WGC Screenwriting Awards

Thank you for supporting Canadian screenwriters!

Created in 1997 to recognize excellence in Canadian screenwriting, and raise the profile of screenwriters, the WGC Screenwriting Awards have grown as the Canadian industry has expanded. Over the years, we have celebrated writers whose work has shaped Canadian culture, and reached audiences around the world.

We look forward to celebrating with you again next year!

The WGC is pleased to announce the winners of the 30th annual WGC Screenwriting Awards, marking three decades of recognizing the writers behind Canada’s most engaging and powerful series, films, and shorts. The Awards took place at Koerner Hall in Toronto on Monday, April 27, hosted by Ali Hassan and written by Kurt Smeaton.

Congratulations to this year's nominees and winners.

2026 WGC SCREENWRITING AWARDS WINNERS

CHILDREN’S

• Lana Longbeard, “Lana the Something Super Great and Totally Awesome” | Written by Emer Connon

COMEDY SERIES

• North of North, “Dumpcano” | Written by Garry Campbell

DRAMA SERIES

• Family Law, “Play It Straight” | Written by Corey Liu

DOCUMENTARY

• In the Room | Written by Brishkay Ahmed

FEATURE FILM

• Honey Bunch | Written by Madeleine Sims-Fewer & Dusty Mancinelli

PRESCHOOL

• Mittens & Pants, “Pants in the Box” | Written by Katherine Sandford

SHORT FILM (UNDER 60 MINUTES)

• Now, I Am A Bear | Written by Jason Filiatrault

SHORT SERIES (EPISODES UNDER 15 MINUTES)

• 18 to 35, “Buck Mustang” | Written by Kaveh Mohebbi

TWEENS & TEENS

• Bet, “The Hunt” | Written by Laura Good

ALEX BARRIS MENTORSHIP AWARD

• Lawrence S. Mirkin

MARGARET COLLIER AWARD

• Ian Weir

McGRATH SERVICE AWARD

• Jeremy Boxen

SHOWRUNNER AWARD

• Simon Barry

Host: Ali Hassan (Photo credit: Lu Chau // Photagonist)

Ali Hassan is an actor, comedian, author and broadcaster who has performed for audiences across Canada, in the United States and internationally. Ali is the host of the hit stand-up comedy radio show Laugh Out Loud, which airs on CBC Radio and SiriusXM, and for the past nine years he has been the host of Canada Reads, CBC’s “Battle of the Books”.  

Ali has appeared on the big screen in award-winning films such as French Immersion, the hockey hit Goon and Tammy’s Always Dying. Some of his past television roles include Designated Survivor (ABC, Netflix), Odd Squad (PBS Kids, CBBC), Dino Dana (TVOKids), Workin’ Moms (Netflix), Murdoch Mysteries (CBC), Hudson & Rex (CityTV), and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (Paramount+).

In 2024, Ali was nominated for Canadian Screen Awards for his roles in two shows: Run The Burbs (CBC, Hulu), and the Peabody-Award winning Sort Of (CBC Gem, HBO Max). You can see him on television currently in the new seasons of Boston Blue (CBS) and Doc (Fox).

Ali has performed at the Just For Laughs festivals in Montreal and Toronto. Ali has also toured across Canada as one of the stars of Just For Laughs ‘Comedy Night In Canada’ tour. He has taken his show Muslim Interrupted to Scotland to perform at the world’s largest comedy festival, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. In 2023, Ali began touring his latest one-man show, based on his decade in the food industry, Does This Taste Funny?  

His comedic memoir ‘Is There Bacon in Heaven?’ was released in 2022 with Simon & Schuster and was described by Rick Mercer as “perhaps the funniest and most heartfelt Canadian memoir yet.”

www.standupali.com

Writer: Kurt Smeaton

Kurt Smeaton is an award-winning writer, producer, and director with credits on over 200 episodes of prime time comedy. He created the hit series Children Ruin Everything for CTV, and was a co-executive producer on CBC’s Kim’s Convenience, and Schitt’s Creek. Other credits include Cavendish, What Would Sal Do?, and Young Drunk Punk.