Emerging Canadian filmmakers win big at the 2009 Air Canada enRoute Film
Festival

    
         Cineplex Entertainment becomes presenting sponsor for 2010
    

TORONTO , Oct. 23 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada is pleased to announce the award winners of the 2009 Air Canada enRoute Film Festival.

    
    BEST SHORT FILM
    SARAH FORTIN for Synthétiseur (Montreal)

    ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTION
    SARAH FORTIN for Synthétiseur (Montreal)

    ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY
    LEIGH ANN MAYNARD for A Season to Wither (Edmonton)

    ACHIEVEMENT IN ANIMATION
    ALAIN HUYNH for Intermedium (Toronto)

    BEST DOCUMENTARY
    JAKE CHIRICO for The Freshwater Plague (Toronto)
    

The awards were presented at an awards celebration at The Drake Hotel. Filmmakers, jury members and industry luminaries were in attendance at the exclusive event. The grand prize winner was awarded a two-year lease on a brand new Ford Fusion Hybrid vehicle courtesy of Ford of Canada . All winners will be going on an all-inclusive trip for two to the Palm Springs International Film Festival courtesy of Air Canada .

"To be included in this group of talented filmmakers was such an honour," said Fortin. "so I am extremely grateful to Air Canada and enRoute for selecting me as the recipient of the Best Short Film award."

Earlier in the evening Scotiabank Theatre Toronto played host to a free screening event where the best of this year's Air Canada enRoute films were shown on the big screen. enroutefilm.com People's Choice winner was also announced: Maxim Rheault for Les Gratteux wins a suit from Zegna.

Cineplex Entertainment announced their return in 2010 as the new presenting sponsor, continuing the growth of the festival in partnership with Air Canada .

"Cineplex Entertainment is proud to support Canada's emerging filmmakers through its sponsorship of the Air Canada enRoute Film Festival" said Pat Marshall , Vice President Communications and Investor Relations for Cineplex Entertainment. "Cineplex is committed to Canadian film and the Air Canada enRoute Film Festival provides young talent from across Canada the opportunity to fulfill a dream of seeing their film on our giant screens." For more information on the festival and for 2010 submission kits visit enroutefilm.com.

Air Canada enRoute Magazine is published by Spafax, one of the world's leading custom publishers and providers of inflight media, with offices in eight cities around the world. Spafax is a part of the specialist communications division of WPP.

Montréal-based Air Canada provides scheduled and charter air transportation for passengers and cargo to more than 170 destinations on five continents. Canada's flag carrier is the 13th largest commercial airline in the world and serves 33 million customers annually. Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance , providing the world's most comprehensive air transportation network for Canadian domestic, transborder and international travel. Air Canada aircraft offer customers individualized seatback in-flight entertainment systems with hundreds of hours of digital audio-visual entertainment. As well, customers can collect Aeroplan miles for future rewards through Canada's leading loyalty program.

In 2008, the readers of Business Traveler magazine voted Air Canada Best In-Flight Services in North America , Best Airline for Business Class Service in North America and Best North American Airline for International Travel.

For further information: Sarah Kiriliuk, rock-it promotions, inc., [phone], [email protected]; Debra Goldblatt, rock-it promotions, inc., [phone], [email protected]; Isabelle Arthur, Manager Media Relations, Quebec and Eastern Canada Communications, Air Canada, [phone], [email protected]