As British Columbia’s film and television community prepares for another glamorous celebration of local screen excellence, the nominees for the 2026 Leo Awards have officially been unveiled. From acclaimed independent features and hit television dramas to documentaries, animation, and emerging talent, this year’s slate reflects the remarkable depth and diversity of one of North America’s busiest production hubs.
The festivities will unfold over two gala evenings, Saturday, July 4, and Sunday, July 5, at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver, where artists, craftspeople, and industry leaders will gather to honor outstanding work produced during 2025.
What Are the Leo Awards?
For more than a quarter of a century, the Leo Awards have served as British Columbia’s premier celebration of achievement in screen-based storytelling. Established in 1999 and presented annually by the Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Foundation of British Columbia, the awards were created to recognize and promote excellence across the province’s film, television, and digital media industries.
What makes the Leos unique is the breadth of the work they honor. In addition to feature films and television dramas, the awards encompass documentaries, animation, children’s programming, web series, music videos, and student productions, reflecting the diversity and vitality of British Columbia’s creative community.
The awards also shine a spotlight on the collaborative nature of filmmaking. While actors, directors, and writers are among the most visible nominees, the Leos equally celebrate the contributions of cinematographers, editors, production designers, costume designers, sound teams, visual effects artists, and countless other craftspeople whose work helps bring stories to life.
That comprehensive approach has made the Leo Awards a reflection of the province’s entire production ecosystem. From independent filmmakers and emerging voices to internationally recognized series and major studio projects, the annual celebration highlights the talent and expertise that have helped establish British Columbia as one of North America’s leading centers for film and television production.
With the 2026 nominees now revealed, this year’s awards once again showcase the remarkable range of stories and storytellers coming out of the province.
2026 Nominees Highlights
If the 2026 Leo Awards nominations reveal anything, it’s that British Columbia’s screen industry continues to thrive on both ambition and diversity.
This year’s slate spans intimate independent dramas, internationally recognized television productions, acclaimed documentaries, and world-class animation, illustrating the remarkable breadth of storytelling taking place across the province.
A Strong Year for Feature Films
The race for Best Motion Picture features eight nominees: Akashi, Brother, Foreigner, Holy Days, Surrender, Sweet Summer Pow Wow, The Bearded Girl, and What Comes Next. Together, they represent a wide spectrum of voices and genres, from personal dramas and coming-of-age stories to Indigenous narratives and contemporary character studies.
Leading the pack are two productions that earned ten nominations apiece. Mayumi Yoshida’s Akashi emerged as one of the year’s most celebrated films, securing recognition for Best Motion Picture, Direction, Screenwriting, Cinematography, Sound, Production Design, Costume Design, and Lead Performance.
Matching that total is Corey Payette’s musical feature Starwalker, which received nominations across directing, writing, sound, design, and performance categories, highlighting the project’s artistic and technical achievements.
Close behind are Ava Maria Safai’s Foreigner and Darrell Dennis’ Sweet Summer Pow Wow, both of which received eight nominations. Their strong showing underscores the growing prominence of culturally diverse and Indigenous-led storytelling within British Columbia’s film landscape.
Meanwhile, Protectors of the Land emerged as another notable contender, earning nominations in several key categories, including Direction, Screenwriting, Cinematography, Production Design, Hairstyling, Stunt Coordination, and Lead Performance.
The Television Race
On the small screen, Murder in a Small Town stands as the clear front-runner. The Fox crime drama received fourteen nominations, making it the most recognized television production of the year.
In addition to competing for Best Dramatic Series, the show earned nominations for directing, writing, cinematography, editing, production design, makeup, stunt performance, and acting, including a Lead Performance nomination for Kristin Kreuk.
Joining it in the Best Dramatic Series category are A Week Away, Allegiance, and Watson, demonstrating the diversity of projects being produced in British Columbia. Lark Productions’ Allegiance continues to distinguish itself with stories rooted in Surrey and a cast that reflects the multicultural fabric of the region, while Watson highlights the province’s ongoing importance as a production center for international television.
Another major player is Wild Cards, which collected eight nominations and continues to build momentum following its breakout success. The series received recognition in directing, editing, sound, production design, hairstyling, and acting categories, with Vanessa Morgan earning a Lead Performance nomination.
Television Movies Continue to Thrive
The television movie category once again reflects the strength of British Columbia’s service-production sector. Nominees include A Little Park Music, Before Your Father Finds Us, Love, Again, Monster in the Family: The Stacey Kananen Story, Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder, Oy to the World, Providence Falls: An Impossible Promise, and To Barcelona, With Love.
Several productions continued to appear throughout the craft categories. The Providence Falls franchise, in particular, earned recognition in areas ranging from cinematography and editing to production design, makeup, and hairstyling.
