Submissions for the 2020 ACTRA Awards are open! This year, there is a single category – Outstanding Performance – for which up to four awards will be given. To be eligible, a performer must be an ACTRA Maritimes member in a production first shown publicly anywhere in the world between January 1 and December 31, 2020. The submission deadline for the 2020 ACTRA Awards is June 30, 2021. The awards will be presented at the Screen Nova Scotia Awards later this year.

The classifications for the awards (outstanding performance, etc.) may change, subject to a vote by Council.

Performances for consideration must be from productions which have been publicly exhibited (i.e. broadcast, theatrical release, film festival screening, streaming service) for the first time, within the calendar year under consideration. Performances must be under ACTRA contract. Productions must take place under the jurisdiction of ACTRA Maritimes.

Submissions for award consideration may be made by any ACTRA Maritimes member in good standing, or by a Producer of an eligible production. Producers shall make available to the Jury screeners of the productions.

The Chair of the Awards Committee will, in consultation with the Branch Rep, choose a jury of 3-5 ACTRA Maritimes members in good standing. Other members should not be consulted in jury selection to avoid conflicts of interest. Jury members should have at least 5 years of professional experience, and a minimum of 4 “Actor” or “Principal” credits. No actor whose performance is submitted for consideration may be a Jury member. All Jurors must agree to view all of the submitted performances.

If a performance by the Chair of the Awards Committee is submitted for consideration, they shall:

Recuse themselves from their duties, subject to approval by the Council President, and the availability of another Council member to take over their duties, or

Have the Branch Rep strike their name from consideration, and continue with their duties.

Jury members shall not be informed which other members comprise the Jury. The Chair of the Awards Committee and Branch Rep may not discuss specific performances with Jury members.

After watching all the submitted performances, Jury members shall submit to the Branch Rep ratings for each performance on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the highest rating. The Branch Rep will tally scores for each performance, and the top-scoring four in each category will compose the short list, or “nominees”. If 4 or less performances are submitted in a category, the Jury is not required to declare all of them “nominees”, subject to their judgement.

Jury members will then rate the short-listed performances on a 1-4 scale, 1 being the highest. The performance with the lowest aggregate score is the award recipient.

In the event of a tie, the award will go to the nominee with the highest aggregate score from the first round of voting. If this still results in a tie, the Branch Rep will convene a meeting of the Jury, to discuss the performances in question, and vote between the two. If the Jury is deadlocked and cannot choose a winner, the Chair of the Awards Committee shall, after watching the performances in question, cast the deciding vote.

In the event a nominated performance is for some reason declared ineligible by the Awards Committee, it shall be replaced by the performance which received the next highest number of votes in nominations balloting.

Nominations are now open. Please click the Submit a Nomination tab above to submit your nomination. This year, there is a single category – Outstanding Performance – for which up to four awards will be given. To be eligible, a performer must be an ACTRA Maritimes member in a production first shown publicly anywhere in the world between January 1 and December 31, 2020.

The submission deadline for the 2020 ACTRA Awards is June 30, 2021. The awards will be presented at the Screen Nova Scotia Awards later this year.

The sixth annual Screen Nova Scotia Awards Gala took place virtually on December 4, 2020. ACTRA Awards presented at the gala recognize work completed by ACTRA Maritimes Members in 2019.

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Female Role
Vinessa Antoine – Diggstown
Mary Colin Chisholm – Always Going, Never Gone
Molly Dunsworth – Diggstown
Rena Kassatz – Surface Tension
Joanne Miller – Pure

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Male Role
Alister MacDonald – Stage Mother
Bob Mann – The Date
Taylor Olson – Bad Morning
Taylor Olson – Masc
Taylor Olson – You Too, Chuckles

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Female Role
Francine Deschepper – Diggstown
Gay Hauser – Diggstown
Jenny Raymond – Escaping NXIVM
Lenore Zann – Stage Mother
Genevieve Steele – Diggstown

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Male Role
Cory Bowles – Pure
Brian Downey – Pure
Calem MacDonald – Stage Mother
Sam Rosenthal – Escaping NXIVM
David Rossetti – Spinster

The fifth annual Screen Nova Scotia Awards Gala took place on May 3, 2019. ACTRA Awards presented at the gala recognize work completed by ACTRA Maritimes Members in 2018.

Pictured left to right: Bailey Maughan, Shelley Thompson and Kathryn MacLellan; Jordan Poole.

Outstanding Actor in a Leading Female Role
Francine Deschepper – Annie – Duck Duck Goose
Bette MacDonald – Trudy – Walsh Mr. D
Shelley Thompson – Nancy – Splinters

Outstanding Actor in a Leading Male Role
Callum Dunphy – Rob – Splinters
Bailey Maughan – Greg – Splinters
Jordan Poole – Greg – Creeped Out
T Thomason – Spenser – Halloween Party

Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Female Role
Francine Deschepper – Simi – Hopeless Romantic
Marietta Laan – Zoe – Halloween Party
Kathryn MacLellan – Catherine – Hopeless Romantic
Shelley Thompson – Barbara – Halloween Party

Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Male Role
Jeremy Ackerman – Father Gene – Forgive Me
Taylor Olson – Kevin – Hopeless Romantic
Jordan Poole – Luke – Birthmarked
Bill Wood – Frank – Mr. D

The fourth annual Screen Nova Scotia Awards Gala took place on May 16, 2018. ACTRA Awards presented at the gala recognize work completed by ACTRA Maritimes Members in 2017.

