York U alumni nominated for 76 Canadian Screen Awards
With nominations in over 50 categories, graduates are recognized for excellence in performance, direction, writing, music, cinematography, sound, and more
Ever since their creation in 2013, the result of a merger between the Gemini and Genie awards, the Canadian Screen Awards have been considered the most prestigious in the country. The annual celebration recognizes artistic and technical excellence in Canadian film, English-language television, and digital media or web series.
York University alumni — many of them graduates of the School of Arts, Media, Performance & Design (AMPD), which offers degrees in production, screenwriting, cinema and media arts as well as theatre acting and performance — have earned an impressive 76 nominations this year. The awards ceremony will stream live on Sunday, June 1 at 8 p.m. ET on CBC Gem.
Here are a few of the nominees representing York:
Spencer Creaghan (BFA ’15)
Nominated for: Achievement in Music - Original Score, I Don’t Know Who You Are
Spencer Creaghan is known for his adventurous scores. A composer for film, television and video games, he earned his BFA from AMPD in 2015. His distinctive sound blends classical orchestration with contemporary pop and rock, ancient folk traditions, human vocal textures and field recordings. Focused on worldbuilding through music, Creaghan’s scores often take on a character of their own, heightening emotions and bringing the narrative subtext to life.
His work has been featured in the television series SurrealEstate, the sci-fi short Spaceman (2024), and the feature films Motherly (2021) and Quickening (2021). He also composed the score for I Don’t Know Who You Are, which premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival and earned him a CSA nomination for Achievement in Music – Original Score.
Written, directed, and edited by fellow York alum M. H. Murray (BFA ’15), I Don’t Know Who You Are tells the story of a struggling musician pushed to the brink after a sexual assault leaves him with just 72 hours to raise the money needed for the HIV prevention drug PEP.
Audio from Creaghan’s original scores can be streamed on his website. He is available for media interviews.
Wesley Magee-Saxton (BFA ’22)
Nominated for: Best Performance, Sketch Comedy (Individual or Ensemble), The Squeaky Wheel: Canada
Wesley Magee-Saxton is an actor, writer, dancer, martial artist, activist, and storyteller who mines their artistic talents and experience of intersecting privilege and oppression to break down barriers and create pathways for those who are marginalized. They graduated cum laude from AMPD’s acting conservatory in 2022 with a BFA in acting for the stage, and are represented by Ritter Talent Agency in Toronto.
Magee-Saxton is a cast member in The Squeaky Wheel: Canada, a satirical series that uses a half-hour, news-style format to poke fun at the ableist society that people with disabilities encounter daily. In the comedy, they take on a range of absurd characters and scenarios, including portraying obnoxious, able-bodied and neurotypical personalities with sharp wit and insight.
Their performance in the series has earned them a nomination for Best Performance, Sketch Comedy alongside ensemble castmates Margaret Rose, Samantha Wyss, Sivert Das, Yousef Kadoura, Gaitrie Persaud, Graham Kent and Courtney Gilmour.
Beyond their work in television, film, and dance, Magee-Saxton also lends their voice to the Holland Bloorview Research Institute’s Online Hub for Sexuality and Disability. Magee-Saxton is available for interviews.
Alison Duke (MFA ’20)
Nominated for: Best Direction, Documentary Series, Paid in Full: The Battle for Black Music
An award-winning filmmaker, Alison Duke began her career as a music video and television producer. She has since honed her directing, producing and writing skills through her work on groundbreaking documentaries, features and short films, and graduated with an MFA from AMPD in 2020. Her genre-spanning films wrestle with complex societal issues, giving a voice to underrepresented communities. In 2018, Duke co-founded the production company OYA Media Group to support emerging filmmakers, expanding the scope and reach of original scripted and unscripted content for global audiences. In 2022, she co-founded Oya Black Arts Coalition.
She is the first Black woman to direct a Canadian Heritage Minute and a recipient of the Women In Film and Television-Toronto Crystal Award for her commitment to mentoring young filmmakers. Her credits include the classic cult documentary Raisin Kane: A Rapumentary (2001) about the Toronto rap group Citizen Kane; the two-time Canadian Screen Award-winning documentary Mr. Jane and Finch (2019); Cool Black North (2019); and the Golden Sheaf-winning short fictional drama Promise Me (2020).
Duke has been nominated for Best Direction, Documentary for Paid in Full: The Battle for Black Music, a three-part series that explores the fight for racial justice and fair pay in the music industry, a business where Black artists have been exploited since the advent of recorded sound.
Stacey McGunnigle (BFA ’08)
Nominated for: Best Writing, Variety or Sketch Comedy and Best Performance, Sketch Comedy (Individual or Ensemble), This Hour Has 22 Minutes
Stacey McGunnigle is an actress and comedian best known as a cast member of This Hour Has 22 Minutes. After graduating from AMPD with a BFA in 2008, McGunnigle rose to prominence with The Second City, joining its national touring company in the early 2010s and the mainstage cast of We’ve Totally (probably) Got This! in 2012. She won the Canadian Comedy Award for Best Breakout Artist in 2013 and was twice nominated for Best Female Improviser before joining 22 Minutes in 2021.
The longest-running television comedy series in Canada, 22 Minutes was launched in 1993 during a federal election. With its focus on Canadian politics and world events, it pushes the boundaries of provocative satire through parody and sketch.
Congratulations to all York alumni nominated this year!
