picture Editing (Sidney Wolinsky) and Best Sound Editing.

Alias Grace, which originally aired on CBC and is now available on Netflix, claimed three television awards including Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Mini-Series (Mary Harron), Best Production Design (Arvinder Greywal), and Best Picture Editing (David Wharnsby). The Handmaid’s Tale, also based on a Margaret Atwood novel, won two awards. 

OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN FEATURE FILM
Presented by Technicolor
Miranda de Pencier – The Grizzlies

ALLAN KING AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN DOCUMENTARY
Jennifer Baichwal – Long Time Running

BEST PICTURE EDITING – DOCUMENTARY
Roderick Deogrades – Silas

BEST SHORT FILM
Robin Hays – Post No Bills

DISCOVERY AWARD
Presented by Vanguarde Artists Management
Andrea Bussmann – Fausto

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN – FEATURE FILM
Paul Austerberry – The Shape of Water

BEST PICTURE EDITING – FEATURE FILM
Sidney Wolinsky – The Shape of Water

BEST SOUND EDITING – FEATURE FILM
The Shape of Water – Nathan Robitaille, Nelson Ferreira, Jill Purdy, Robert Hegedus, Kevin Howard, Alex Bullick, Dashen Naidoo, Tyler Whitham, Dustin Harris

OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMATIC SERIES
Presented by Panavision
Kari Skogland – The Handmaid’s Tale, Episode 110, Night

OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN MOVIES FOR TELEVISION AND MINI-SERIES
Presented by deluxe
Mary Harron – Alias Grace

OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY SERIES
Presented by Sim
Yael Staav – Baroness Von Sketch Show, Episode 201, It Satisfies on a Very Basic Level

OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN FAMILY SERIES
Presented by William F. White
Bruce McDonald – Heartland, Episode 1110, A Fine Balance

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN – MOVIES FOR TELEVISION AND MINI-SERIES
Arvinder Greywal – Alias Grace

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN – TELEVISION SERIES
Elisabeth Williams – Fargo, Episode 309, Aporia

BEST PICTURE EDITING – MOVIES FOR TELEVISION AND MINI-SERIES
David Wharnsby – Alias Grace 

BEST PICTURE EDITING – TELEVISION SERIES
Christopher Donaldson – The Handmaid’s Tale, Episode 102, Birth Day

BEST SOUND EDITING – MOVIES FOR TELEVISION AND MINI-SERIES
Cardinal: Blackfly Season – Paul Germann, Jane Tattersall, David McCallum, Krystin Hunter, Kelly McGahey

BEST SOUND EDITING – TELEVISION SERIES
The Expanse, Episode 205, Home – Nelson Ferreira, David Rose, Tyler Whitham, Dustin Harris, Dashen Naidoo

This year’s previously-announced special award recipients included industry veterans Vic Sarin, Alanis Obomsawin and Norma Bailey.

Vic Sarin was honoured with this year’s Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) Lifetime Achievement Award. The Indian-born Canadian film director, producer and screenwriter is best known for his work as a cinematographer on films including Partition, Margaret’s Museum, Whale Music, Nowhere to Hide, and Riel. He also directed CBC television series Wind At My Back. 

Montreal-based Indigenous documentary filmmaker and activist Alanis Obomsawin, who has over 50 films to her credit including Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance, received this year’s DGC Honourary Life Member Award.

Norma Bailey was honoured with the Don Haldane Distinguished Service Award. The Manitoba-born director has most recently directed episodes of Anne With An E, Mary Kills People, Ransom and Outlander, among other series.

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