Canadian Screen Awards: ‘North of North’ and ‘40 Acres’ Dominate 2026 Nominations
The 2026 Canadian Screen Awards (CSAs) nominations were announced on Wednesday, March 25, with CBC’s North of North leading the pack with an impressive 20 nominations. R.T. Thorne’s post-apocalyptic thriller, 40 Acres, secured the top spot in film categories, garnering 10 nods.
‘North of North’ Achieves Historic Recognition
North of North, the first major comedy series filmed in Nunavut, has earned nominations in categories including best comedy series and best lead performer in a comedy for Anna Lambe. The present also received two best supporting performance nominations for Braeden Clarke and Maika Harper, as well as a best comedy ensemble nomination. This achievement places North of North alongside Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Schitt’s Creek as one of only three titles to ever receive 20 or more nominations at the CSAs. CBC News
Film Category Leaders
In the film category, 40 Acres, a sci-fi thriller about a Black and Indigenous family navigating a post-apocalyptic world, received nominations for best motion picture and best directing for R.T. Thorne. Other films nominated for best motion picture include Blue Heron, The Cost of Heaven (Gagne ton ciel), Follies (Folichonneries), Lovely Day (Mille secrets mille dangers), Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie, The Things You Kill, and Wrong Husband (Uiksaringitara). CBC News
‘Heated Rivalry’ and Other Notable Nominees
Close behind North of North, Heated Rivalry received 18 nominations, including best drama series and lead performer nominations for François Arnaud and Hudson Williams. CBC News
Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie, a sleeper hit, earned eight nominations, tying with Follies and Honey Bunch as the second-most nominated films. The film’s debut weekend earnings of $350,000 were the best for any English-language live-action Canadian film since 2023’s Blackberry. CBC News
Rule Change Impacts Eligibility
A new rule implemented this year stipulates that only Canadian citizens and permanent residents are eligible for the top acting awards in film, and television. This change meant that Connor Storrie, the American co-star of Heated Rivalry, was ineligible for a nomination. CBC News
Additional Nominations and Awards
Other notable nominations include:
- Best comedy series: Children Ruin Everything, Late Bloomer, North of North, Son of a Critch, The Trades.
- Best drama series: Heated Rivalry, Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent, Plan B, Saint-Pierre, Wild Cards.
- John Dunning best first feature film award: 40 Acres, 100 Sunset, Blue Heron, Dinner with Friends, Follies (Folichonneries), Where Souls Go (Uiksaringitara).
The Canadian Screen Awards will also present special awards to Mike Myers (Academy Icon award), Hazel Mae (Gordon Sinclair award for broadcast journalist), and maxine bailey (Changemaker award). CBC News
Industry Challenges and Broadcast Changes
The awards come amidst challenges for the Canadian screen industry, with cumulative box office revenue for Canadian films dipping nearly 41 per cent from 2024 to 2025. English-language Canadian films accounted for only 1.4 per cent of the national box office in 2023. CBC News
However, Canadian television programming continues to achieve international success. The 2026 Canadian Screen Awards ceremony will be broadcast and streamed simultaneously on CBC, Bell Media, and Corus platforms, a landmark co-operative move. The awards show, hosted by Andrew Phung, will accept place on May 31 at 8:00 pm ET. CBC News
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