Film
Naomi Jaye (MFA ’19) for Achievement in Direction and Adapted Screenplay, Darkest Miriam
Maya Bankovic (BFA ’07) for Achievement in Cinematography, The Invisibles
Michael Davison (BFA ’14) for Achievement in Visual Effects, Presented by SPINVFX, Code 8: Part II
Elma Bello (BFA ’95) for Achievement in Sound Editing, Darkest Miriam
Jenny Lewis (BA ’94) for Achievement in Casting, Paying for It
Marusya Bociurkiw (MA ’00) for Best Feature Length Documentary, Analogue Revolution: How Feminist Media Changed the World
Lisa Jackson (MFA ’19) for Best Feature Length Documentary, Wilfred Buck
David Schmidt (BFA ’11) Best Editing in a Feature Length Documentary, Wilfred Buck
Television
Julie Di Cresce (MA ’03) for Best TV Movie, Bootcamp
Stephanie Morgenstern (MA ’91) for Best Drama Series, Allegiance
Shazia Javed (MFA ’16) for Best Drama Series and Best Writing, Drama Series, Potluck Ladies
John Morayniss (BBA ’85) for Best Drama Series, Sight Unseen
Laura Michalchyshyn (MBA ’93) and Justin Stockman (BFA ’96) for Best Reality/Competition Program or Series, Canada's Drag Race
Allison Grace (BA ’94) for Best Lifestyle Program or Series, Mary Makes It Easy
Tracy Galvin (BA ’85) for Best Live Entertainment Special, The 2024 JUNO Awards
Nancy Yeboah (BFA ’17) for Best Live Entertainment Special, The Legacy Awards 2024
Lisa Ellenwood (MA ’99, BA ’91) for Donald Brittain Award for Best Social/Political Documentary Program, APTN Investigates: Food for Profit
Bryn Hughes (BA ’02) for Best Biography or Arts Documentary Program or Series, The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal
Vince Commisso (MBA ’92, BAS ’88, BA ’86) for Best Animated Program or Series, Wild Kratts
Amanda Fahey (BFA ’09) for Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or Series, Beyond Black Beauty
Mark J.W. Bishop (MA ’12) for Best Children's or Youth Non-Fiction Program or Series, All Round Champion and Old Enough!
Jessica Capobianco (BA ’99) for Best Variety or Entertainment Special, Canada's Walk of Fame 25th Anniversary Celebration
Claudia Abate (MA ’06) Best Variety or Entertainment Special, The Last Timbit: A 60th Anniversary Musical
Bronwen Hughes (BFA ’85) for Best Direction, Drama Series, So Long, Marianne
Chelsea McMullan (MFA ’10, BFA ’06) for Best Direction, Documentary Series and Best Writing, Documentary, Swan Song
Amanda Parris (BA ’08) for Best Direction, Factual; Barbara Sears Award for Best Editorial Research; Best Writing, Factual; and Best Host or Presenter, Factual or Reality/Competition, For the Culture with Amanda Parris
Ramona Barckert (BA ’01) for Best Writing, TV Movie, ’Twas the Date Before Christmas
Paulina Robak (BFA ’05) and Michael Tersigni (BFA ’04) for Best Writing, Lifestyle or Reality/Competition, The Amazing Race Canada
Yasmine Mathurin (BA ’11) and Christine Charles (BA ’99) for Barbara Sears Award for Best Editorial Research, For the Culture with Amanda Parris
Richard Young (MBA ’03) for Best Writing, Pre-School, Dino Ranch
Kanja Chen (BEd ’00, BA ’99) for Best Writing, Pre-School, The Fabulous Show with Fay and Fluffy and Go Togo
David Greene (BFA ’94) for Best Photography, Drama, Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent
Ben Lichty (BFA ’03) for Best Photography, Comedy, Don't Even
Shady Hanna (BFA ’17) and Tess Girard (BFA ’05) Best Photography, Documentary or Factual, Swan Song
Michael Emberley (BFA ’00) for Best Picture Editing, Reality/Competition, Big Brother Canada
Jaime Sanchez (BA ’09) for Best Picture Editing, Reality/Competition, Canada's Ultimate Challenge
Graeme Cornies (BFA ’06) for Best Original Music, Animation, PAW Patrol and Rubble & Crew; and Best Original Music, Comedy, Odd Squad UK
Antonio Naranjo (BA ’09) for Best Original Music – Original Song, Mittens & Pants: “We Are Dogs”
Steve Denheyer (BA ’95) for Best Sports Opening, 2024 Copa America
Ryan Tonellato (BA ’02) for Best Sports Opening, 2024, Stanley Cup Finals - Phil Collins “In the Air”
Michael Lane (BFA ’02) for Best Sports Opening, TradeCentre
Peter Keleghan (BA ’84) for Best Guest Performance, Drama Series, Murdoch Mysteries
Jenny Lewis (BA ’94) for Best Achievement in Casting, Fiction, Letterkenny and Shoresy
Andi Petrillo (BA ’04) for Best Sports Host, Paris 2024 Summer Olympics
Melissa Grelo (BA, BEd ’02), Cynthia Loyst (BFA ’98), and Andrea Bain (BA ’96) Best Host, Talk Show or Entertainment News, The Social
Julie Nolke (BFA ’12) for Best Ensemble Performance, Comedy and Best Supporting Performer, Comedy, Run the Burbs
Digital Media
Lauren Corber (LLB ’06) for Best Web Program or Series, Fiction, My Dead Mom
Wendy Litner (LLB ’06) for Best Web Program or Series, Fiction and Best Writing, Web Program or Series, My Dead Mom
Andrew Nicholas McCann Smith (BA ’06) for Best Web Program or Series, Fiction, Stories from my Gay Grandparents
Mark Kenneth Woods (MA ’03) for Best Web Program or Series, Non-Fiction, Pride: The LGBTQ+ History Series
Katelyn McCulloch (BFA ’11) for Best Direction, Web Program or Series and Best Writing, Web Program or Series, Everybody's Meg
Sarah Peterson (BFA ’14) for Best Writing, Web Program or Series, About That with Andrew Chang
