#FIRSTLOOK: “THE PORTER”, “SORT OF” AND “BROTHER” TAKE TOP HONOURS AT 2023 CANADIAN SCREEN AWARDS

Canadian Screen Week 2023 has concluded with celebrations taking place over four days at Toronto’s Meridian Hall, honouring the achievements of Canadian talent in film, television, and digital media.

History was made this year in the Film and Television categories with records being set. CBC’s The Porter went on to win a record 12 Canadian Screen Awards, leading television honours overall. Wins include: Best Drama Series; Best Direction, Drama Series, presented by Playback; Best Writing, Drama Series; and Best Guest Performance, Drama Series for Alfre Woodward. The award for Best Lead Performer, Drama Series went to Hamza Haq for CTV’s Transplant, making this his third consecutive win as a lead in the series.

In Comedy, the sophomore season of CBC’s Sort Of took home an inpressive seven Canadian Screen Awards. Among those wins was Best Comedy Series; Best Lead Performer, Comedy, presented by the Canada Media Fund, for Bilal Baig; Best Guest Performance, Comedy for Amanda Brugel; and Best Writing, Comedy, for Bilal Baig and Fab Filippo, marking back-to-back wins for the pair in this category. 

Film honours were led by Clement Virgo’s Brother, which like The Porter, received a record 12 Canadian Screen Awards at The Cinematic Arts Awards, presented by Telefilm Canada and supported by Cineplex, on Thursday, April 13, including: Best Motion Picture; Achievement in Direction, and Adapted Screenplay for Clement Virgo; Performance in a Leading Role, presented by Telefilm Canada, for Lamar Johnson; and Performance in a Supporting Role for Aaron Pierre.

Special Awards were also handed-out through the week, culminating a star-studded conclusion to the week with the likes of Ryan Reynolds and Catherine O’Hara in-attendance. Honourees this year include:

–Ryan Reynolds, recipient of the Humanitarian Award, presented by Paramount+, was presented his award in a touching moment (see Reel below) by Everett Ho, SickKids patient ambassador, and Lisa Charendoff, Associate Director, Community Stakeholder Relations at SickKids Foundation. Winner Amanda Brugel also wanted Reynolds in on her victory photo!

–Catherine O’Hara, recipient of the Academy Icon Award, presented by CBC, received her award from Karen Robinson, her former Schitt’s Creek co-star.

–Simu Liu, recipient of the Radius Award presented by MADE | NOUS, recognizing a Canadian whose work is making waves globally

–Lisa LaFlamme, recipient of the Gordon Sinclair Award for Broadcast Journalism, recognizing a Canadian broadcast journalist for their exceptional body of work in broadcast journalism

–Pierre Bruneau, the recipeint of the Lifetime Achievement Award for exceptional work with an impact at home or abroad

–Peter MacNeill, recipient of the Earle Grey Award, presented by eOne for their exceptional body of acting work in Canadian television and film

–Tracy Moore, recipient of the Changemaker Award, which recognises and honours those in the media community in Canada who are using their voice or platform to call out systemic racism and discrimination, supporting and amplifying the voices of those who are actively engaged in anti-racist work, and seeking structural transformations in media, film, and television in Canada that promote values of equity and inclusion

–Paul Pope (post-humous), the recipient of the Academy Board of Directors’ Tribute 

–Jennifer Podemski, recipient of the Academy Board of Directors’ Tribute, honouring a Canadian individual for their extraordinary impact on the growth of the Canadian media industry

A Reel of Highlights from tonight’s Red Carpet:

The Canadian Screen Awards with Samantha Bee on Sunday, April 16, 2023 on CBC and CBC Gem at 8 PM (9 AT, 9:30 NT). The winner of the Cogeco Fund Audience Choice Award will be unveiled on the broadcast. Special guests also include Amy Poehler, Mae Martin, Adam DiMarco and Lamar Johnson. 

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#CSAs: SELFIE TIPS | MEET SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE CANADIAN STARS ON FAMILY FAN DAY SATURDAY, MARCH 11, 2017

It’s that time of the year again and you can bet we’re super-pumped for CANADIAN SCREEN WEEK!  As in previous years, FAMILY FAN DAY will give us a chance to connect with some of our favourite Canadian stars of the screen!  Taking place Saturday, March 11, 2017 at Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, the event runs from 10 AM to 2 PM and guess what?  It’s free!

Exciting activations and contests are being planned and did you know that the first 100 in line will get a free swag bag? There will be doughnuts from JELLY MODERN, a MAC booth giving you inspiration for your spring 2017 look, exciting animals from HANDS ON EXOTICS and also a coding workshop by LADIES LEARNING CODE.

Stars in attendance this year include:

• Dan Riskin and Ziya Tong, Daily Planet (Bell Media)

• Kristian Bruun, Orphan Black (Bell Media)

• Simu Liu, Andrea Bang and Andrew Phung, Kim’s Convenience (CBC)

• Hélène Joy and Lachlan Murdoch, Murdoch Mysteries (CBC)

• Alisha Newton, Heartland (CBC)

• Janaye, Tony, Victor, Gary the Unicorn and Dot, CBC Kids (CBC)

• Dwight Drummond, CBC News Toronto (CBC)

• Kim Coates, Bad Blood (Rogers Media)

• Dina Pugliese and Kevin Frankish, Breakfast Television (Rogers Media)

• Victoria Baldesarra and Shelby Bain, The Next Step (Family Channel)

• Chelsea Clark and Ehren Kassam, Degrassi: Next Class (Family Channel)

• Devyn Nekoda, Colin Petierre and Julia Tomasone, Backstage (Family Channel)

• Hosts from Global’s The Morning Show (Corus Entertainment)

• Mike Holmes and Mike Holmes Jr., Holmes + Holmes (Corus Entertainment)

• Noah Cappe, The Bachelor Canada (Corus Entertainment)

• Anthony Farnell, Global News (Corus Entertainment)

• Ella Ballentine, Sara Botsford, Kate MacDonald Butler, L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables (Corus Entertainment/Breakthrough Entertainment)

…and several more!

YTV‘s Carlos Bustamante will fill hosting duties.

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Here’s a couple tips for taking the best selfies with the stars, from your resident expert, Mr. Will:

1. Be calm, stars are more like us than we are  led to believe.

2. Ask nicely. If you are a real fan, let them know how they have touched your life.

3. Give them space and let them initiate it if they want to get closer to you.

4. Make sure there’s no glaring light behind you in the photo. This is v. unflattering and will almost always ruin your photo. If there is light, make sure it is shining on your faces.

5. Nobody likes a double-chin, so tilt that camera/cell phone up just a bit and tilt that chin down.

6. Look into the lens of the camera, not the screen on your cell phone and smile! Keep your eyes open!

7. Take an extra snap quickly just in case the first didn’t turn out – it’s always good to have a back-up.

8. Thank the star.

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Enjoy and g’luck! We’ll be seeing you around Canadian Screen Week!

More on Family Fan Day here.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong/Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television)