Tag Archives: WGC Screenwriting Awards

2024 WGC Screenwriting Awards finalists announced

From a media release:

The WGC Screenwriting Awards are now in their 28th year of celebrating the very best Canadian screenwriters—the all-important talent behind the most engaging and powerful Canadian-made series, films, and shorts.

In contention for the 2024 awards are scripts from Children Ruin Everything (Kurt Smeaton, Jessica Meya, Kathleen Phillips, Anita Kapila), Pinecone and Pony (Tally Yong Knoll, Lienne Sawatsky, Corey Liu), Murdoch Mysteries (Simon McNabb), Bones of Crows (Marie Clements), Builder Brothers’ Dream Factory (Desmond Sargeant, Sonya Ballantyne), Little Bird (Zoe Hopkins), Suze (Linsey Stewart & Dane Clark), and many others.

Please see the complete list of categories and finalists below.

The 2024 WGC Screenwriting Awards will recognize Canadian screenwriters and their scripts at a ceremony on Monday, May 13 at Koerner Hall in Toronto. The ceremony will be hosted by Jessica Holmes.

In addition to the eight categories featured, one WGC member will be awarded the prestigious Showrunner Award, a special prize previously won by Susin Neilsen (Family Law, Robson Arms), Anthony Q. Farrell (Shelved, Run the Burbs), Morwyn Brebner (Coroner, Saving Hope) and others. Other special prizes will be awarded, including the Alex Barris Mentorship Award, and the Sondra Kelly Award which is generously supported by AFBS.

CHILDREN’S
Interstellar Ella, “Big Little Problems” | Written by Emer Connon

Interstellar Ella, “A Star is Born” | Written by Anne-Marie Perrotta Jane, “Ursus maritimus” | Written by J.J. Johnson

Pinecone and Pony, “Once in a Violetmoon” | Written by Tally Yong Knoll

Pinecone and Pony, “Hero Soup” | Written by Lienne Sawatsky

Pinecone and Pony, “Pinecone and Horse” | Written by Corey Liu

COMEDY SERIES
The Lake, “Death on Denial” | Written by Julian Doucet & Lori-Ann Russell

Children Ruin Everything, “Arguments” | Written by Kurt Smeaton

Children Ruin Everything, “Therapy” | Written by Kurt Smeaton & Jessica Meya

Children Ruin Everything, “Clothes” | Written by Kathleen Phillips

Children Ruin Everything, “Babysitters” | Written by Anita Kapila

Shelved, “Jane Eyre FICTION BRO” | Written by Anthony Q. Farrell

Workin’ Moms, “It’s Five O’ Clock Somewhere” | Written by Enuka Okuma

DRAMA SERIES
Family Law, “Under the Influence” | Written by Sarah Dodd

Transplant, “Crete” | Written by Joseph Kay & Rachel Langer

Pretty Hard Cases, “Always a Bridesmaid” | Written by Tassie Cameron & Sherry White

Moonshine, “Get My Baby Back” | Written by Sheri Elwood & Alexander Nunez

Murdoch Mysteries, “The Porcelain Maiden” | Written by Simon McNabb

Little Bird, “Bineshi Kwe” | Written by Zoe Hopkins

FEATURE FILM
Butterfly Tale | Story by Heidi Foss and Michael Solomon/Screenplay by Heidi Foss and Lienne Sawatsky

Irena’s Vow | Written by Dan Gordon

Suze | Written by Linsey Stewart & Dane Clark

The Burning Season | Written by Jonas Chernick and Diana Frances

MOW & MINISERIES
Bad Romance: The Vicky White Story | Written by Gregory Small & Richard Blaney

The Amityville Curse | Written by Dennis Heaton

Bones of Crows, “To Be Here” | Written by Marie Clements

PRESCHOOL
Builder Brothers’ Dream Factory, “Groom-Ba” | Written by Desmond Sargeant

Builder Brothers’ Dream Factory, “Orange Shirt Day” | Written by Sonya Ballantyne

Mittens and Pants, “Bunny Family Wedding” | Written by Katherine Sandford

Dino Ranch, “Luna Sees The Light” | Written by Naomi Jardine

Superbuns, “The Sweet Sound of Christmas” | Written by Suzanne Bolch & John May

SHORTS (includes web series, drama and comedy series episodes under 15 minutes)
I Will Bury You, “Depression” | Written by Ravi Steve Khajuria

