Candys crash course: 7 quick takes from the 2017 Canadian Screen Award nominations
If you don't have time to sift through 134 categories, we've done some homework for you
The 5th annual Canadian Screen Awards were announced this morning, with hundreds of nominees across dozens and dozens (and dozens) of categories. It took us all morning just to read through them all, and if you just can't quite find the time to do the same, we've rounded up some highlights for you. (See the full list of nominees here).
Xavier Dolan leads the way (again)
Two years after Mommy dominated the CSAs with 13 nominations and nine wins (including best picture), Xavier Dolan has once again directed the most-nominated film with It's Only The End of the World. With nine nominations, it's actually a slight demotion from Mommy's haul, with surprising snubs for three of its five French film royalty cast members (Marion Cotillard, Léa Seydoux and Gaspard Ulliel) and for Dolan's editing — though he did receive three nominations for writing, directing and producing.
On top of its CSA nominations, It's Only The End of the World also has something going for it that's a first for Dolan: the film was recently shortlisted for the Oscars' best foreign language film award after being submitted as Canada's official selection. We'll find out next week if he makes the Oscars' final five, but for now he certainly seems likely to be making a speech or two at the CSAs.
#CSAsNotSoWhite
Diversity at award shows — specifically in acting categories, though that's certainly not the only problem — has been a big topic since last year's #OscarsSoWhite controversy, but the CSAs are unlikely to ruffle too many feathers in that regard. Film acting nominees include Jacques Newashish and Kwena Bellemare Boivin (Before The Streets), Sherri Shepherd (Jean of the Joneses), Stephan James (Race), Gang Chen (Old Stone) and Carmen Ejogo (Born to Be Blue), while on the TV side there's Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Andrew Phung, Jean Yoon and Andrea Bang (Kim's Convenience) Adrian Holmes (19-12), Eric Schewig (Blackstone), Jason Momoa (Frontier), Kevin Hanchard (Orphan Black), Simu Liu (Blood & Water) and Shailyn Pierre-Dixon (Between).
Yes, that Sherri Shepherd
The first past or present co-host of The View to be honoured at the CSAs (though maybe Rosie Perez will join her next year when CBC's Pure is eligible), Sherri Shepard received a nomination for best supporting actress for her work in Stella Meghie's Jean of the Joneses.
Tatiana Maslany double-dips
Coming off of her surprise Emmy win for Orphan Black last year, Tatiana Maslany is on a roll with dual CSA nominations: in the TV categories for Black and the film categories for her work in Joey Klein's The Other Half. Showing just how prolific the actress has been lately, she actually beat out herself for that nomination: she was also eligible for Two Lovers and a Bear, which received four nominations elsewhere.
Levy vs. Levy, round two
CBC's Schitt's Creek's second season nabbed 13 nominations, second only to Orphan Black. Among them were father and son duo Eugene and Dan Levy, once again both up for the same acting category. Last year, Eugene took home the trophy. Will voters levy-tate (sorry) toward Dan this year to even things up? Or perhaps they'll cancel each other out and Paul Sun-Hyung Lee will take it home for the much-buzzed about first season of Kim's Convenience?
Ed Asner wants to add to his crowded mantel
The winner of more Emmy Awards than any other male actor (seven, including five for playing his iconic role Lou Grant), Ed Asner is making a play to add a CSA to his haul thanks to his guest appearance on the Halifax-set church drama Forgive Me. Nominated for best performance in a guest role, he has some high-profile competition: William Shatner is also up for the award for his time on Murdoch Mysteries.
The Canadian Screen Awards are up for a Canadian Screen Award!
While you might think The Tragically Hip — A National Celebration would be the absolute frontrunner to take the award for best live entertainment special, they'll be competing against the actual award ceremony they would be winning it at: last year's CSAs ceremony is also nominated in that category and two others. Can't wait for the tagline "The Canadian Screen Awards: Nominated for three Canadian Screen Awards!" in the leadup to the ceremony.
CBC Arts' Interrupt This Program is nominated for three Canadian Screen Awards in the best biography or arts documentary program or series, best picture editing in a documentary program or series, and best direction in a documentary or factual series categories. Watch Season 1 here.
Howie Mandel will host the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television's 2017 Canadian Screen Awards on March 12 in Toronto. They will air on CBC TV at 8pm (9pm AT, 9:30pm NT).