Nominees were announced this morning for the 2022 Canadian Screen Awards. The Awards honouring the finest in Canadian Film, Television and Digital will be presented April 10, 2022 virtually, wrapping-up a week of celebrations.

CBC series Sort Of starring Bilal Baig as a gender-fluid millennial, leads both television and overall 2022 Canadian Screen Award nominations with 13, followed by CBC’s Pretty Hard Cases and CTV Sci-Fi Channel’s Wynonna Earp with 11, and CBC’s Coroner and Kim’s Convenience with 10.

Shasha Nakhai and Rich Williamson’s Scarborough and Danis Goulet’s Night Raiders top Film nominations with 11 per film, while Michael McGowan’s All My Puny Sorrows sees eight and both Bretten Hannam’s Wildhood and Ivan Grbovic’s Drunken Birds | Les oiseaux ivres receive six. Scarborough, Night Raiders, All My Puny Sorrows and Drunken Birds all premiered at TIFF ’21 and are named on their Canada’s Top Ten list.

21 Black Futures and For the Record both lead Digital Media nominations with eight, followed by The Communist’s Daughter with six. 

This year’s Canadian Screen Week schedule will be as follows:

Monday, April 4

7:00 PM ET – The Broadcast News Awards

8:30 PM ET – The Documentary & Factual Awards

Tuesday, April 5

7:00 PM ET – The Sports Programming Awards, presented by CTV

8:30 PM ET – The Digital & Immersive Awards

Wednesday, April 6
7:00 PM ET – The Children’s & Animation Awards, presented by Shaw Rocket Fund, supported by 9 Story Media Group

8:30 PM ET – The Lifestyle & Reality Awards, presented by CTV

Thursday, April 7

7:00 PM ET – The Drama & Comedy Crafts Awards

8:30 PM ET – The Scripted Programs & Performance Awards, presented by CTV

Friday, April 8

8:30 PM ET – The Cinematic Arts Awards, presented by Telefilm Canada, supported by Cineplex

Sunday, April 10

8:00 PM (9:00 PM AT / 9:30 PM NT) – 2022 Canadian Screen Awards on CBC and CBC Gem.

The 2022 Canadian Screen Awards Gala airs on CBC and CBC Gem on Sunday, April 10, 2022 at 8:00 PM (9:00 PM AT / 9:30 PM NT).

(Photo credit: levelFILM)

You love Funnyman Andrew Phung from Kim’s Convenience and fans will be delighted to see him back on his own new Series, RUN THE BURBS premiering on CBC and CBC Gem!

The energetic Series follows the Pham family, or Phamily if you will, as they relocate to the suburbs, eager to settle-in and be accepted. Over thirteen episodes at 30 minutes each, we follow the antics and lessons learned by Andrew, Camille (Rakhee Morzaria), Khia (Zoriah Wong) and Leo (Roman Pesino) as they adapt to their new locale.

We had the joy of chatting with Co-Creators (and best friends) Scott Townend and Phung, plus breakout star Morzaria about their exciting new Series.

“I was in Calgary filming a Movie, and Scott and I were hanging out eating Pizza and I pitched him this idea about a show set in the suburbs and a family that loved each other. And literally a week before, I was in Montreal with Rakhee. We were at Just for Laughs and we were at a CBC event, and we met-up with Bill Lundy at Pier 21 and he said, ‘I would love to get a pitch Andrew from you about your show”, so it all came together!”, says Phung. “Scott and I took December 2019 to develop the show and brought it to Pier 21 in January and by March we were in-development by CBC“.

“We grew-up in the suburbs and it’s always been portrayed as very dull and boring. We wanted to show the life of the suburbs and energy. Two we wanted to show a family with the modern values of today but we’re old school in how we love each other in how they were so big and extra and energetic. We wanted to see a show about a family who take on the world together as opposed to fighting with each other.”.

See the full Chat:

RUN THE BURBS premieres Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at 8:30 PM on CBC and will be available on CBC Gem.

