Critic’s Choice 

Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale picked up a trio of trophies at the Critic’s Choice Awards on Jan. 11, extending its awards season streak. The Toronto-shot series, produced in Canada by Take 5 Productions and Whizbang Pictures for MGM Studios, won best drama series, as well as two acting wins for star Elisabeth Moss and supporting actress Ann Dowd. Earlier this week, the Margaret Atwood adaptation won best drama at the Golden Globes. The Critic’s Choice awards also feted Big Little Lies, directed by Quebec’s Jean-Marc Vallée. The HBO drama won four awards, including best limited series and best actress in a limited series for Nicole Kidman. Guillermo del Toro’s Toronto-shot The Shape of Water won best picture and best director.

Director’s Guild TV Awards 

While his show has picked up a slew of awards already this year, Big Little Lies director Vallée was specifically recognized for his work behind the camera by the the Director’s Guild of America. He picked up his first DGA nomination for best director of movies for TV and miniseries (he also picked up the limited series Emmy in September). Meanwhile, Toronto’s own Jeremy Podeswa received a nomination for outstanding directorial achievement in a dramatic series for his work on the Game of Thrones’ episode “The Dragon and the Wolf.”  Another series scoring a DGA nom is CBC’s Anne. New Zealand’s Niki Caro got a nod for directing the episode “Your Will Shall Decide Your Destiny.”

Alliance of Women Film Journalists 

The Alliance of Women Film Journalists (AWFJ) announced their 2017 winners on Jan. 9, with The Breadwinner picking up a special Female Focus Award. The animated film, produced by Toronto’s Aircraft Pictures, Ireland’s Cartoon Saloon and Luxembourg’s Melusine Productions, won the best animated female for its character Parvana, voiced by Canadian actress Saara Chaudry.  The film follows Parvana, a young girl living in Afghanistan who disguises herself as a boy to become her family’s primary earner.