Goon, a movie about a tough guy turned hockey enforcer, turned out to be very popular in Canada. As the highest grossing domestic film of 2012, it received the 2012 Golden Box Office Award after grossing an impressive $4.1 million last year.
For the past four years, the award has been presented to the directors, and screenwriters, of the highest grossing Canadian film of the year. Goon was directed by Michael Dowse, and co-written by Jay Baruchel (who plays Pat) and Evan Goldberg. The 2011 award went to Barney’s Version directed by Richard J. Lewis and screenwriter Michael Konyves.
“A massive thank you to Telefilm for not only this award but for their support of Goon throughout the whole process, from script to screen,” said Dowse. “The film truly wouldn’t have been made without Telefilm, who continues to nurture a filmmaking world where both commerce and artistic vision can coincide peacefully, a very rare thing.”
The ceremony to present the award took place at the Hockey Hall of Fame with members of the film industry and actors from Goon in attendance. The director will receive a $20,000 prize and the screenwriters will share a $20,000 prize.
“Telefilm began a major marketing shift to better promote and encourage Canadian talent. No one can deny we produce films of the highest quality. By handing out this award every year we’re hoping to raise awareness among all Canadians as to the many successes our film industry has been having lately,” said Telefilm Canada executive director, Carolle Brabant. “Awards presented for commercial box-office success are usually reserved for distributors or producers, but we feel it’s important to reward the hard work of the directors and screenwriters that help them reach their audiences.”
The French equivalent of the prize, the Guichet d’or was awarded to Omertà.
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