CANADIANS TOOK CENTRE STAGE AT
THE 2ND ANNUAL TALENT CELEBRATION IN LOS ANGELES: Telefilm Canada, the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television and the Consulate General of Canada in Los Angeles hosted a tribute celebrating Canadian excellence in the film and television industries. And what a party it was! The Canada Stars in Awards Season event, presented by ETALK, took place in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 19 at the Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills Hotel. The invitees included Canadian Academy Awards nominees, select Canadian Screen Awards nominees, and other high-profile Canadian talent. Hosted by ETALK anchor Ben Mulroney, Toronto-born Primetime Emmy Award-winning actor Eric McCormack (Will & Grace) acted as Honourary Chair for the event where he lead everyone in the singing of the national anthem.To honour its 40th anniversary, the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) received the newly minted Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television’s Legacy Award – for unyielding dedication in bringing international acclaim to Canadian talent in film, television or digital media.
Piers Handling receives Award
E Talks Ben Mulroney
Piers Handling, Director and CEO of TIFF, accepted the Award on behalf of organization presented to him by actress Sandra Oh and wife of the late Roger Ebert, Chaz Ebert.This year’s event in Los Angeles marked the second year in which the Academy Awards and Canadian Screen Awards nominees are brought together in a true partnership of Canadian talent. In an ongoing effort, Canada’s key organizations and supporters are joining forces to elevate talent and filmmakers and placing them on a global stage.
“When Canadian filmmakers shine on the international stage, it leads to increased visibility both at home and abroad; it’s therefore important for the Canadian industry to continue to work together on creating strategic opportunities to promote our homegrown talent,” said Carolle Brabant, Executive Director of Telefilm Canada. “The Canada Stars in Awards Season event is also the perfect occasion to congratulate and honour TIFF with the newly minted Legacy Award, in recognition of their efforts in making Canada one of the film capitals of the world and creating a home for Canadian cinema.”
James Villeneuve, Consul General of Canada in Los Angeles, added: “The Consulate General in Los Angeles has had a long history in supporting and promoting Canada’s creative industries and talent. Year after year Canadians continue to raise the bar across the entertainment industry and this is a wonderful event to connect Canadians with key opportunities in Los Angeles.”
Helga Stephenson, CEO of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television, further added: “The global reach of talented Canadians continues to thrive and grow so we are especially pleased to launch our new Academy Legacy Award at Canada Stars in Los Angeles during awards season.”
Special guests in attendance were A.J. Cook, Adam Korson, Albert Shin, Ali Liebert, Anna Silk, Antonio Cupo, Benjamin Arthur, Cameron Bailey, Cameron Waldbauer, Carolle Brabant, Charlie Carrick, Chris Agoston, Christian Sparkes, Claude Foisy, Corey Sevier, Craig Mann, David Julian Hirsh, Dean DeBlois, Dustin Milligan, Don McKellar, Enrico Colantoni, Eric McCormack, Eve Harlow, Gabriel Hogan, Giacomo Gianniotti, Graham Annable, Helga Stephenson, Jason Priestley, Jeffrey Morrow, Jennifer Finnigan, Jessalyn Gilsig, Jillian Barberie, Joel Thomas Hynes, Johnathan Sousa, Joshua Bartholomew, Justin Chatwin, Kacey Rohl, Karine Vanasse, Kevin Zegers, Keon Mohajeri, Kris Holden-Ried, Lola Tash, Lyriq Bent, Magnhild Winsnes, Maxim Roy, Meaghan Rath, Meghan Ory, Michèle Maheux, Norman Jewison, Patric Caird, Paul Almond, Paul Campbell, Piers Handling, Rachelle Lefevre, Sophie Nélisse, Stéphane Lapointe, Tahmoh Penikett, Torill Kove.
