WGC Screenwriting Awards

The Writers Guild of Canada (WGC) is getting ready to host the 30th annual WGC Screenwriting Awards on April 27, 2026, at Koerner Hall in Toronto. 

The gala event will bring together hundreds of screenwriters, industry professionals, and fans—all in celebration of excellence in screenwriting for Canadian film, television, and digital media.

Congratulations to the incredibly talented WGC members who have been nominated for the 2026 WGC Screenwriting Awards! Join the WGC in celebrating 30 years of Canadian screenwriting excellence. TICKETS ON SALE FEBRUARY 9, 2026. 

For 2026 sponsorship enquiries, please contact Chris Teeter at [email protected].

The WGC is pleased to announce the nominations for 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 will take place at Koerner Hall in Toronto on Monday, April 27, hosted by Ali Hassan and written by Kurt Smeaton.

Congratulations to all!

2026 WGC SCREENWRITING AWARDS NOMINEES

CHILDREN’S

• Dino Dex, “Dino Discovery” | Written by J.J. Johnson
• Jane, “Pan troglodytes” | Written by J.J. Johnson
• Lana Longbeard, “Going Overboard” | Written by Alex Ganetakos
• Lana Longbeard, “It Takes Two to Durango Tango” | Written by Lienne Sawatsky
• Lana Longbeard, “Lana the Something Super Great and Totally Awesome” | Written by Emer Connon

COMEDY SERIES

• North of North, “Bad Influences” | Story by Aviaq Johnston & JP Larocque, Teleplay by Aviaq Johnston & Garry Campbell
• North of North, “Dumpcano” | Written by Garry Campbell
• North of North, “Joy to the Effing World” | Written by Alethea Arnaquq-Baril & Linsey Stewart
• North of North, “Top of the World” | Written by Stacey Aglok Macdonald & Alethea Arnaquq-Baril
• North of North, “Walrus D*ck Baseball” | Written by Moriah Sallaffie & Garry Campbell

DRAMA SERIES

• Family Law, “It’s the End of the World as We Know It” | Written by Ken Craw
• Family Law, “Play It Straight” | Written by Corey Liu
• Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent, “Tango Romeo” | Written by Tassie Cameron
• Murdoch Mysteries, “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” | Written by Jenny Lee
• Sight Unseen, “Family Matters” | Written by Lisa Codrington & Kay Shioma Metchie
• Surrealestate, “Night Terrors” | Written by Justin Rawana

DOCUMENTARIES

• Beavers From Above | Written by Michael McNamara
• In the Room | Written by Brishkay Ahmed

FEATURE FILMS

• Blueberry Grunt | Written by Sherry White
• Dinner With Friends | Written by Tania Thompson & Sasha Leigh Henry
• Honey Bunch | Written by Madeleine Sims-Fewer & Dusty Mancinelli
• Nika & Madison | Written by Eva Thomas and Michael McGowan
• Paige Darcy: Reluctant Detective | Written by Alice Moran

PRESCHOOL

• Hop, “Benny’s Book Scare” | Written by Renae J. Ruddock
• Mittens & Pants, “Mittens & Pants Christmas Special” | Written by Phil McCordic
• Mittens & Pants, “Pants in the Box” | Written by Katherine Sandford
• Paw Patrol, “Pups Save the Sea Sponges” | Written by Jeff Sager
• Woolly Woolly, “Big BeeBee” | Written by Naomi Jardine

SHORT FILMS (UNDER 60 MINUTES)

• I am Pleased | Written by Vanessa Magic
• Now, I Am A Bear | Written by Jason Filiatrault

SHORT SERIES (EPISODES UNDER 15 MINUTES)

• 18 to 35, “Bed Math and Beyond” | Written by Rahul Chaturvedi
• 18 to 35, “Buck Mustang” | Written by Kaveh Mohebbi
• Dying Seconds, “Have I Told You About This Hockey Card” | Written by Brendan Halloran
• Fugget About It: Fan Favourites, “Gina’s Eleven… Minus Eight” | Written by Willem Wennekers
• One Man’s Treasure - A Fool’s Fortune, “The Beginning” | Written by Thomas Conway

TWEENS & TEENS

• Bet, “First Blood” | Written by: Tabia Lau
• Bet, “Ice Breaker” | Written by: Amanda Fahey
• Bet, “Meet the Parents” | Written by Chris Roberts
• Bet, “The Hunt” | Written by Laura Good
• Bet, “The Recital” | Written by Simon Barry & Kurt Mungal

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