Nominees for the 23rd Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) Toronto Awards have been revealed, and include two new on-camera categories and three lifetime membership awards.

New for the 2025 ceremony are on-camera categories for Non-Binary/Gender Non-conforming and Commercial performances.

“These new categories demonstrate the union’s commitment to inclusion and recognition of the resiliency of ACTRA commercial performers across the country, with a spotlight on those ACTRA Toronto performers who continue to bring excellence to Canadian commercial productions,” said ACTRA Toronto president Kate Ziegler in a release announcing the nominations.

Nominees for Outstanding Performance – Female at the show include Olunike Adeliyi (pictured) for her work in Village Keeper (Smallaxx Motion Pictures), Pegah Ghafoori for One Must Wash Eyes (Deh Deh Films), Grace Glowicki for her work in The Heirloom (Cheekdance Spectacular), Stefani Kimber for The Players (Hawkeye Pictures) and Bryn McAuley for Bibi’s Dog is Dead (Brick by Brick Films).

Recognized in the Outstanding Performance – Male category are Dan Beirne for Paying For It (Hawkeye Pictures, Wilding Pictures), Sergio Di Zio for his work in Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent (Cameron Pictures, Lark Productions), James Gilbert for DADA (Obvious Allegory, Still Moving Pictures), Daniel Gravelle for We Forgot To Break Up (Motel Pictures) and Rick Roberts for The Light Before the Sun (Blackbird Productions).

Nominees for the inaugural Outstanding Performance – Non-Binary/Gender Non-conforming category are Danya Chichagov for We Three Queens, (Tender Fruit Productions), Gabbi Kosmidis for Fellow Travelers (Blue Days Films, Off-Season Productions, Fremantle, Showtime Networks), Rabiya Mansoor for Bad Accountant (Cult Following Pictures, Window Dreams Productions), Billy Merasty for Aberdeen (Farpoint Films, Back to Space Productions) and Carter Trozzolo for My Old Ass (Amazon MGM Studios, Indian Paintbrush, A LuckyChap Production).

Up for the first Outstanding Performance – Commercial award are Bruce Horak for his work in the “Edwin A. Baker” Heritage Minute (Historica Canada, in conjunction with Scopitone Films), Tony A. Kim for Walmart Canada’s “Holiday Helpers” (Cossette Toronto), Brandon McKnight for his performance in Rogers’ “Wish You Were Here” (Publicis Toronto), Sally Nakazi in Staples Canada’s “Office Gifts” (MIJO/XR) and Nadine Whiteman for her work in Subway Canada’s “Holiday Festive Faves” (Dentsu).

Leesa Levinson, Eric Peterson and Jean Yoon will receive lifetime membership awards at this year’s ceremony. These honours are presented to individuals in recognition of their significant volunteer contributions to ACTRA Toronto and their ongoing work on behalf of its members.

The 23rd ACTRA Awards in Toronto will occur during an evening ceremony on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at Koerner Hall at the TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning.

Image courtesy of Smallaxx Motion Pictures