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The
second annual Don Haig Award was presented to Rob
Stefaniuk (Phil the Alien) on June 19, 2005
during the closing events of the Canadian Film Centre's
Worldwide
Short Film Festival.
Patricia
Rozema (I've Heard the Mermaids Singing, Mansfield
Park) presented the $10,000 cheque to Rob after
paying tribute to Don Haig by telling the audience
that her first feature I've Heard the Mermaids
Singing could not have been made without Don's
involvement as Executive Producer.
Rob
Stefaniuk wrote, directed, stars in, and wrote some
of the music for Phil the Alien, his feature
directorial debut. Phil debuted in 2004 at
the Toronto International Film Festival, where it
received the "Spirit of Film Honor". Rob also won
Best First Feature at the Cineast Sudbury Film Festival.
Phil was an official Slamdance 2005 selection
and played theatrically across Canada.
He
is currently in development on his next feature, a
rock 'n' roll vampire movie called Suck.
The
Don Haig Award award was established in 2002 by Don's
life companion Bill Schultz, his family, colleagues,
and the filmmakers he so vigorously supported. Don
was a major force in Canadian independent films such
as Alligator Shoes, I've Heard the Mermaids Singing,
Artie Shaw: Time Is All You've Got, The Twist, 125
Rooms of Comfort, and many more. The award is
given to an "emerging" filmmaker as a tribute
to the "give back" spirit of Don.
As
Anne Mackenzie, a nominating judge said, "Rob Stefaniuk’s
work is funny and original and seems especially deserving
of this Don Haig Award which recognizes talent in
such a generous and unstuffy fashion -- very much
the way Don Haig conducted his dealings with the film
community."
After
the event Rob Stefaniuk commented, "Although
I never met Don, I have been reading up on him, and
meeting his friends and colleagues this past week,
therefore I feel I can safely say that there is no
one like him in the Indie film world today. I found
this experience to be inspiring, a privilege and an
honour."
The Award is administered by a volunteer committee,
chaired by Joan Schafer. Rob was one of 16 filmmakers
nominated from across Canada by a national panel of
judges and the final selection was made by an independent
jury.
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