The 5th Genie Awards were presented on March 21, 1984, to honour films released in 1983.
This year's entries numbered 15 features, 14 theatrical shorts and 5 theatrical documentaries."11 nominations for Chapdelaine in Genie race". The Globe and Mail, February 10, 1984. Maria Chapdelaine led with 11 nominations overall. However, the nominations were criticized for the fact that three of the five nominees for Best Picture, Maria Chapdelaine, The Terry Fox Story and The Wars, failed to garner Best Director nominations. After surveys, polls and scrutiny, it was found that the voting system was valid and it remained unchanged.Maria Topalovich, And the Genie Goes To...: Celebrating 50 Years of the Canadian Film Awards. Stoddart Publishing, 2000. . pp. 117-199.
After much debate, the contentious categories of Best Foreign Actor and Best Foreign Actors were dropped. A new points system was instituted which encouraged creative input by Canadians in the awards categories, while allowing some foreign participation and co-production eligibility.
The ceremony, which was hosted by comedian Louis Del Grande, was noted for the participation of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, as presenter of the award for Best Picture. The Globe and Mail film critic Jay Scott criticized his inclusion, writing "Why did he agree to participate in this thing? In the closing moments of his stewardship has he developed an uncontrollable urge to know what it's like to be Ronald Reagan?"Jay Scott, "Terry Fox Story wins best picture Genie". The Globe and Mail, March 22, 1984.
Winners and nominees Motion Picture Direction The Terry Fox Story — Robert M. CooperA Christmas Story — Bob Clark, René Dupont Lucien Brouillard — René Gueissaz, Marc Daigle Maria Chapdelaine — Murray Shostak, Robert Baylis The Wars — Robin Phillips | valign="top" | Bob Clark, A Christmas Story David Cronenberg, Videodrome Bruno Carrière, Lucien Brouillard Jack Darcus, Deserters André Forcier, Au clair de la lune Brigitte Sauriol, Just a Game (Rien qu'un jeu) Actor in a leading role Actress in a leading role Eric Fryer, The Terry Fox Story Pierre Curzi, Lucien Brouillard Guy L'Écuyer, Au clair de la lune Nick Mancuso, Maria Chapdelaine Alan Scarfe, Deserters Martha Henry, The Wars Carole Laure, Maria Chapdelaine Barbara March, Deserters Marie Tifo, Lucien Brouillard Marie Tifo, Just a Game (Rien qu'un jeu) Actor in a supporting role Actress in a supporting role Michael Zelniker, The Terry Fox Story Leslie Carlson, Videodrome Pierre Curzi, Maria Chapdelaine Peter Dvorsky, Videodrome Kenneth Welsh, Tell Me That You Love Me Jackie Burroughs, The Wars Amulette Garneau, Maria Chapdelaine Elva Mai Hoover, The Terry Fox Story Tedde Moore, A Christmas Story Sonja Smits, Videodrome Linda Sorgini, The Tin Flute (Bonheur d'occasion) Screenplay Documentary Bob Clark, A Christmas Story David Cronenberg, Videodrome Jack Darcus, Deserters Timothy Findley, The Wars Pourquoi l'étrange Monsieur Zolock s'intéressait-il tant à la bande dessinée? — Nicole M. BoisvertThe Ballad of Hard Times (La Turlute des années dures) — Lucille Veilleux Thunder Drum (Mémoire battante) — Nicole Lamothe, Arthur Lamothe |- ! style="background:#EEDD82; width:50%" | Art Direction/Production Design ! style="background:#EEDD82; width:50%" | Cinematography |- | valign="top" | Jocelyn Joly, Maria Chapdelaine Gilles Aird, Lucien Brouillard Glenn Bydwell, Ups and Downs Carol Spier, Videodrome Pierre Mignot, Maria Chapdelaine Richard Ciupka, The Terry Fox Story Mark Irwin, Videodrome Doug McKay, Dead Wrong Reginald H. Morris, A Christmas Story Costume Design Editing Michèle Hamel, Maria Chapdelaine Michèle Hamel, Lucien Brouillard François Laplante, Au clair de la lune Mary E. McLeod, A Christmas Story Nicole Pelletier, The Tin Flute (Bonheur d'occasion) Ron Wisman, The Terry Fox Story Stan Cole, A Christmas Story André Corriveau, The Tin Flute (Bonheur d'occasion) Tony Lower, The Wars Bill Roxborough, Doris Dyck, Jack Darcus, and Ingrid Rosen, Deserters Ronald Sanders, Videodrome Overall Sound Sound Editing Joe Grimaldi, Bruce Carwardine, Austin Grimaldi, Glen Gauthier, The Terry Fox Story Kenneth Heeley-Ray, David Appleby, Dino Pigat, A Christmas Story Austin Grimaldi, Patrick Rousseau, Joe Grimaldi, and Dino Pigat, Maria Chapdelaine Dino Pigat, David Appleby, and Lars Ekstrom, Ups and Downs Hans Peter Strobl, The Wars Joe Grimaldi, Bruce Carwardine, Austin Grimaldi, and Glen Gauthier, The Terry Fox Story Sharon Lackie, Bruce Nyznik, and Bernard Bordeleau, The Wars David Evans, Steven Cole, Wayne Griffin, and Kenneth Heeley-Ray, A Christmas Story Claude Langlois, Patrick Dodd, and Jean-Guy Montpetit, Maria Chapdelaine Marcel Pothier, Just a Game (Rien qu'un jeu) John Kelly, David Evans, Wayne Griffin, Ups and Downs Original Score Original Song Lewis Furey, Maria Chapdelaine Michael Conway Baker, Deserters Joël Bienvenue, Au clair de la lune Karl Kobylansky, Dead Wrong André Vincelli, A 20th Century Chocolate Cake Bo Harwood and Bobby Pollard, "Ups & Downs" — Ups and Downs Jimmy Bond, "Feel It" — Just a Game (Rien qu'un jeu) André Vincelli, "Talk About It" — A 20th Century Chocolate Cake Theatrical Short Special Awards Ted Baryluk's Grocery — Michael Scott and Wolf Koenig Brushstrokes — Sylvie Fefer Snow — Stephen Zoller and Tibor TakácsGolden Reel Award: Strange Brew
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