Emerging Voices in Short Drama
Short-form storytelling remains one of the industry’s most important incubators for new talent. The Best Short Drama nominees, At the End, Little Booms, Never Use Alone, One Last Walk, Revenge Body, Ripe, Thank You, and The After School Club, demonstrate the creativity and experimentation that continue to define the format.
Projects such as Little Booms, Never Use Alone, and Ripe received multiple nominations across directing, screenwriting, cinematography, editing, sound, and performance categories, illustrating the strength of British Columbia’s emerging filmmakers.
Documentary Storytelling in Focus
The documentary categories offer another showcase for compelling real-world stories. Feature-length nominees include Bif Naked, Clan of the Painted Lady, In the Room, Loot: a Story of Crime and Redemption, Spring After Spring, The Painted Life of E. J. Hughes, The Track, and Tootoo.
Elsewhere, the short documentary and documentary series categories explore subjects ranging from environmental issues and Indigenous culture to community history and wildlife conservation. Productions such as BC Is Burning, The Rewilders, Coastal Carvings, and Guardians of the North highlight the continued strength of nonfiction storytelling in the province.
Animation’s Global Reach
British Columbia’s animation industry remains one of the province’s greatest creative success stories. This year’s nominees include internationally recognized properties such as Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical, and Lego: Disney Frozen: Operation Puffins in the Animation Program category.
Meanwhile, the Animation Series race features Dr. Seuss’s Red Fish, Blue Fish, Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy, and Ninjago: Dragons Rising, demonstrating the central role BC studios continue to play in bringing beloved global franchises to audiences around the world.
Taken together, the 2026 nominations reveal an industry that is equally comfortable producing internationally recognized entertainment and deeply personal stories rooted in local experiences.
From Indigenous voices and culturally diverse narratives to major television productions and globally recognized animated properties, this year’s nominees offer a portrait of a creative community that continues to evolve and expand.
Talent Spotlight
The 2026 nominees feature a compelling mix of established performers, rising stars, and behind-the-scenes talent whose work continues to elevate British Columbia’s reputation as a world-class production center.
Standout Performances on the Big Screen
Among the year’s most notable acting nominees is Mayumi Yoshida, who not only co-produced and directed Akashi but also earned a Lead Performance nomination for her work in the film.
Joining her in the Lead Performance category are Tanaya Beatty for Protectors of the Land, Tatyana Rose Baptiste for Sweet Summer Pow Wow, and Alison Thornton for What Comes Next, reflecting the diverse range of stories represented among the motion picture nominees.
Meanwhile, young actor Christian Convery once again demonstrates his remarkable versatility. In addition to receiving a Lead Performance nomination for The Monkey, he earned Supporting Performance recognition for Frankenstein and Barron’s Cove, as well as a nomination in the Youth Performance category. His presence across multiple categories underscores his growing stature as one of Canada’s most promising young actors.
Familiar Faces on Television
Television viewers will recognize several nominees whose work has helped bring BC-produced series to audiences around the world.
Kristin Kreuk received a Lead Performance nomination for Murder in a Small Town, further strengthening the series’ position as one of the year’s dominant contenders. Vanessa Morgan also earned recognition for her performance in Wild Cards, one of the most nominated television productions of 2026.
Supporting and guest performance categories feature a wide range of familiar names, including Sarah Dugdale, Samer Salem, Sonja Bennett, William B. Davis, and Richard Harmon, illustrating the depth of acting talent working within the province.
Celebrating the Crafts Behind the Camera
One of the defining strengths of the Leo Awards is their commitment to honoring the creative disciplines that often work outside the spotlight. Categories recognizing cinematography, editing, sound, production design, costume design, makeup, hairstyling, visual effects, and stunt work highlight the collaborative nature of filmmaking and television production.
This year’s nominees showcase exceptional technical achievement across projects ranging from independent features like Akashi and Starwalker to internationally recognized series such as Murder in a Small Town, Wild Cards, and Percy Jackson and the Olympians.
Together, these performers and craftspeople embody what the Leo Awards have celebrated since 1999: not simply finished productions, but the talented individuals whose creativity and collaboration make those achievements possible.
Wrapping Up
The 2026 Leo Awards nominations offer a compelling snapshot of an industry that continues to grow in both scale and creative ambition. From acclaimed independent features to high-profile television productions, this year’s nominees reflect the remarkable range of stories being created in British Columbia.
They also highlight the province’s unique position within the global entertainment landscape. British Columbia remains a major destination for international film and television production, while simultaneously fostering a vibrant community of local filmmakers, writers, performers, and craftspeople whose work continues to earn critical recognition at home and abroad.
The prominence of Indigenous voices, culturally diverse narratives, and emerging talent throughout this year’s nominations further underscores the evolving nature of the province’s screen industry.