The 2008 Northern Ontario Music and Film Awards and Conference (NOMFA) went through some dramatic changes this year. With the addition of a conference and film and music showcases, Music and Film in Motion (MFM) had to work extra hard to ensure the event's success.
"The conference and showcases were really successful new additions," said Denis Landry, executive director of MFM. "Most of the rooms were full most of the time. We were especially pleased with the film screening. There was about 75 to 100 people out to that."
The event switched venues from Cambrian College to the Radisson Hotel this year, which Landry said worked out very well:
"Having it all at the Radisson was awesome, it made it super easy for everyone to get around to the different events because they were mostly under one roof."
The conference and awards ceremony was held at the Radisson Hotel with a showcase of finalists' films at Rainbow Cinemas and nominated artists playing music at the Town House Tavern.
"People were really, really into the music, the Town House was packed most of the night," said Landry.
Performances from this year's music finalists included Sault Ste. Marie's Wild Turkeys and Thunder Bay's Flamenco Caravan.
"I don't think we could have been any happier with the
first year of our new program," said Landry.
This year also marked the NOMFA's fifth anniversary.
"The real root of the program is about making sure that at least once-a-year, as consumers of commercial products, we're paying attention to what is going on in our own backyards," said Landry in an interview prior to the event.
The Northern Ontario Music and Film Awards Program was created as a means of recognizing and celebrating the accomplishments of northern Ontario artists in the music and film industries.
The winners were announced Saturday night at a gala in the Palladium Ballroom at the Radisson Hotel.
They include:
Ox , American Lo Fi - Best album
Angie Nussey, Unwritten Pages - Best songwriter
Dave Clement and Kelly Saxberg, Seeking Bimaadiziiwin - Best
film and best director
Derek Burnett, The Human Error - Best film editor
Susan Adams, The Devil's Kitchen - Best screenplay
Dave Clement, Seeking Bimaadiziiwin - Best cinematography
Angie Nussey, Don't Give Up - Best vocal performance on a
recording
Jason Poulin - Best engineer
Confederation College's film production program - 2008
Trailblazer Award
