Citytv’s ‘Law & Order Toronto’ leads Canadian Screen Award nominations with 20 nods

By Canadian Press on March 26, 2025.

TORONTO — A Toronto-set “Law & Order” spinoff that takes viewers on a twisty crime-solving ride by reimagining some of the city’s most infamous cases is the leading nominee at this year’s Canadian Screen Awards.

Citytv’s “Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent” got the most nominations overall with 20, including one for best drama series, acting nominations for leads Kathleen Munroe and Aden Young, and a supporting acting nod for Karen Robinson.

The haul means the show comes in third for most TV nominations since the Screen Awards were established 13 years ago, behind only “Schitt’s Creek,” which nabbed 26 nominations in 2020, and 21 nominations in 2021.

Meanwhile, the Winnipeg-set absurdist dramedy “Universal Language” leads the film races with 13 nominations, including for best film, best directing and best original screenplay.

The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television announced nominees in 149 film, television, and digital media categories.

The Screen Awards will be handed out at five ceremonies in Toronto from May 30 to June 1, culminating in a gala hosted by comic Lisa Gilroy and set to stream live on CBC Gem.

Matthew Rankin’s “Universal Language” tops the film contenders a month after winning a $50,000 prize from the Toronto Film Critics Association. Its Screen Award tally makes it the third-most nominated film ever, tying with “Mommy” in 2015.

It competes for the best film trophy against “The Apprentice,” “Darkest Miriam,” “Gamma Rays,” ”Village Keeper” and “Who Do I Belong To.”

“Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent” will vie for best drama series against CBC’s “Allegiance” and “Bones of Crows,” Hollywood Suite’s “Potluck Ladies” and CTV’s ”Sight Unseen.”

Three TV series tied with 12 nominations: CTV’s sitcom “Children Ruin Everything,” CBC’s Indigenous historical drama “Bones of Crows” and family comedy “Run the Burbs.”

Meanwhile, CBC’s sports coverage of the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics got 11 nominations and “The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal” from Amazon Prime Video Canada is this year’s most nominated documentary series with seven.

The best comedy series race is between CBC’s “One More Time,” CTV’s “Children Ruin Everything,” Crave’s ”Late Bloomer” and “The Office Movers,” and Crave/APTN’s “Don’t Even.”

Other leading film nominees announced Wednesday include David Cronenberg’s “The Shrouds” with nine, and Sam McGlynn’s “Deaner ’89” and Karen Chapman’s “Village Keeper,” which each nabbed seven.

Last year’s Screen Awards were hosted by Canadian comic Mae Martin, who hosted a gala in front of an audience in Toronto, which was then whittled down to an hour-long special that aired hours after the event on CBC and CBC Gem.

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Online: academy.ca/nominees

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 26, 2025.

The Canadian Press