(Photo/video credit: CBC)

What a turnout! Toronto’s own Simu Liu, known best for his work on Kim’s Convenience, got a hero’s welcome home tonight. Just this weekend at San Diego Comic-Con, it was unveiled that he was cast in Marvel‘s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Tings, in the titular role. The Film has him starring as the first ever Asian male superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

To support his Shang-Chi Co-Star Awkwafina in her acclaimed new Film directed by Lulu Wang, The Farewell, he invited his fans on Social Media to a free 9:30 PM screening tonight of the Movie of the Cineplex Varsity. The theatre is pulling-in the highest ticket sales for  The Farewell in North America, in addition to already beating Avengers: Endgame‘s per-theatre average!

I’ve never seen a crowd like this ever at this theatre and I’ve been going here for years! Fans crowded both levels of Manulife Centre, queueing for a chance at a free ticket, courtesy of Liu and Gold Open, a movement which supports Asian-Americans in Film, buying-out theatres entirely. The movement was instrumental in helping propel CRAZY RICH ASIANS to #1 at the Box Office in North America last year.

Showing their support for Liu were the stars of DC Comics’ Titans, Ryan Potter and Conor Leslie!

See some Snaps!

Simu Liu

Ryan Potter

Conor Leslie

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Wrapping-up Canadian Screen Week, March 25-31, 2019, the 7th edition of the Canadian Screen Awards Broadcast Gala took place tonight at Toronto’s Sony Centre for the Performing Arts. The week-long series of awards and events presented by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television, serve to honour excellence across multiple platforms in the Country from Film, to TV to Digital Media.

Noticeably absent this year was these presence of English-language Feature films up for Best Motion Picture, with French-language films leading the way. Coming-of-Age Drama A Colony: Blackfly by Director Geneviève Dulude-De Celles won the coveted award ultimately. Teen Actress Emilie Bierre won Best Actress for her work in the Film which sees her grappling with bullying entering junior high school.

The Great Darkened Days earlier in the week swept the Gala Honouring Cinematic Arts, held at the Four Seasons Hotel, with wins for Sound Editing, Costume Design, Art Direction/Production Design, Cinematography and Actress in a Supporting Role (Sarah Gadon).

Ryerson graduate Jasmin Mozaffari was awarded for Direction with her debut effort FIRECRACKERS which premiered at TIFF to much acclaim. “I am honoured to be part of the group where 60% of the nominees were women” , she says.

ANNE WITH AN E had tied with SCHITT’S CREEK with 15 nominations apiece. The former would prevail though with seven wins at the Broadcast Gala including Best Drama Series and Best Lead Actress, Drama Series (Teen Actress Amybeth McNulty). CARDINAL also would win seven Awards in the Television categories including Best Actor and Actress in a Drama Program or Limited Series, Billy Campbell and Karine Vanasse.

Honouring a Canadian talent making waves abroad, the Radius Award was presented tonight for the first time ever to Toronto’s Stephan James who starred both in Awards Season contender and winning, IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK and also Amazon Prime Series HOMECOMING alongside Julia Roberts. He came with his brother Shamier Anderson and they told the Newsroom about their joint venture, The B.L.A.C.K Ball which earlier this Awards Season was held for the first time ever in Los Angeles with the likes of Tessa Thompson, Tiffany Haddish, Jesse Williams, Amandla Stenberg and more attending.

Other Awards handed-out tonight included the Academy Icon Award which honoured the Cast of THE KIDS IN THE HALL. The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Filmmaker Deepa Mehta (Water, Beeba Boys), while Funnywoman Mary Walsh was handed the Earle Gray Award. The first-ever Industry Leadership Award went to our dear friends at Entertainment One.

For the first time ever this year, the Canadian Screen Arts Festival took place at Cineplex theatres every Saturday in March from Iqaluit to Vancouver, giving audience a chance to see some of this year’s nominated Films including Sashinka, Stockholm, What Walaa Wants, Immaculate Memories and Just a Breath Away.

