Some of northern Ontario's brightest artists were put in the spotlight at the 2012 Northern Ontario Music and Film Awards. The annual event, put on by Music and Film in Motion, saw the following artists leave with hardware:

Album Of The Year by a Solo Artist : Cindy Doire – Sticks and Mud
Nominees:
Angele Desbois – Singularity
Sunday Wilde – What man? Oh THAT man!!

Album Of The Year by a Duo or Group: Kalle Mattson – Anchors
Nominees:
Faraway Neighbours – Carry On, Man
Ox – tUCo

SOCAN Songwriter Of The Year: Kalle Mattson – Singing Knives
Nominees:
Angela Evans – Still Hope
Cindy Doire – Don’t Let The Bastards Bring You Down

Vocal Performance Of The Year: Faye Blais – The Ways That I Love You
Nominees:
Cindy Doire – Too Long
Jean-Paul De Roover – Fix

Engineer Of The Year: Faraway Neighbours (for Carry On, Man by Faraway Neighbours)
Nominees:
Cody Allen (for All Is Not Lost by Cody Allen)
Chris Dorota (for Pitch Pipes by Jean-Paul De Roover)

Film Of The Year: Heather K. Dahlstrom – Dave vs. Death
Nominees:
John Alden Milne – The Standoff
Joseph Mansourian – Every Emotion Costs

Director Of The Year: David Lickley and Rob Gagne – Wildfires! A 4D Firefighting Adventure
Nominees:
John Alden Milne – The Standoff
Darlene Naponse – Every Emotion Costs

Film Editor Of The Year: James Lahti – Wildfires! A 4D Firefighting Adventure
Nominees:
Piotr Skowronski and Curtis Jensen – Jean-Paul De Roover’s “You”
John Alden Milne – The Standoff

Cinematographer Of The Year: Dave Clement – Return To Manomin
Nominees:
Damien Gilbert – Wax Philosophic’s “Devil In A Red Dress”
Ben Bruhmuller – Angel Of Death 1883

Screenwriter Of The Year: Lee Chambers – Hugh Jackman Saves The World
Nominees:
Darlene Naponse – Every Emotion Costs
Brad Stephenson – After The Fire

Faye Blais, who took home vocal performance of the year for The Ways That I Love You, said it was “definitely an honour” to be recognized among a group of such talented peers.

Sharing a night of appreciation with fellow musicians was also a pleasant opportunity, she said.

Since the awards launched in 2003, 90 awards have been given artists who call the north home.

The awards ceremony, which capped off the Northern Ontario Music and Film Awards Conference weekend, was hosted by keynote speaker Les Stroud, also known as Survivorman.

The weekend included presentations by industry panelists, networking and mentorship opportunities and music and film showcases.

For more information about MFM, visit thinknorth.ca.

Posted by Arron Pickard