The Canadian film "Savage Messiah", directed by Maltese-born film-maker Mario Azzopardi, has clinched three prestigious Genie Awards.
The film won the Genie Best Adapted Screenplay which went to Sharon Riis; Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role, Luc Picard; while Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role went to Pascale Montpetit.
Inaugurated in 1980, the Genie Awards honour outstanding achievement in the Canadian film industry and have since grown in prominence to become one of the most prestigious cultural events in Canada.
"Savage Messiah", which received seven nominations, was released to rave reviews last year and the internet cinema bible, IMDb, said it was "very well done for a Canadian film".
This powerful, psychological film about cult leader Roch Thèriault is based on the true story of one of the most sensational cases of brainwashing and manipulation in rural Quebec and Ontario in the 1980s.
Speaking over the internet from his home in Toronto, Mr Azzopardi said the film was not an entertainment piece, rather a very disturbing film about cultism and the inherent catastrophe it creates.
The press pointed out that "if one were looking for a popcorn evening then one had better avoid this picture. But this same reason is why everyone should see it".
"The horrific occurrences it documents are all true and I do not think you'd find anyone to dispute them," Mr Azzopardi said.
Mr Azzopardi shot the film on a shoestring budget of CAD$4 million in Montreal on an 18-day schedule.
"Savage Messiah" was originally intended as a film for television and it was being produced as a Canadian-British co-production.
"However, as the plot unfolded it became evident that we had touched on something that could have legs," he said.
A distributor, Cristal Films, was brought in and it was agreed to launch the film in the theatre, opening in 65 cinemas across Quebec.
"Unfortunately, Showcase, the television network that had originally bought the rights prior to shooting, refused to let it be distributed in the rest of Canada," he said.
Commenting on the awards, Mr Azzopardi said he was very proud with what the entire team had managed to achieve, especially when considering the subject matter.
"Both Luc Picard and Polly Walker, the male and female leads, and myself, were relieved to finish it," he said.
"Detoxing from what we went through was particularly difficult. I do not think we will ever forget the time when we, as artists, plunged into the world of the cult leader Roch Thèriault to meet with the madness and horror he created.
"But these are films that have to be made. If we believe that art can also teach, then I guess films like these are necessary. Achieving a critical success of course is a bonus."