Feb 28, 2023

February 28, Los Angeles, CA – Canadian creatives have once again risen to the top at this year’s Academy Awards and in keeping with tradition, The Consul General of Canada in Los Angeles, Zaib Shaikh will open the doors of Canada’s House to honour this year’s Canadian Oscar nominees. Canadians and Canadian-led films have received nominations in top awards categories including Best Picture, Best Animated Feature, Best Animated Short, Best Documentary Feature, Best Actor in a Leading Role and Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling. The private reception will take place during Oscar week on Thursday, March 9, 2023.

This year’s honourees include Best Picture nominee James Cameron, director, co-writer and producer of Avatar: The Way of the Water (20th Century Studios) whose film is also nominated for Best Sound, Production Design and Visual Effects; Women Talking (MGM/United Artists Releasing), produced by Frances McDormand, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner, and written and directed by beloved Canadian auteur Sarah Polley is also nominated in the Best Picture category. Polley herself is nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay for the film. Canadian-American actor Brendan Fraser is nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his poignant and heartfelt role in the Best Picture-nominated film The Whale (A24). The Academy Award-nominated Canadian makeup artist Adrien Morot alongside his colleagues Judy Chin and Annemarie Bradley is nominated for Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling also for The Whale.

“Canadians in film don’t just help generate billions of dollars for the Canadian economy but are also, once again this year, being recognized as amongst the best, most talented creators and creatives in the industry,” said Zaib Shaikh, Consul General of Canada in Los Angeles. "It is an honour to celebrate their success, and to highlight the diversity that is inherent to Canadian storytellers. It is clear that the stories Canadians choose to tell resonate with global audiences everywhere because they explore universal truths, highlight values of inclusivity and showcase human perseverance. To all of the nominees we will be celebrating in the days to come, a huge “Congratulations et Félicitations!” 

Canadian animators dominated this year’s nominations with Domee Shi, writer and director of Canadian love letter Turning Red (Pixar Animation Studios) and Chris Williams, co-writer, director and producer of The Sea Beast (Netflix) both earning Best Animated Feature nominations. Writer/Director/Animator duo Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby are nominated along with producer David Christensen for the NFB film The Flying Sailor in the Best Animated Short category.

“We are incredibly proud of the Canadians who have secured top nominations on the world stage of the Academy Awards and are amongst the best in their field,” said Francesca Accinelli, Interim Executive Director & CEO of Telefilm Canada. “From the fantastical lens of animation to a powerful and bold adapted screenplay, to innovative filmmaking technology years in the making to pure excellence in documentary storytelling, Canadians continue to be leaders in the global film industry.”

The Best Documentary Feature category also has strong Canadian representation with producer Ina Fichman nominated alongside her colleagues Shane Boris and Sara Dosa for Fire of Love (Sandbox Films), and Navalny (CNN Films) produced by Diane Becker, Shane Boris, Melanie Miller and Odessa Rae, and helmed by Canadian documentary filmmaker Daniel Roher.

“Wendy Tilby and Amanda Forbis have made yet another contribution to Canada’s rich cultural heritage with The Flying Sailor, which has earned a third Oscar nomination for Amanda and a fourth for Wendy. As the film’s producers, we at the NFB are proud to provide Canadian filmmakers with a unique creative environment, allowing them to experiment and create exceptional works that captivate viewers all over the world,” said Suzanne Guèvremont, Government Film Commissioner and Chairperson of the National Film Board of Canada.

About Zaib Shaikh
Zaib Shaikh began his mandate as Consul General of Canada in Los Angeles in December 2018. He is the Government of Canada’s senior representative in Southern California, Arizona and Nevada.He comes to the posting after an extensive career in the media and entertainment industries, having worked as an actor and producer in theatre, film and television. His work includes acting roles in Deepa Mehta’s film Midnight’s Children, as well as starring in the CBC comedy series Little Mosque on the Prairie, which has been seen in more than 80 countries. Mr. Shaikh co‐produced the special Long Story Short: CBC Turns 75 and co‐wrote, directed and coproduced the film Othello: The Tragedy of the Moor. He also co-founded and served as an artistic producer of the Whistler Theatre Project in British Columbia. From 2014 until his appointment in 2018, Mr. Shaikh was the Film Commissioner and Director of Entertainment Industries for the City of Toronto. In that role, he oversaw and grew the city’s screen, music, live festival, sporting event and tourism sectors, helping to double the value of film production in Canada’s largest city, which surpassed $2 billion in 2016. Mr. Shaikh has served as a board member for the Institute for Canadian Citizenship, the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion and, most recently on the board of AFC (formerly the Actors Fund of Canada). He has served on juries and committees for the Gemini Awards, ACTRA Awards, Ontario Arts Council, and Theatre Ontario Youth Program as well as an ambassador for the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and for Amnesty International Canada. Mr. Shaikh is married to Ms. Kirstine Stewart. They have two children.

About Telefilm Canada
As a Partner of Choice, Telefilm Canada is a Crown corporation dedicated to the success of Canada’s audiovisual industry, fostering access and excellence by delivering programs that support cultural resonance and audience engagement. With a lens of equity, inclusivity and sustainability, Telefilm bolsters dynamic companies and a range of creative talent at home and around the world. Telefilm also makes recommendations regarding the certification of audiovisual coproduction treaties to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, and administers the programs of the Canada Media Fund. Launched in 2012, the Talent Fund raises private donations which principally support emerging talent. Visit telefilm.ca and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/Telefilm_Canada and on Facebook at facebook.com/telefilmcanada.

About the NFB
The NFB is Canada’s public producer and distributor of award-winning documentaries, auteur animation, interactive stories and participatory experiences, working with talented creators across the country. The NFB is taking action to combat systemic racism and become a more open and diverse organization, while working to strengthen Indigenous-led production and gender equity in film and digital media. NFB productions have won more than 7,000 awards, including 12 Oscars®. To access this unique content, visit NFB.ca.

About the Talent Fund
The Talent Fund is a national donation initiative dedicated to the impact and longevity of first-time filmmakers’ careers from across Canada. Igniting career paths in cinema, the Talent Fund invests in emerging talent and provides support to build their professional portfolios, fosters community and knowledge-sharing through professional mentorship, and prioritizes emerging creators from historically underrepresented communities. Funds raised are invested in Telefilm Canada’s Talent to Watch program – a career accelerator and launchpad – which helps the next generation of storytellers contribute to a thriving Canadian film industry. Since 2012, the Fund has supported 165 film projects, brought to life by more than 360 emerging artists (writers, producers, and directors) and has financed films that have earned over 180 awards worldwide. Individual donors, family foundations, corporations and sponsors invest in the Talent Fund as they believe in the power of storytelling through film, and the impact this program has on the careers of emerging artists. To learn more about the Talent Fund or to make a donation, visit thetalentfund.ca.