Picnicface feasts upon 2012 Canadian Comedy Awards

Head east from Maine and over to Nova Scotia, and there ye shall find the funniest people in all of Canada who made TV and movies in 2011.

So sayeth the 2012 Canadian Comedy Awards, which gave out six awards to Halifax-based sketch group Picnicface last night during the award ceremonies in Toronto.

Although its sketch comedy series lasted only one 13-episode season on Canada’s Comedy Network, Picnicface took home trophies this year for Best TV Show, Best Writing, and Best Ensemble on Television. The group also earned three awards for its movie, Roller Town — Best Film, Best Writing and Best Directing.

Special awards were handed out to Nikki Payne as Canadian Comedy Person of the Year, Jo-Anna Downey as the first recipient of the Phil Hartman Award (given to an individual who makes the Canadian comedy community better), well-known TV improviser Colin Mochrie as the Dave Broadfoot Award winner (given to celebrate comic genius), and Simon Fraser as the Roger Abbott Award winner (for commitment and contribution to the Canadian Comedy Awards and Festival.

Maximum Fun podcast Stop Podcasting Yourself won an award — so keep podcasting! There was room, too, for a former Kid in the Hall as Mark McKinney won for best TV directing.

Here is the full list of last night’s other winners:

FILM

Best Film
Roller Town

Best Performance by a Male – Film
Gavin Crawford – French Immersion

Best Performance by a Female – Film
Jocelyne Zucco – Funkytown

Best Writing – Film
Scott Vrooman, Mark Little, Andrew Bush – Roller Town

Best Direction – Film
Andrew Bush – Roller Town

ONLINE

Best Web Clip
Riverdale: The Archie Movie Trailer

Best Web Series
The Casting Room

Best Podcast
Stop Podcasting Yourself

LIVE

Best Male Stand-Up
Ron Sparks

Best Female Stand-Up
Kristeen von Hagen

Best Stand-Up Newcomer
Steve Patrick Adams

Best Comedic Play, Revue or Series
Blind Date

Best One Person Show
Sex, Religion & Other Hang-ups

Best Sketch Troupe
Falcon Powder

Best Improv Troupe
The Sunday Service

Best Male Improvisor
Matt Baram

Best Female Improvisor
Rebecca Northan

Best Taped Live Performance
Mark Forward – The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

RADIO

Best Radio Program or Clip
This Is That

TELEVISION

Best TV Show
Picnicface

Best Direction – Television Program or Series
Mark McKinney – Less Than Kind Ep. 313, March Fourth

Best Writing – Television Program or Series
Andrew Bush, Garry Campbell, Kyle Dooley, Cheryl Hann, Mark Little, Brian Macquarrie, Evany Rosen, Scott Vrooman, Bill Wood – Picnicface

Best Performance by a Male – Television
Bob Martin – Michael: Tuesdays & Thursdays

Best Performance by a Female – Television
Lauren Ash – Almost Heroes

Best Performance by an Ensemble – Television
Picnicface