The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television is the largest non-profit professional media arts organization in Canada. With a membership of more than 4,000 emerging and established industry professionals, they are dedicated to developing, recognizing, celebrating, and advocating for Canadian talent in the film, television, and digital media sectors.
The Canadian Academy produces the Canadian Screen Awards, bringing together the screen-based industry annually to celebrate the country’s top talent in the film, television, and digital sectors at Canadian Screen Week. In 2013, the Canadian Screen Awards were born as the result of a merger of the Academy’s Gemini and Genie Awards, which, respectively, honoured English-language television and film. This year, the main awards gala will take place on Mary 31, 2026, in Toronto and streamed on CBC Gem.
Still from BLUE HERON (dir. Sophy Romvari)
The B.C. film nominees are:
BLUE HERON: Best Motion Picture, Achievement in Direction, Original Screenplay, Achievement in Editing, Achievement in Casting, Performance in a Supporting Role, Drama (Edik Beddoes), John Dunning Best First Feature Award
In the late 1990s, eight-year-old Sasha and her Hungarian immigrant family relocate to a new home on Vancouver Island. Their fresh start is interrupted by increasingly dangerous behaviour from Jeremy, the family’s oldest child.
SWEET SUMMER POW WOW: Performance in a Supporting Role, Comedy (Graham Greene)
A young Indigenous couple get a break from their troubled lives when they find each other through a summer of love on the pow wow circuit.
THE TRACK: Best Feature Length Documentary, Best Original Music in a Feature Length Documentary
A coming of age journey of three friends chasing their improbable Olympic dreams in post-war Bosnia. Training on their bullet-riddled luge track left over from the 1984 Winter Games in Sarajevo, the film begs the question: Where does a generation go after destruction?
WRONG HUSBAND | UIKSARINGITARA: Best Motion Picture, Achievement in Direction, Performance in a Leading Role, Drama (Theresia Kappianaq), Performance in a Supporting Role, Drama (Leah Panimera)
Igloolik, Nunavut, 2000 BCE. Kaujak (Theresia Kappianaq) and Sapa (Haiden Angutimarik) were promised to each other at birth. After the sudden death of Kaujak’s father, her mother marries a man from another camp, tearing the young lovers apart. The promise of a better life quickly turns into a nightmare with aggressive suitors backed by an evil shaman vying to win Kaujak’s hand. But Kaujak resists, holding on to hope that Sapa will one day make things right.
SAINTS AND WARRIORS: Best Editing in a Feature Length Documentary, Best Sound Design in a Feature Length Documentary
Throughout the course of the Haida basketball season, leaders of iconic rez ball team the Skidegate Saints compete for two titles – defending their All Native Basketball Championship, while battling for the title to their land and waters with the government that stole it from them with the Indian Act.
ARTHUR ERICKSON: BEAUTY BETWEEN THE LINES: Best Editing in a Feature Length Documentary
An in-depth exploration of the extraordinary life of one of the 20th century’s most iconic and influential modernist architects. The documentary weaves personal anecdotes and professional milestones to uncover the untold stories of Erickson’s journey, from his celebrated public achievements to his private struggles. Known for his visionary designs and groundbreaking architectural philosophy, Erickson’s work profoundly shaped the modern landscape, but behind the accolades lay a complex individual grappling with triumphs and tragedies. Through intimate interviews, archival footage, and a look at his most famous creations, the film reveals the delicate balance Erickson maintained between his creative genius and the challenges of his personal life, offering a deeper understanding of the man and the legacy he left behind.
HEADCASE: Performance in a Live Action Short Drama
In her reach for fame, Karen, a wannabe influencer, finds herself having to lurk in the shadows after a cheeky hit-and-run threatens to derail her coveted brand partnership.
ALLEGIANCE (CBC)
The B.C television nominees are:
NOT YOUR BUTTER CHICKEN: Best Direction, Lifestyle or Information
A four-part docu-series celebrating the untold stories of South Asians in Western Canada through the eyes of food and wine expert Shiva Reddy. Now grappling with her mother’s battle with dementia, Shiva is on a journey to piece together the story of her Indian heritage through food and community.
HEATED RIVALRY: Best Lead Performer, Drama Series (Hudson Williams)
Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie) are two of the biggest stars in Major League Hockey, bound by ambition, rivalry and a magnetic pull neither of them fully understands. What begins as a secret fling between two fresh-faced rookies evolves into a years-long journey of love, denial, and self-discovery. Over the next eight years, the pair chase glory on the ice while struggling to navigate their feelings off it.
