Bell Media congratulates its production partners, team members, and talent on their extraordinary achievements at the 2021 Canadian Screen Awards. With a total of 48 awards across television, digital, and film, Bell Media continues to be recognized for its commitment in championing and creating exceptional and engaging original Canadian content.
Delivered through virtual presentations during Canadian Screen Week, Bell Media was honoured with 29 Canadian Screen Awards in the television categories, more than any other private broadcaster. 19 awards went to Bell Media-supported feature films, including a leading seven wins for Blood Quantum, five for Akilla’s Escape and Best Motion Picture for Beans. Several of these titles are available now for streaming on Crave.
“We are inspired by the accomplishments of the creatives who continue to produce the very best Canadian series, content, and films,” said said Karine Moses, Senior Vice-President, Content Development & News, Bell Media. “We are proud of the industry-leading content that Bell Media and its production partners have produced this year, telling diverse and compelling stories across our news, scripted, factual, reality, and lifestyle programs.”
Resonating with audiences across the country, the first season of CTV’s hit series TRANSPLANT from Sphere Media, in association with CTV and NBCUniversal International Studios, garnered four awards, including Best Drama Series, Best Writing, Drama Series (Joseph Kay), Best Direction, Drama Series (Holly Dale), and Best Lead Actor, Drama Series for Hamza Haq. The fourth and final season of acclaimed CTV Original drama eries CARDINAL, from Sienna Films and eOne in association with CTV, secured a total of three awards, including Best Photography, Drama (Steve Cosens) and Best Picture Editing, Drama (Sandy Pereira).
For the second consecutive year, CTV Original series MARY’S KITCHEN CRUSH, from Proper Television, took home awards for Best Lifestyle Program or Series and Best Host, Lifestyle for series host Mary Berg.
Popular Crave series CANADA’S DRAG RACE, from Saloon Media/Blue Ant Studios, received five awards, including Best Reality/Competition Program or Series; Best Host or Presenter, Factual or Reality/Competition; Best Direction, Reality/Competition, Best Writing, Lifestyle or Reality/Competition, and Best Production Design or Art Direction, Non-Fiction. The Crave Original stand-up special AISHA BROWN: THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN EVER won for Best Variety or Entertainment Special.
CTV Comedy Channel’s smash-hit original series CORNER GAS ANIMATED, from Vérité Films, Sparrow Media, and Aslan Entertainment, won in two noteworthy categories including Best Animated Program or Series for a second year in a row; and Best Performance, Animation for series star Lorne Cardinal.
CTV News received four awards, with CTV NATIONAL NEWS WITH LISA LAFLAMME once again receiving Best National Newscast for the fourth year in a row, and Lisa LaFlamme being recognized as Best News Anchor, National. W5 was awarded two wins this year, including Best News or Information Program, and Best Photography, News or Information.
YOUR MORNING, CTV’s national weekday morning show, was honoured with Best Children’s or Youth Non-Fiction Program or Series, for “Your Kids, Their Question: A Your Morning Coronavirus Special”, featuring hosts Ben Mulroney, Anne-Marie Mediwake, Lindsey Deluce, and Kelsey McEwen; while Jann Arden took home the award for Best Host, Talk Show or Entertainment News for the CTV special JANN ARDEN ONE NIGHT ONLY.
Ranked among the most-watched events of 2020, the inspirational special STRONGER TOGETHER, a joint production between Insight Productions Ltd. and Bell Media Studios, received two wins, including Best Entertainment News Program or Series, and Best Picture Editing, Reality/Competition.
Bell Media-supported films won 19 awards, led by Blood Quantum, which secured seven awards including Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for Michael Greyeyes, and Achievement in Editing. Akilla’s Escape was recognized with five awards, including Original Screenplay and Achievement in Cinematography, and Michelle Pfeiffer was honoured with Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for French Exit, and Beans took home Best Motion Picture.
Bell Media’s premium streaming service Crave was honoured with the Industry Leadership Award for its innovation and leadership in Canada’s media industry.