See some Snaps from the night:

The Cast of Schitt’s Creek

Four-time Canadian Screen Award winner, Catherine O’Hara

Beth Janson, CEO of the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television

Billy Campbell, Cardinal: Blackfly

Karine Vanasse, Cardinal: Blackfly

Stephan James x Shamier Anderson

Cindy Sampson, Private Eyes

Melanie Scrofano, Wynonna Earp

Kim Coates, Bad Blood

The Cast of Kim’s Convenience

Aaron Ashmore, The Killjoys

Sarah Gadon, The Great Darkened Days

Tynomi Banks, Canada’s a Drag

Moira Walley-Beckett, Amybeth McNulty x Miranda de Pencier of Anne With an E

Natasha Negovanlis x Elise Bauman

Rebecca Romijn x Jerry O’Connell

Yannick Bisson, Murdoch Mysteries

Mary Walsh

Tori Anderson x Allan Hawco

Catherine Reitman x Danielle Kind x Philip Sternberg of Workin’ Moms

Wendy Crewson

Jasmin Mozaffari x Caitlin Grabham, Firecrackers

The Kids in the Hall

See our Highlight Reel with our George Kozera (@PartyG):

More on the Gala here.

All photos shot on the Nikon D3400. Video on the Samsung S8+.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

By Amanda Gilmore and Mr. Will Wong

Now in its sixth year, the Canadian Screen Awards Broadcast Gala caps-off a week of celebrations in Toronto honouring the Country’s very best in Film, Television and Digital Media.  Held at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, the Awards are an answer to Canada’s humility and need for a real star system.  The Gala was hosted by Jonny Harris and Emmy Hunter.

Winning top honours this year was the Aisling Walsh Film MAUDIE based on the life of Canadian folk artist Maudie Lewis starring Ethan Hawke and Sally Hawkins. The Drama won a total seven Canadian Screen Awards tonight including Best Picture, Best Director, Supporting Actor (Hawke), Best Actress (Hawkins) and more. Walsh in what was a common theme of female empowerment and inclusion in light of the #AfterMeToo movement in Canada, tells the audience, “Every woman in this room who has dreamed of directing, writing or acting in a Film, go ahead and do it!”.

CBC‘s ALIAS GRACE scored two Canadian Screen Awards including Best Limited Series or Program and Best Actress in a Drama or Limited Series (Sarah Gadon).  Based on Canadian literary icon Margaret Atwood‘s Book of the same name, tonight we saw the Author herself honoured with the Academy Board of Directors’ Tribute Award.  Atwood says “I am very lucky to work with the brightest talent including Sarah Polley. I am supporting #AfterMeToo (and what their actual mission is) and the Canadian Women’s Foundation.”.

Tying in the Television categories tonight were fellow CBC Series KIM’S CONVENIENCE and ANNE with two wins each.  The former is a Sitcom centering on a Korean-Canadian family in Toronto and their convenience shop and it won Best Comedy Series and repeated for Best Actor in a Comedy Series (Paul Sun-Hyung Lee). The latter is based on the internationally-adored Children’s Book Series Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery and it scored for Best Drama Series and Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Program or Series (R.H. Thompson).

Hochelaga, Land of Souls would take home four Canadian Screen Awards for Visual Effects, Art Direction, Cinematography and Overall Sound.

Angelina Jolie-produced Animated Feature The Breadwinner nabbed Adapted Screenplay, Music, Original Score, Sound Editing and Original Song.

Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World would win for Feature Length Documentary and Editing in Feature Length Documentary.

The Gala was a star-studded affair graced by the likes of Presenters: Kawa Ada, Shamier Anderson, Jann Arden, Adrienne Arsenault, Andrea Bang, Amanda Brugel, Billy Campbell, Nicholas Campbell, Saara Chaudry, Kim Coates, Wendy Crewson, Gerry Dee, Caroline Dhavernas, Sadaf Foroughi, Sarain Fox, Sarah Gadon, Marc-André Grondin, Allan Hawco, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Daniel Levy, Eugene Levy, Tatiana Maslany, Lisa Meeches, Amybeth McNulty, Natasha Negovanlis, Catherine O’Hara, Charles Officer, Amanda Parris, Jasmeet “JusReign” Raina, Catherine Reitman, Maxim Roy and Aurora Browne, Meredith MacNeill, Carolyn Taylor and Jennifer Whalen.

In addition to honouring the most notable Canadian productions of the past year, the Gala paid tribute to longstanding excellence.  Media personality Peter Mansbridge, known as the face of CBC‘s The National, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Adrienne Arsenault. Rick Mercer received an Icon Award from adored Singer/Songwriter Jann Arden for his work on now-concluded The Mercer Report. Actor/Director Clark Johnson was awarded the Earle Grey Award, presented by his sisters Molly and Taborah.