Armadillo Avalanche, “Clem” | Written by Celeste Koon

Armadillo Avalanche, “Raven” | Written by Alix Markman

TWEENS & TEENS
Popularity Papers, “Pain in the Bat Mitzvah” | Written by Jeff Detsky

Popularity Papers, “Ghost Mortem” | Written by Evan Thaler Hickey

The Hardy Boys, “The Crash” | Written by Ramona Barckert

The Hardy Boys, “At the Old House” | Written by Chris Pozzebon

ABOUT THE WGC
The Writers Guild of Canada represents 2,500 professional English-language screenwriters across Canada, the creators of Canadian entertainment enjoyed on all screens. wgc.ca

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2023 WGC Screenwriting Awards winners announced

From a media release:

In a funny, lively ceremony held this evening at Koerner Hall in Toronto, the winners of the 27th annual Writers Guild of Canada Screenwriting Awards were announced. The first in-person WGC Awards ceremony since 2019 (due to COVID-19 precautions), tonight’s gala brought together hundreds of Guild members, industry professionals, and fans—all in celebration of the Canadian screenwriters behind the programming and films viewers enjoy in Canada and around the world.

Some winners of 2023’s top prizes include Clement Virgo (Brother), Marsha Greene (The Porter, pictured above), Kurt Smeaton (Children Ruin Everything), Jason Sherman (My Tree), and Veronika Paz (Astrid & Lilly Save the World). Special awards were also presented to Laura Good, winner of the Sondra Kelly Award, and Adrian Morphy, who was awarded the Jim Burt Screenwriting Prize for his script The 300 Year Old Man. Susin Nielsen, creator and showrunner of Family Law, received the Showrunner Award—the prestigious final prize of the event.

The ceremony was hosted by Vance Banzo, a Saulteaux/Cree comedian, actor, writer, and member of award-winning sketch comedy troupe and series TallBoyz. Awards were presented on stage by showrunner Anthony Q. Farrell (Shelved, Run the Burbs); actress Paloma Nuñez (Shelved); actress and screenwriter Emma Campbell (The Next Step); writer/actor/producer Amanda Joy (Son of a Critch, Amelia Parker); showrunner Emily Andras (Wynonna Earp); writer and producer JP Larocque (Sort Of, JANN); actor and screenwriter Sugith Varughese (Transplant, Fraggle Rock); Amir Kahnamouee (previous WGC Jim Burt Prize winner); and screenwriter and producer Ken Craw (Heartland).

2023 WGC SCREENWRITING AWARDS WINNERS

CHILDREN’S
The Guava Juice Show, “Adventure 9000″ Written by Christine Mitchell

COMEDY SERIES
Children Ruin Everything, “Road Trips” Written by Kurt Smeaton

DOCUMENTARY
My Tree, Written by Jason Sherman

DRAMA SERIES
The Porter, “Episode 104” Written by Marsha Greene (pictured above)

FEATURE FILM
Brother, Written by Clement Virgo

MOW & MINISERIES
Written in the Stars, Written by David Elver

PRESCHOOL
Dino Ranch, “Wings Over Dino Ranch” Written by Ben Joseph & Mike D’Ascenzo

SHORTS
Second Life, Written by Darrin Rose

TWEENS & TEENS
Astrid & Lilly Save the World, “One Rib” Written by Veronika Paz

JIM BURT SCREENWRITING PRIZE
Adrian Morphy for The 300 Year Old Man

SONDRA KELLY AWARD
Laura Good

SHOWRUNNER AWARD
Susin Nielsen

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WGC Screenwriting Awards 2023 finalists announced

From a media release:

The WGC Screenwriting Awards are now in their 27th year of celebrating the very best Canadian screenwriters—the all-important talent behind the most engaging and powerful Canadian-made series, films, and shorts.

In contention for the 2023 awards are scripts from Sort Of (Jenn Engels, Kyah Green, Léa Geronimo Rondot), Fakes (Tabia Lau, David Turko), Transplant (Laura Good), The Porter (Marsha Greene), Subjects of Desire (Jennifer Holness), Brother (Clement Virgo), The Missus Downstairs “A Christmas to Misremember” (Mary Walsh, Dave Sullivan), Astrid & Lilly Save the World (Alix Markman, Veronika Paz, Betsy Van Stone, Noelle Stehman), The Guava Juice Show (Christine Mitchell, John Hazlett, Lienne Sawatsky, Dan Williams) and many others.

