Marion Bridge among winners at Toronto fest

Wiebke von Carolsfeld's Marion Bridge, written by out actor-screenwriter Daniel MacIvor (The Five Senses), was honored as best Canadian first feature at the 2002 Toronto International Film Festival, which concluded Sunday. New Zealand director Niki Caro's Whale Rider won the People's Choice Award, while the Discovery Award, given by members of the press, went to Peter Mullan's controversial The Magdalene Sisters. David Cronenberg was honored for best Canadian feature with his dark new film Spider, and the Fipresci critics prize went to Gaël Morel's Les Chemins de l'Oued. Alexandr Sokurov took home the Visions Award for Russian Ark, and Ann Marie Fleming's Blue Skies was named best Canadian short film.