Transplant
#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)
#CDNSCREENAWARDS: “TRANSPLANT”, “SCARBOROUGH” and “BLACK FUTURES” AMONG BIG WINNERS AT 2022 CANADIAN SCREEN AWARDS
The 2022 Canadian Screen Award Broadcast Gala, now in its tenth year, was held tonight virtually, airing on CBC and CBC Gem, concluding Canadian Screen Week celebrations. Taking home top honours in the Television categories was CTV‘s TRANSPLANT including wins for Best Drama Series; Best Lead Actor, Drama Series for Hamza Haq; and Best Lead Actress, Drama Series for Laurence Leboeuf.Â
Shasha Nakhai and Rich Williamson’s Scarborough – based on Catherine Hernandez‘s Novel – led the Film categories, winning a total of eight Canadian Screen Awards including: Best Motion Picture, presented by CBC; Achievement in Direction; and the John Dunning Best First Feature Film Award, which comes with a $25,000 cash prize, courtesy of the John Dunning Foundation.Â
In the Digital categories, Obsidian Theatre’s 21 Black Futures took home four wins, including: Best Web Program or Series, Fiction, presented with the participation of the Independent Production Fund; and Best Lead Performance, Web Program or Series for Lovell Adams-Gray.Â
Wynonna Earp based on fan votes, took the Cogeco Fund Audience Choice Award, the first time the Award was given in the Television category this year. Treehouse TV’s Miss Persona won the Shaw Rocket Fund Kids’ Choice Award.
Also, eight special awards tonight were given to those who have made significant contributions to the industry. Honourees included Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Bob Cole; Gordon Sinclair Award for Broadcast Journalism recipient Rassi Nashalik; Radius Award (presented by MADE | NOUS) recipient Maitreyi Ramakrishnan; and the inaugural recipients of the Changemaker Award: Kayla Grey, Kathleen Newman-Bremang and Amanda Parris.
Complete list of winners here.
(Photo credit: levelFILM)
#SPOTTED: STARS IN TORONTO FOR 2019 CTV UPFRONT
The Blue Carpet was rolled out today at Sony Centre for the Performing Arts in celebration of the 2019 CTV Upfront. The annual affair which brings-in a bevvy of talent to present their Fall lineup, also gives potential advertisers a chance to see where there products will be seen on the Bell Media family of networks.
The fan-friendly event which gives fans a chance to see and meet the talent, saw several marquee names like Canada’s  Cobie Smulders and Michael Ealy here to present Stumptown; Kevin McKidd and Greg Hermann for the just-renewed two seasons of Grey’s Anatomy; Donald Faison and Allison Tolman for Emergence; Wilson Bethel for All Rise; Hill Harper for The Good Doctor; and Jay Hayden and Jason George for Station 19. On the Canadian front, Cardinal’s upcoming fourth season was presented by Canadian Screen Award winners Karine Vanasse and Billy Campbell and also upcoming Medical Drama Transplant brought out John Hannah, Laurence LeBeouf and Hamza Haq. Breakout hit Series The Masked Singer also was acquired and joins CTV’s lineup.
 See some Snaps! Hover cursor right to move forward on album:
For more on CTV’s Fall 209 Lineup, click here.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
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