In addition to critical merit, popularity too was awarded at the Broadcast Gala.  The Golden Screen Award for TV Drama went to CBC‘s Murdoch Mysteries, while the Golden Screen Award for TV Reality Show was handed to CTV‘s The Amazing Race Canada. The Cineplex Golden Screen Award for Feature Film was given to De père en flic 2.

The Cogeco Fund Audience Choice Award, decided upon by fans online went to star of Webseries Carmilla, Elise Bauman, whom last year saw her Co-Star Natasha Negovanlis win the same award.

Earlier in the week, awards were handed for Excellence in Non-Fiction Storytelling, Excellence in Creative Fiction Storytelling and Excellence in Digital and Storytelling. Also, fans got to meet up-close some of their favourite stars of the Canadian productions at Family Fan Day, including the likes of Jerry O’Connell, Allan Hawco, Amybeth McNulty, Daniel Maslany, Elise Bauman, Natasha Negovanlis, Viviane Hicks, the Cast of Kim’s Convenience and many more.

See more Photos of the night. Hover cursor left and right to navigate slideshows.

More highlights from tonight’s #CDNScreenAwards Red Carpet with the help of our @gilmoreamanda. Swipe left for more. In order: 1. Saara Chaudry 2. Wendy Crewson 3. Caroline Dhavernas 4. Jahmil French 5. Natasha Negovanlis 6. Kim Coates 7. Allan Hawco 8. Oluniké Adliyi x Amanda Brugel 9. #Shadowhunters: Katherine McNamara, Alberto Rosende, Jade Hassouné, Dominic Sherwood #CanadianScreenAwards #CDNscreen18

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 🏮 (@mrwillwong) on Mar 11, 2018 at 5:59pm PDT

Highlights from tonight’s #CDNScreenAwards Red Carpet with the help of our @gilmoreamanda. Swipe left for more. In order: 1. Sarah Gadon x Margaret Atwood x Noreen Halpern 2. Jann Arden 3. Molly Johnson 4. Slade Peltier 5. Moira Walley-Beckett x Amybeth McNulty x Miranda de Pencier 6. Catherine O’Hara x Annie Murphy x Emily Hampshire 7. Dan x Eugene Levy 8. Paul Sun-Hyung Lee x Jean Yoon 9. Simu Liu x Andrea Bang x Nicole Power x Andrew Phung #CanadianScreenAwards #CDNScreen18 @thecdnacademy

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 🏮 (@mrwillwong) on Mar 11, 2018 at 5:41pm PDT

For a complete list of winners, click here.

Saara Chaudry (The Breadwinner), Billy Campbell (Cardinal), Allan Hawco (Caught), #AFTERMETOO, Caroline Dhavernas (Mary Kills People) Natasha Negovanlis (Carmilla), Elise Bauman (Carmilla) and more in the Highlight Reel below:

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Amanda Gilmore)

Taking place tonight at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, the fifth annual Canadian Screen Awards honoured the year’s best in Television, Film and Digital Media.  Earning top honours tonight was ORPHAN BLACK with five wins for Best Dramatic Series, Original Score, Supporting Actor (Kevin Hanchard), Writing and Lead Actress (Tatiana Maslany).  The Toronto-made Series, which currently is filming its final episode, will be premiering its fifth and final season Saturday, June 10, 2017.

Leading the way in the Film categories was Xavier Dolan‘s IT’S ONLY THE END OF THE WORLD. The French-Canadian Film which was Canada’s submission at the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film this year, took home Best Picture, Best Director (Dolan), Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography, Makeup and Best Supporting Actor (Vincent Cassel).

Regina-born Actress Tatiana Maslany was the queen of the night, winning for both her work on Orphan Black and as Lead Actress in the Feature Film The Other Half in which she stars opposite her real-life partner Tom Cullen.

Toronto’s Stephan James took home Lead Actor for his work on sports drama RACE.  He stated, “The greatest honour of my career was to portray Jesse Owens.”. The Film also won for Visual Effects, Overall Sound and Sound Editing.

Hosted by a spirited Howie Mandel, the evening also saw icon Christopher Plummer win a Lifetime Achievement Award.  He says, “I’ve spent almost 70 years making a fool of myself in this crazy profession of ours.  And I’ve had the time of my life.”.

Comedian Dave Chappelle also flew-in for the occasion, presenting the Icon Award to JUST FOR LAUGHS.  He credits the organization for helping him achieve his big break, joking “I’d never came to Canada before I came to this festival and when I did, I found that Canada was kinder and gentler, like a little gay brother I didn’t know about.”.

See Red Carpet Highlights from the 2017 Canadian Screen Awards:

See Amanda Gilmore‘s and my Interviews with some of the evening’s stars on the Red Carpet including the cast of Kim’s Convenience and Dave Chappelle:

Some Snaps from the Evening:

Shailyn Pierre-Dixon, “Between”

Sangita Patel, “ET Canada”

Dylan Authors x Mike MacMillan, “WEIRDOS”

Simu Liu, “Kim’s Convenience”

Emmanuel Kabongo

Karine Vanasse, “Cardinal”

Michelle Nolden, “Saving Hope”

Rick Mercer

Erica Durance, “Saving Hope”

Chloe Wilde, “eTalk”

Penny Oleksiak, Gold Medal Olympian

Kim Coates, GOON

Francesco Yates

Wendy Crewson

Kevan Funk x Jared Abrahamson, “Hello Destroyer”

Christopher Plummer, Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient

Jason Priestley x Cindy Sampson, “Private Eyes”

Stephan James, “Race”

Dave Chappelle

Cast of “Orphan Black”

#OrphanBlack x #ItsOnlytheEndoftheWorld win top honours at the #CanadianScreenAwards. More on link in Bio! #CdnTalent #CDNScreen17 #CDNScreenAwards #CloneClub #TatianaMaslany

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Mar 12, 2017 at 9:09pm PDT

Complete list of winners here.

All photos taken on the NIKON D3300, video on SAMSUNG S7.

(Photo/video credit: Amanda Gilmore/Mr. Will Wong)

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.

____________________________________

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.

____________________________________

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)

Honouring outstanding performances this past year among ACTRA members, the 2017 edition of the ACTRA Awards (now in its 15th year) were held at The Carlu tonight in Toronto. The organization contains 22,000+ members and it negotiates contracts on behalf of its cultural workers. Its jurisdiction ranges from independent film production, commercials, radio and television drama, telephony, video games and web-based content.  ACTRA ensures members have protected minimum wage standards and working conditions. Several of Canada’s most notable  names in entertainment are a part of the organization.

It was a who’s-who of Canadian talent at the affair including man of the hour, Murdoch Mysteries’ Yannick Bisson who received the 2017 ACTRA Award of Excellence. Just last year he received the coveted Fan Choice Award at the Canadian Screen Awards, as a testament to his lasting popularity with over 60 credits over 35 years on his resume. He imparts a bit of wisdom to his peers, reminding them “There are literally hundreds of people on set at any given time to make actors look good. Be gracious, always.”.

The Cast of Kim’s Convenience were awarded the first-ever Series Ensemble Award, based on member votes.  Its star Jean Yoon, who was fashionably-late to the Gala, won Outstanding Performance – Female and made an impactful statement in her speech. “I’m really proud to be working on a show about immigrants in a time of nationalist intolerance”, says Yoon.  The Cast dedicated their award to all immigrant families, stating “You are here. You are welcome. And you are loved.”.

Aurora Browne, Carolyn Taylor and Jennifer Whalen of the Baroness Von Sketch troupe played hosting duties at the gala and in attendance were this year’s nominees: Grace Lynn Kung (The Death (and Life) of Carl Naardlinger), Tatiana Maslany (Two Lovers and a Bear), Kari Matchett (Maudi), Jean Yoon (Kim’s Convenience), Joey Klein (We’re Still Together), Simu Liu (Blood and Water), Eric Osborne (Degrassi: Next Class) and Gord Rand (Orphan Black). Other notables present included: Kristian Bruun, Tantoo Cardinal, Wendy Crewson, Shawn Doyle, Kevin Hanchard, Art Hindle, Amanda Joy, Eric Peterson, Leah Pinsent, Julian Richings, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee and Kate Trotter.

Awards presented this evening (winners in bold blue), including the brand new Ensemble Award (members’ choice):

Nominees for Outstanding Performance – Voice

Lilly Bartlam (Dot) Dot., “Bring the Thunder” (Industrial Brothers)
Linda Kash (Gina Falcone) Fugget About It, “Vagina’s Got Talent” (9 Story Media Group)
Pat Kelly and Peter Oldring (Various) This is That, Episode 406 (CBC)
Bryn McAuley (Suzi) Camp Lakebottom, “Ice Queen” (9 Story Media Group)
Scott McCord (Rudolph Mintenberg) Atomic Puppet, “AP vs Disastro II” (Mercury Filmworks)

Nominees for Outstanding Performance – Female

Brenda Bazinet (Judge Susan Reeves) Shoot the Messenger, “Careful What You Pray For” (Hungry Eyes Film & Television)
Grace Lynn Kung (Pam Naardlinger) The Death (and Life) of Carl Naardlinger (Cinéman Films)
Tatiana Maslany (Lucy) Two Lovers and a Bear (Max Films Productions)
Kari Matchett (Sandra) Maudie (Small Shack Productions Inc., Painted House Films, Parallel Films)
Jean Yoon (Umma) Kim’s Convenience, “Gay Discount” (Thunderbird Films)

Nominees for Outstanding Performance – Male

Simu Liu (Paul Xie) Blood and Water, Episode 1.8 (Breakthrough Entertainment)
Joey Klein (Bobby) We’re Still Together (Achromatic Media)
Eric Osborne (Miles Hollingsworth) Degrassi: Next Class, “#YesMeansYes” (DHX Media)
Gord Rand (Det. Duko) Orphan Black, “The Redesign of Natural Objects” (Temple Street Productions)
Paul Soles (Joe) My 90-Year-Old Roommate (LoCo Motion Pictures)

Nominees for Series Ensemble Award

Baroness Von Sketch Show
Kim’s Convenience
Murdoch Mysteries
Orphan Black
Schitt’s Creek

See some Snaps from the evening:

The Cast and Crew of ORPHAN BLACK, Nominees

Tatiana Maslany, Nominee

Yannick Bisson, 2017 ACTRA Award of Excellence Recipient

Kristian Bruun x Yannick Bisson

Joey Klein, Winner

Simu Liu, Nominee

Gord Rand, Nominee

Kari Matchett, Nominee

Grace Lynn Kung, Nominee

Jordan Gavaris x Kevin Hanchard, Nominees

Eric Osborne, Nominee

Art Hindle (previous Honouree) x Brooke Hindle

Olivia Chow, Author + Politician

It’s an #OrphanBlack Reunion at the #ACTRAAwards. #TatianaMaslany #GordRand #KristianBruun #KevinHanchard #CloneClub

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Feb 25, 2017 at 5:36pm PST

Handsome #MurdochMysteries star #YannickBisson accepting #ACTRAAwards Award of Excellence tonight.

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Feb 25, 2017 at 7:05pm PST

All photos taken on the NIKON D3300, video on the SAMSUNG S7.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Nominations were announced earlier today at Oliver & Bonacini‘s Aperture Room for the 2017 Canadian Screen Awards, now in their fifth year. Announcing nominees were a trio of Canadian talent including actors Maxim Roy (Shadowhunters), Simu Liu (Kim’s Convenience) and Amanda Brugel (The Handmaid’s Tale).

With 134 categories, divided by Digital Media, Television and Film, the Awards brought out some familiar and new names. Leading the Television nominees once again is ORPHAN BLACK with a stellar 14 nominations (and wins in the past three consecutive years) including Best Dramatic Series and Actress (Tatiana Maslany).  SCHITT’S CREEK, also a multi-CSA winner which just premiered in its third season, follows closely in second with 13 nominations, while KIM’S CONVENIENCE gets 11 nominations in its debut. The latter two, both from CBC, compete for Best Comedy Series.

Leading the Film nominations with nine nods is Xavier Dolan‘s IT’S ONLY THE END OF THE WORLD including Best Motion Picture and Direction, Canada’s Best Foreign Picture entry at the upcoming Academy Awards. RACE, also filmed in Montreal like WORLD, gets eight nominations, while BEFORE THE STREETS, OPERATION AVALANCHE and WEIRDOS each get six nods apiece.

Newly-appointed Academy CEO Beth Janson who returned to Canada recently after a stint in the U.S., comments on the lack of a star system in Canada and hence the necessity of recognizing our own Canadian talent which she is certain has no shortage of. “The stories we tell are increasingly reflective of our diverse experiences as Canadians, and that is a trend to cherish”, she tells a room of industry, media and nominees.

Some Snaps from the Breakfast:

Academy President, Martin Katz

Actress, Amanda Brugel

Actor, Simu Liu

Actress, Maxim Roy

Nominees Jennifer Dale and Adrian Holmes

Team Schitt’s Creek congratulate Catherine O’Hara on her nod!

See you in March!

More here on Facebook!

The 2017 Canadian Screen Awards air live on CBC Sunday, March 12, 2017 at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, hosted by Howie Mandel.  Academy Award winner Christopher Plummer that night is slated to be honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The Awards cap-off Canadian Screen Week, which takes place between Monday, March 6 – Sunday, March 12, 2017. Academy Award winner Christopher Plummer that night is slated to be honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Like previous years, Fans will have a chance to engage with various events set to take place leading up to the Awards.  Visit ACADEMY.CA for updates.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Unless you really aren’t paying attention, ads for KIM’S CONVENIENCE have taken over the City these past few weeks. Billboards, bus shelters, you name it – CBC wants you to know about this groundbreaking new comedic series led by an Asian-Canadian cast, based on Playwright Ins Choi‘s play of the same name which won rave reviews. The Series, premiering Tuesday, October 11, 2016 9 PM EST hones-in on the inter-generational conflict between a family of Korean immigrants. We had the chance to chat with up-and-coming actor Simu Liu who not only stars in KIM’S CONVENIENCE as Jung, but also appears on upcoming NBC Series, TAKEN – both filmed here in Toronto.

1. Tell us what drew you most to your role on KIM’S CONVENIENCE and tell us about the casting process.

Liu: What drew me to this role is Jung’s troubled relationship with his father. I related a lot to the struggle of growing up with one culture at home and another at school, and I found a lot of catharsis doing scenes between Jung and Appa. My own relationship with my parents is not what’s on the show, but there are some definite similarities. I hope that a lot of children from immigrant families watching this can learn to appreciate their parents’ hard work and sacrifice in coming to Canada.

2. Tell us a bit more about your character Jung.

Liu: Jung is a guy who has a bit of a rebellious past. He ran with the wrong crowd in high school, got kicked out of the house, and ended up getting in a bit of trouble with the law. Jung begins the show doing grunt work at a car rental company. He’s confident, charismatic and a natural leader, and he’s made a commitment to make something better of his life. While he still keeps in contact with his mom and sister, Jung’s relationship to his father is still rocky; in fact, they haven’t spoken in almost ten years.

3. We see your extensive stunt work on your résumé. Tell us about some of the most dangerous work you’ve done thus far.

Liu: Oh jeez – well it would have to be on Heroes Reborn. I was on supposed to do a simple fall in the fight sequence but when we got on set the director wanted something more. So the coordinator asked if I could get clotheslined in the neck, do a backflip and then land on my face. I had practiced the stunt on soft floor before but we were on set already and I hadn’t rehearsed it. I was fairly confident in my abilities and we were able to get the shot!

4. We see you are working on two Toronto productions at once, TAKEN and KIM’S CONVENIENCE. How do you juggle both?

Liu: I gave up sleep for a few weeks! On more than one occasion I would be waking up at 5:30am to do a full 14 hr day on one set, have a car waiting to transport me to the other to work an 8 hr day, go home to shower and then be on set again at 6 the next day. I am eternally grateful to the production managers of both shows as well as my eternally dedicated agent Andrea Britton for making it possible to shoot two shows at once. Looking back it truly was the craziest, most memorable summer I have ever had.

5. Okay, you’re at a convenience store. We give you a $10 budget. What do you buy?

A bag of Jalapeño chips, an ice cream sandwich and a can of Diet Coke!

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(Photo credit: CBC/Caitlin Cronenberg)