Please see the complete list of categories and finalists below.

The 2023 WGC Screenwriting Awards will recognize Canadian screenwriters and their scripts at a ceremony on April 24 at Koerner Hall in Toronto—the Writers Guild of Canada’s first in-person awards since 2019.

In addition to the nine categories featured, one WGC member will be awarded the prestigious Showrunner Award, a special prize previously won by Anthony Q. Farrell (Shelved, Run the Burbs, Overlord & the Underwoods), Morwyn Brebner (Coroner, Saving Hope), Emily Andras (Wynonna Earp), and others. The ceremony will be hosted by Vance Banzo, a Saulteaux/Cree comedian, actor, writer, and member of award-winning sketch comedy troupe and series, TALLBOYZ.

Save the date: The 27th annual WGC Screenwriting Awards ceremony takes place at 8:00 pm EDT on Monday, April 24, 2023 at Koerner Hall in Toronto. Tickets will go on sale soon via www.wgc.ca.

2023 WGC SCREENWRITING AWARDS FINALISTS

CHILDREN’S

Circuit Breakers, “Permanent Detention” I Story by Melody Fox, Teleplay by Melody Fox & Tim Shell

The Guava Juice Show, “Adventure 9000” I Written by Christine Mitchell
The Guava Juice Show, “Hampersands of Time” I Written by John Hazlett & Lienne Sawatsky & Dan Williams

Odd Squad, “Why Did the Chicken Cross the Dimension” I Written by Andrew De Angelis

Super Wish, “Pinatatown” I Written by Mark Steinberg

Super Wish, “Simon Says Relax” I Written by Tally Yong Knoll

COMEDY SERIES

Acting Good, “Battle in the Bush” I Written by Sonya Ballantyne

Children Ruin Everything, “Road Trips” I Written by Kurt Smeaton

Fakes, “A Cup of Ambition” I Written by Tabia Lau

Fakes, “Real G’s Move in Silence Like Lasagna” I Written by David Turko

Sort Of, “Sort of 2gethr” I Written by Jenn Engels

Sort Of, “Sort of Amsterdam” I Written by Kyah Green & Léa Geronimo Rondot

DOCUMENTARY

My Tree I Written by Jason Sherman

Subjects of Desire I Written by Jennifer Holness

Unloved: Huronia’s Forgotten Children I Written by Barri Cohen

DRAMA SERIES

Coroner, “Heartbeet” I Written by Laura Good

Moonshine, “The Three Sisters of Fate” I Written by Sheri Elwood

The Porter, “Episode 104” I Written by Marsha Greene

Pretty Hard Cases, “Dirty Laundry” I Written by Tassie Cameron

Transplant, “And So It Goes” I Written by Laura Good

FEATURE FILM

Bones of Crows I Written by Marie Clements

Brother I Written by Clement Virgo

The Swearing Jar I Written by Kate Hewlett

MOW & MINISERIES

County Line: All In I Written by James Phillips

Farmer Seeking Love I Written by Gemma Holdway

Written in the Stars I Written by David Elver

PRESCHOOL

Dino Ranch, “Wings Over Dino Ranch” I Written by Ben Joseph & Mike D’Ascenzo

Luna, Chip & Inkie: Adventure Rangers Go, “The Wildest Goose Chase” I Written by Louise Moon

Momolu and Friends, “Broken But Beautiful” I Written by Madeleine Patton

Sago Mini Friends, “Gary’s New Horn” I Written by Meghan Read

Team Zenko Go!, “Home is Where Ken’s Heart Is” I Written by Jeff Sager

SHORTS

Junior’s Giant I Written by Debra McGrath

The Missus Downstairs “A Christmas to Misremember” I Written by Mary Walsh & Dave Sullivan

Second Life I Written by Darrin Rose

True Dating Stories, “Salma” I Written by Nour Hadidi

True Dating Stories, “Vanessa “Vanjie” Mateao” I Written by Kayla Lorette

TWEENS & TEENS

Astrid & Lilly Save the World, “DoppelKopfel” I Written by Alix Markman

Astrid & Lilly Save the World, “One Rib” I Written by Veronika Paz

Astrid & Lilly Save the World, “Tontoom” I Written by Written by Betsy Van Stone & Noelle Stehman

