Screen Nova Scotia hosted its 12th annual awards gala on Saturday, May 16, at the Halifax Convention Centre in front of a sold-out crowd of 600 industry members and supporters. Hosted by actor and comedian Shaun Majumder (This Hour Has 22 Minutes, FROM, The Miniature Wife), the gala event celebrates the incredible talent, creativity, and passion that are the trademarks of Nova Scotia’s film, television and animation industry; shining a spotlight on homegrown Nova Scotian stories and voices.
Please click HERE to see the full list of 2026 award winners!
The night’s finale was the Screen Nova Scotia Award for Best Feature Film, sponsored by the Director’s Guild of Canada, which went to Sk+te’kmujue’katik (At the Place of Ghosts) from Two-Spirit, L’nu writer/director Bretten Hannam, produced by Shut Up & Colour Pictures. The supernatural thriller follows two Mi’kmaw brothers who are forced to confront their past trauma when a malevolent spirit begins tormenting them. Actor Skyler Cope also won the Groundbreaking Performance Award for his role in the film as Young Mise’l. The film is currently playing in theaters across Canada.
The first season of the AMI comedy Pretty Blind was crowned the winner of the Best Scripted Television Series Award. Produced by Torrential Pictures and Club Red Productions, the series stars Jennie Bovard, who brings humour to her experience navigating the world-at-large with both albinism and partial sight. The Nova Scotia series is Canada’s first-ever comedy about blindness led by and about its lead actor.
The inaugural award for Best International Production went to the Amazon Studios/Universal Television series We Were Liars, based on the novel of the same name by E. Lockhart. The series was renewed for a second season earlier this year. Meanwhile, the Best Unscripted Television Series Award went to Cousu from Connexions Productions, a French docuseries that follows actress and host Karine Vanasse as she explores the world of fashion, its origins, and its traditions.
Nova Scotia-shot television series proved to be a showcase for local talent, with Nathan D. Simmons (FROM, Season 3, MGM+) and Jason Daley (The Trades, Season 2, Crave) both taking home ACTRA Maritimes trophies for Outstanding Performances. Alexandra McDonald also won an Outstanding Performances award for her role in the sports drama Youngblood, and Taylor Olson won for his performance in the feature film What We Dreamed of Then, which he also wrote and directed. The cast of the Bell Fibe TV1 series 0-60 Driving Academy took home the ACTRA Maritimes Award for Series Ensemble.
“Congratulations to all of this year’s nominees and award winners,” said Laura Mackenzie, Executive Director of Screen Nova Scotia. “The stories celebrated tonight reflect the extraordinary depth of talent, creativity, and ambition driving Nova Scotia’s screen industry forward. From standout local productions earning national and international recognition, to major global studios and streamers choosing Nova Scotia as home for high-profile productions, this year’s awards showcase an industry growing not only in scale, but in creative impact, reputation, and momentum.”
Apex: The Black Masters, a documentary about the historic Black community in Truro, Nova Scotia, and its evolving relationship with a neighbouring golf course, won the award for Best Documentary Film. The documentary from A+B Roll Films (Amy Mielke and Brittney Gavin) is now streaming on CBC Gem. Filmmaker/editor Amy Mielke also took home the award for Outstanding Achievement in Editing.
The Best Short Film Award went to Feed from director/producer Nancy Urich (CUT/OFF/TAIL Pictures) and co-writer Stephanie Johns. The all-female horror follows a new mother struggling to breastfeed, who seeks the help of a kindly old woman’s home remedies. Urich is now filming a feature-length version of the film on Cape Breton Island.
Filmmaker Heather Young won the Women in Film & Television – Atlantic Award for Best Nova Scotia Director for her short film A Soft Touch, while Best Animated Production was awarded to Wolverine and Little Thunder: An Eel Hunting Adventure from celebrated Mi’kmaw artist Alan Syliboy (produced by Venn Diagram Films). The animated film is a heartwarming tale of bravery and the enduring bond between the Mi’kmaq and one of their most sacred food sources.
The 2026 Film Crew Excellence Award went to cinematographer, director of photography and camera operator, Christopher Ball csc. Ball has been a fixture of the Nova Scotia screen industry for the past 25 years, shooting feature films, dramas, TV series, documentaries, commercials, short films, and music videos. As a hang glider pilot, ultralight aircraft instructor, diver, white water paddler, sailor and wilderness tripper, Christopher brings the spirit of adventure to his craft, resulting in a specialty for Arctic, adventure and aerial cinematography. His recent credits include the MGM+ series FROM and The Institute, Disney’s Washington Black, Hallmark’s Christmas Island, and Netflix’s Locke & Key.
The Community Recognition Award went to the Emerging Lens Cultural Film Festival, co-founded by Tara Taylor and Shelley Fashan (Charles Taylor Theatre and Media Arts Association). For more than fifteen years, the festival has played a vital role in strengthening Nova Scotia’s screen community by creating space for diverse voices, meaningful dialogue, and cultural storytelling through film. Through its commitment to representation, mentorship, and community engagement, the festival has become an important pillar in our province’s screen sector and a champion for storytellers from historically underrepresented communities.
The Screen Nova Scotia Awards were made possible this year with the support of many generous sponsors, including Platinum Partners at the Directors Guild of Canada, Support4Culture, IATSE 849, Sunbelt Rentals, and ACTRA Maritimes. Special thanks to 902 Post, The Hideout Studios, and Mint Content for their continued work to ensure another successful event in 2026.
Media Contact: Tara McClair, Director, Communications & Events
tara@screennovascotia.com