Deepa Mehta’s feature film Funny Boy and Simon Barry-created series Warrior Nun (pictured) were among the big winners at the 2021 Leo Awards, which was held virtually over the course of three nights this week. 

Funny Boy won the best feature category ahead of All-In Madonna, Monkey Beach, River Road, The Right One, They Who Surround Us and Brother, I Cry at the annual celebration of B.C.’s film, TV and web media.

Writer-director Jessie Anthony picked up a pair of big awards for her debut film Brother, I Cry. The filmmaker won both best direction in a motion picture and best screenwriting in a motion picture for her work on the film about a First Nations man struggling to overcome addiction and avoid the multiple warrants out on him.

Warrior Nun was named best dramatic series ahead of Riverdale and The Order. Barry also won the prize for best direction in a dramatic series for the Warrior Nun episode “Revelation 2:10.”

Haida Modern, directed by Charles Wilkinson, won best feature-length documentary, while Search and Rescue: North Shore claimed the prize for best documentary series. Both projects are original commissions from Knowledge Network. Listening to Orcas won best short documentary and Get Lost in Colombia won best information, lifestyle or reality show.

Elsewhere on the TV side, Kim’s Convenience won the category for best music, comedy or variety, and 16 Hudson won the best youth or children’s program prize.

In the animated categories, WildBrain’s The Snoopy Show, an Apple TV+ original, won best animation series and Rag Doll was named best animation program. Narcoleap, produced by Vancouver-based KGP Films, won best web series.

Best lead actress in a motion picture went to Camille Sullivan for her performance in Hunter Hunter, while best lead actor in a motion picture went to Darren Mann for his role in Embattled.