The Hardy Boys, “A Midnight Scare” I Written by Laura Seaton & Heather Taylor

Holly Hobbie, “The Accidental Activist” I Written by Courtney Walker

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Emma Hunter to host WGC Screenwriting Awards, Jim Burt Prize film nominees announced

From a media release:

The Writers Guild of Canada is delighted to announce that award-winning Canadian actor, writer and comedian Emma Hunter is writing and hosting the 2021 WGC Screenwriting Awards ceremony, which will take place over Zoom on Monday, April 26 at 8:00 p.m. ET.

Most recently, Emma completed filming her star turn as Nora in the first season of CBC drama Feudal created by WGC member Sheri Elwood, and she was a co-host and writer for three seasons on CTV’s The Beaverton. Leaning into her comedic talent, Emma has a snappy, fun-filled show planned for attendees. Additionally, the award winners will be invited to accept their prizes in real-time to maintain that true element of surprise.

The WGC is also pleased to name 2021’s nominees for the bi-annual Jim Burt Screenwriting Prize awarded for best unproduced longform script:
• Goners I Written by Ken Hegan
• Magnificent I Written by Travis McDonald
• Sluggy and Bogie I Written by Tommy Gushue
• Struck I Written by Lynne Kamm
• Tall Grass I Written by Bri Proke

The 2021 awards mark the WGC’s 25th annual celebration of Canadian screenwriters and their scripts. The milestone will be formally recognized at a planned live ceremony in 2022. This year, special awards include the Jim Burt Screenwriting Prize, the Sondra Kelly Award and Showrunner of the Year — previous winners of this prestigious prize include Dennis Heaton (The Order), Emily Andras (Wynonna Earp) and Michael MacLennan (The Bletchley Circle: San Francisco).

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Coroner and Jann capture WGC Screenwriting Awards

From a media release:

In an awards presentation unlike any other for the Writers Guild of Canada, host Gavin Crawford announced the winners of the 24th annual WGC Screenwriting Awards via the Guild’s YouTube channel this evening. Winners of 2020’s top prizes include Jann Arden & Jennica Harper (JANN), Noelle Carbone (Coroner), Laura Phillips (Sweetness in the Belly) and Nance Ackerman & Ariella Pahlke & Teresa MacInnes (Conviction). Congratulations to 2020’s talented winners and nominees.

WGC special awards were also presented, with the WGC Showrunner Award going to Dennis Heaton, the Sondra Kelly Award to Cynthia Knight, and Nathalie Younglai receiving the Alex Barris Mentorship Award. 

In light of the cancellation of the 2020 physical awards ceremony due to COVID-19, this year’s winners will also be celebrated at the 25th Annual WGC Screenwriting Awards, which are set for April 26, 2021, at Toronto’s Koerner Hall.

2020 WGC SCREENWRITING AWARDS WINNERS 

CHILDREN’S 

Hotel Transylvania: The Series, “Better Know Your Mavis” | Written by Mark Steinberg 

COMEDY SERIES 

JANN, “The Big House” | Story by Jann Arden & Jennica Harper, Teleplay by Jennica Harper 

DOCUMENTARY 

Conviction | Written by Nance Ackerman & Ariella Pahlke & Teresa MacInnes 

DRAMA SERIES 

Coroner, “All’s Well” | Written by Noelle Carbone 

FEATURE FILM 

Sweetness in the Belly | Written by Laura Phillips 

MOW & MINISERIES 

Thicker Than Water | Written by David Elver & Andrea Stevens 

PRESCHOOL 

Dino Dana, “Dino Prints” | Written by J.J. Johnson & Christin Simms & Amish Patel 

SHORTS & WEBSERIES 

Save Me, “Birdie’s End” | Written by Fabrizio Filippo 

TWEENS & TEENS 

Creeped Out, “The Takedown” | Written by Emma Campbell 

SONDRA KELLY AWARD 

Cynthia Knight

ALEX BARRIS MENTORSHIP AWARD 

Nathalie Younglai

WGC SHOWRUNNER AWARD 

Dennis HeatonFacebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail