Boston’s Chlotrudis Society names “Once” Best Picture

Boston MA – Despite a strong showing by THERE WILL BE BLOOD, which came
away with Trudies for Paul Thomas Anderson (Best Director), Daniel Day
Lewis (Best Actor) and Paul Dano (Best Supporting Actor), this year the
Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film bestowed its Best Film award to
the charming Dubliner film ONCE, which had received a sole nomination in
that category.

The prestigious Buried Treasure award was won by Rumania’s 12:08 EAST OF
BUCHAREST. In order to be eligible, Buried Treasure nominees had to have
earned less than $250,000 in US box office.  Chlotrudis created the
category in order to shine a spotlight on those films the society feels
deserve wider attention and a second look.

Beating out Julie Christie and Ellen Page in their Oscar nominated roles
in AWAY FROM HER and JUNO, respectively, was Kate Dickie for her riveting
performance in RED ROAD.    In yet another category of strong nominees,
Jessica Yu’s PROTAGONIST emerged as first among contenders, winning Best
Documentary.  Cate Blanchett won Best Supporting Actress for I’M NOT
THERE; Visual Design ended up with PAPRIKA and PAN’S LABYRINTH sharing the
win; WAITRESS walked away with Best Ensemble; and the writing awards went
to the original THE LIVES OF OTHERS and the adapted AWAY FROM HER.

The winners from the 8th Annual Chlotrudis Short Film Festival were also
officially announced during the show.  The Audience Award went to FISH
BUT NO CIGAR, directed by Tara White & Lyn Eliot, while GIRLS ROOM by
Maria Gigante, took away the Best Film win.  Ms. Gigante made the trek
from New York to accept in person.

Presenters and guests included many members of the Boston film community,
among them nationally respected film scholar Gerald Peary and Peter
Keough, film editor for The Boston Phoenix.  In addition, representatives
from the Independent Film Festival of Boston, the Boston Jewish Film
Festival, the Boston Latino International Film Festival, Women in
Film/Video New England, the Boston Gay and Lesbian Film Festival and the
CineMental queer film series participated in the night’s festivities.

This year’s musical numbers extolled the virtue of the night’s nominees
and honoree while emulating a Feist video, and while taking on a Sondheim
operetta.  Many guest presenters had fun with their moments in the
spotlight, some even going so far to arrive with their own props in tow.

But the highlight of the night was the heartfelt and forthright speech by
Alberta Watson, the year’s special honoree, as she accepted the Society’s
Career So Far award.  Ms. Watson, an actress perhaps best known on film
for her costarring role in SPANKING THE MONKEY, and on TV for her
supporting role in LA FEMME NIKITA, pulled no punches as she spoke about
her career’s highs and lows, and her feelings about the state of the film
and television industries today, in both her country of Canada, and in
Hollywood.

The Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film is a Boston-based non-profit
group that teaches people to view film actively and experience the world
through independent film, and encourages discussion.  The group works with
film festivals, local art-houses and theatres, production companies,
directors and actors to bring creative, quality films to the attention of
audiences and film-lovers.  Visit its website, http://www.chlotrudis.org
for more information.

Full list of winners:

BEST MOVIE
Once

BEST DIRECTOR
Paul Thomas Anderson – There Will Be Blood

BEST ACTOR
Daniel Day Lewis – There Will Be Blood

BEST ACTRESS
Kate Dickie – Red Road

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Paul Dano– There Will Be Blood

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Cate Blanchett – I’m Not There

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE CAST
Waitress

BEST VISUAL DESIGN (tie)
Pan’s Labyrinth and Paprika

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Away From Her

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
The Lives of Others

BEST DOCUMENTARY
Protagonist

BURIED TREASURE
12:08 East of Bucharest