Pictured Left to right: Jennie Raymond, Shelley Thompson and Simon Paul Mutuyimana with ACTRA Maritimes President Francine
Deschepper holding Emmanuel John’s Award on his behalf. Photo: Mike Thompkins

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Female Role
Joanne Miller – You Ruined Our Life – Vivian
Jennie Raymond – Sex & Violence – Roach
Jennie Raymond – Pearls – Miranda
Jackie Torrens – Sex & Violence – Drucie MacKay

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Male Role
Simon Paul Mutuyimana – Thug – Simon
Taylor Olson – CUT – Tommy
Alexander Purdy – Sex & Violence – Zach
Rob Wells – TPB Season 11 – Ricky

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Female Role
Koumbie – Sex & Violence – Aria
Bette MacDonald – Mr. D – Trudy Walsh
Lesley Smith – The Child Remains – Faith
Shelley Thompson – The Child Remains – Monica

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Male Role
John Dunsworth – TPB Season 11 – Mr. Leahey
Pasha Ebrahimi – Sex & Violence – Padraig O’Carroll
Emmanuel John – Thug – Eman
Gharrett Patrick Paon – Sex & Violence – Crawford

The third annual Screen Nova Scotia Awards Gala took place on May 4, 2017. ACTRA Awards presented at the gala recognize work completed by ACTRA Maritimes Members in 2016.

Pictured left to right: Molly Dunsworth, Bette MacDonald, Mary-Colin Chisholm, Francine Deschepper and Jeremy Webb.

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Nathan D. Simmons – Hustle & Heart

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Molly Dunsworth – Ingrid & the Black Hole

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading or Featured Role
Mike McLeod –Forgive Me: Web Confessions

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading or Featured Role
Bette MacDonald – Mr. D

The second annual Screen Nova Scotia Awards Gala took place on May 7, 2016. ACTRA Awards presented at the gala recognize work completed by ACTRA Maritimes Members in 2015.

Pictured left to right: Jackie Torrens and Jennie Raymond. Photo: Mike Tompkins.

Outstanding Performance by a Female in a Leading Role
Jennie Raymond – Sex & Violence

Outstanding Performance by a Male in a Leading Role
Mike McLeod – Forgive Me

Outstanding Performance by a Female in a Supporting Role
Jackie Torrens – Across the Line

Outstanding Performance by a Male in a Supporting Role
Simon Paul Mutuyimana – Across the Line

In December 2015, Certificates of Achievement were also presented to the following youth members:

Certificate of Achievement for a Female Performer 15 and under
Kassidy Mattera– Mr. D

Certificate of Achievement for a Male Performer 15 and under
Jordan Poole – Mr. D

Certificate of Achievement for a Male Performer under 26
Simon Paul Mutuyimana – Mr. D

Certificate of Achievement for a Female Performer under 26
Rebecca Wolfe – Mr. D

The inaugural Screen Nova Scotia Awards Gala took place on May 2, 2015. ACTRA Awards presented at the gala recognize work completed by ACTRA Maritimes Members in 2014.

Pictured left to right: Carol Sinclair; Jonathan Torrens; Mary-Colin Chisholm; nominee Pasha Ebrahimi and winner Michael McLeod.

Outstanding Performance by a Female in a Leading Role
Mary-Colin Chisholm – Cast No Shadow

Outstanding Performance by a Male in a Leading Role
Mike McLeod – Forgive Me

Outstanding Performance by a Female in a Supporting Role
Carol Sinclair – Sex & Violence

Outstanding Performance by a Male in a Supporting Role
Jonathan Torrens – Mr. D

The 2013 ACTRA Maritimes Awards were held on October 5, 2013, at the Maritime Museum of The Atlantic.

Pictured left to right: John Dunsworth, Shelley Thompson, Thom Fitzgerald (accepting for Jane Alexander) and Christopher Shore.
Photo: Samson.

Outstanding Performance by a Female in TV or feature
Jane Alexander – Forgive Me

Outstanding Performance by a Male in TV or feature
John Dunsworth – Forgive Me

Outstanding Performance by a Female in a short film
Shelley Thompson – Two Penny Road Kill

Outstanding Performance by a Male in a short film
Chris Shore – The Long and Short of Barry Small

The 2012 ACTRA Maritimes Awards were presented on December 2 at the ACTRA Maritimes annual holiday party.

ACTRA Maritimes President Sherry Smith with award winners Rhys Bevan-John, Deborah Allen and ACTRA Maritimes, VP Geneviève Steele. Photo: Chris Cuthbertson

Outstanding Performance by a Female
Deb Allen – Bag of Bones

Outstanding Performance by a Male
Rhys Bevan – John for Roaming