Distinguished guests in attendance included
James Villeneuve, Consul General of Canada
Carole Brabant, Executive Director of Telefilm Canada
Helga Stephenson, CEO, Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television
Eric McCormack, Honourary Chair
Piers Handling, Director and Chief Executive Officer, TIFF
Michèle Maheux, Executive Director and COO, TIFF
Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director, Toronto International Film Festival
Claude Joli-Coeur, Government Film Commissioner and Chairperson, National Film Board of Canada
Valerie Creighton, President and CEO, Canada Media Fund
Ben Mulroney, Emcee and ETALK Host
2015 Canadian Screen Awards Nominees:
Adam Korson, Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Comedic Role for Seed
Albert Shin, director and co-writer, Best Motion Picture for In Her Place
Ali Liebert, Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Series for Bomb Girls: Facing the Enemy
Carrie-Lynn Neales, Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Comedic Role for Seed
Chris Agoston, producer, Best Picture for Cast No Shadow
Christian Sparkes, director, Best Picture for Cast No Shadow
David Julian Hirsh, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series for Twist of Faith
Don McKellar, Best Direction in a Comedy Program or Series for Sensitive Skin & Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Comedic Role for Sensitive Skin
Jason Priestley, Best Direction in a Comedy Program or Series for Call Me Fitz
Jeffrey Morrow, Achievement in Music – Original Score for Cast No Shadow
Jennifer Finnigan, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series for Baby Sellers
Joel Thomas Hynes, Best Adapted Screenplay for Cast No Shadow
Jodi Balfour, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series for Bomb Girls: Facing the Enemy
Julia Voth, Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Comedic Role, Package Deal
Kacey Rohl, Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Comedic Role for Working the Engels
Maxim Roy, Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Series for 19-2
Meaghan Rath, Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role for Being Human
Patric Caird, Achievement in Music – Original Song for Tru Love
Tibor Takács, Best Direction in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series, Bunks
2015 Academy Awards® Nominees
Cameron Waldbauer, Best Achievement in Visual Effects for X-Men: Days of Future Past
Craig Mann, Best Achievement in Sound Mixing for Whiplash
Dean DeBlois, Best Animated Feature for How to Train Your Dragon 2
Graham Annable, Best Animated Feature for The Boxtrolls
Joshua Bartholomew, Best Original Song for The Lego Movie: “Everything is Awesome”
Lisa Harriton, Best Original Song for The Lego Movie: “Everything is Awesome”
Torill Kove, Best Short Film, Animated for Me and My Moulton . Also representing Me and My Moulton: Magnhild Valen-Sendstad Winses, Animation Supervisor
Film and TV Actors
A.J. Cook, Criminal Minds
Antonio Cupo, Bomb Girls
Anna Silk, Lost Girl
Benjamin Arthur, Working the Engels, Less than Kind
Brooke Wexler, Richie Rich, Sequestered
Charlie Carrick, Cedar Cove
Chaz Ebert
Christie Laing, Once Upon A Time
Clara Pasieka, Maps to the Stars
Claude Foisy, Composer: Beauty and the Beast, White Noise, Pontypool
Corey Sevier, Immortals
Dustin Milligan, X Company, Schitt’s Creek
Enrico Colantoni, Remedy, Flashpoint
Eve Harlow, The 100, The Killing, Bitten
Gabriel Hogan, Heartland
Giacomo Gianniotti, Selfie, Murdoch Mysteries, Reign
Jillian Barberie, co-host: Mid-Day LA
Johnathan Sousa, Relative Happiness, To the Teeth
Karine Vanass, Revenge, Pan Am
Keon Mohajerie, Circumstance, TIFF Rising Star (2011)
Kevin Zegers, Gracepoint, Gossip Girl
Kris Holden-Ried, Lost Girl, The Listener
Lara Jean Chorostecki, Hannibal, X-Company
Lola Tash, Republic of Doyle
Lyriq Bent, The Book of Negroes, Rookie Blue
Martyn Burke, Canadian director, 2015 recipient of the Auteur Award given by the International Press Academy
Meaghan Rath, Being Human
Meghan Ory, Intelligence, Once Upon a Time
Noam Jenkins, Lost Girl
Norman Jewison
Olivia Cheng, Marco Polo
Paul Almond, Canadian director, Seven Up!
Paul Campbell, Spun Out
Sandra Oh, Grey’s Anatomy
Sophie Nélisse, The Book Thief, Monsieur Lazhar
Stéphane Lapointe, La Théorie du K.O.
Tahmoh Penikett, Strange Empire, Continuum, Rookie Blue
Tamara Taylor, Bones
Wendel Meldrum, Less Than Kind
Report and Photos by Joey Cee
Joey Cee with Eric McCormack
Joey Cee with Sandra Oh
Joey Cee with Jason Priestly
