#FIRSTLOOK: ALETHEA ARNAQUQ-BARIL AND STACEY AGLOK MACDONALD TO BE HONOURED AT HOLLYWOOD REPORTER WOMEN IN ENTERTIANMENT CANADA GALA

The Hollywood Reporter Women in Entertainment Canada announces that co-creators, showrunners, and executive producers Alethea Arnaquq-Baril and Stacey Aglok MacDonald will be honoured with the Breakthrough Award at this year’s third annual event on Thursday, May 28, 2026 at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Toronto.

This year’s Breakthrough Award is presented in partnership with the Indigenous Screen Office and recognizes creators whose work is not only exceptional, but transformative — artists whose storytelling signals a meaningful shift in the industry. It celebrates those who are redefining what stories are told, who gets to tell them, and how they reach audiences in Canada and around the world.

As the creative forces behind the Arctic comedy-drama North of North, Aglok MacDonald and Arnaquq-Baril have brought to life a bold and original comedy that both entertains and meaningfully expands the lens of Canadian storytelling. Rooted in Northern perspective and lived experience, the series marks a defining moment for the industry — one that centres authenticity, place, and creative ambition.

The series also marks Netflix’s first series from Canada, co-produced with CBC in partnership with APTN.

Beyond North of North, Arnaquq-Baril and Aglok MacDonald have consistently demonstrated the ability to bring bold, original perspectives to the screen while creating space for underserved voices and communities to be seen and heard. It is this combination of vision, impact, and forward momentum that makes them such deserving recipients of this honour.

Aglok MacDonald and Arnaquq-Baril are part of a new wave of creators reshaping the screen industry — building pathways for stories that have too often been underrepresented, while demonstrating the global appetite for culturally specific, locally rooted narratives.

The Hollywood Reporter Women in Entertainment Canada is a first-of-its-kind summit and awards event that brings the industry together across film, television, and music to celebrate and recognize the achievements of Canadian women who are driving the industry forward in their respective fields.

Previously announced honourees include Andrea Martin who will receive the ICON Award and Malin Akerman who will receive the Impact Award, to be presented by herThe Hunting Wives co-star, Brittany Snow at the May 28 gala. Additional honourees and special guests will be announced in the coming weeks.

For tickets and more information, including schedule and programming details, visit womeninentertainment.ca.