THE ASSEMBLY: Best Factual Series, Best Direction, Factual
Canada’s most popular celebrities and public figures sit down with a group of atypical interviewers, all on the autism spectrum. Featured celebrity guests include Howie Mandel, Russell Peters, Jann Arden, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Arlene Dickinson and Allan Hawco. A global sensation delivering profound revelations, authentic conversations, and a lot of laughs.
ALLEGIANCE: Best Direction, Drama Series, Best Picture Editing, Drama, Best Original Music, Drama, Best Lead Performer, Drama Series (Supinder Wraich), Best Guest Performance, Drama Series (Anusree Roy), Best Achievement in Casting, Fiction
Sabrina Sohal is a star rookie police officer who must grapple with the limits of the justice system as she fights to exonerate her falsely accused politician father, and serve her diverse hometown alongside a veteran training officer who sees her potential but doesn’t always agree with her forward-thinking methods.
MAFIA: MOST WANTED: Best History Documentary Program or Series, Best History Documentary Program or Series, Barbara Sears Award for Best Visual Research, Best Original Music, Documentary
A three-part documentary uncovering the rise of the ‘Ndrangheta crime family in Canada. Through exclusive interviews, unseen footage, wiretaps, and cinematic recreations, it exposes the hidden empire of cocaine, murder, and power linking Toronto to Calabria, Italy. Told by mobsters, betrayers, and cops, it reveals how Canada became the Mafia’s new stronghold.
MURDER IN A SMALL TOWN: Best Photography, Drama, Best Guest Performance, Drama Series (Noah Reid)
Detective Karl Alberg comes to Gibsons at a moment of change and upheaval – in his own life and also in the small, seaside community. Alberg and his team face an array of unexpected challenges: secrets stir just beneath the beauty of the small town’s surface. Recently divorced, Alberg finds himself falling for Cassandra Lee, a librarian whose deep ties in the community complicate both his role as Chief of Police and his evolving relationship with his teenage daughter, who has followed him across the country. Despite these challenges, Alberg and Cassandra embark on a quirky and heartfelt mid-life love story that forms the heart of the series.
WILD ROSE VETS: Best Lifestyle Program or Series, Best Direction, Lifestyle or Information
A heartwarming documentary following Indigenous veterinarians across Canada as they care for animals, volunteer, and explore their cultural heritage. From Saskatoon to Northern B.C. and Alberta, these dedicated vets balance challenging cases, community connections, and personal growth, honoring traditions while advancing veterinary care. Their passion strengthens both animal welfare and the human-animal bond nationwide.
THE GOOD CANADIAN: Donald Brittain Award for Best Social/Political Documentary Program, Barbara Sears Award for Best Editorial Research.
The world knows the image of the good Canadian, but what if there was a dark secret behind a national identity? This eye-opening and unflinching documentary lifts the mask on the True North Strong and Free, one truth at a time.
SNOOPY PRESENTS: A SUMMER MUSICAL: Best Original Music, Animation
Sally struggles to love summer camp like Charlie Brown does, but when the camp is in jeopardy, they find themselves working together to save it for future generations.
MERMICORNO: STARFALL: Best Writing, Animation
Created and produced by Thunderbird’s Atomic Cartoons in partnership with tokidoki, this original animated adventure-comedy is set in a fantastical and magical undersea world. The series follows Astra and her team of fellow Mermicornos as they band together to save the ocean from an evil threat. Along the way, they explore the magic of creative self-expression and forge deep friendships.
DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBOURHOOD: Best Direction, Animation
This animated preschool series features Daniel, a shy but brave 4-year-old tiger who lives in the Neighbourhood of Make Believe. With help from his neighbours, family and friends – O the Owl, Prince Wednesday, Katerina Kittycat, and Miss Elaina – Daniel has fun while learning the key skills necessary for school and life.
THE BRAVEST KNIGHT: Best Voice Performance
The story of a young pumpkin farmer named Cedric, as he attempts to become the greatest knight who ever lived. Now grown and married to the prince of his dreams, Sir Cedric recounts his fairytale adventures to his adopted daughter, Nia, showing her the paths and pitfalls that await her on the way to knighthood.
Discover all nominees on the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television website.
Featured image: SWEET SUMMER POW WOW (dir. Darrell Dennis)
