Realscreen has unveiled its 2012 Factual Entertainment Awards shortlist, with a strong field of Canadian contenders.

Cineflix’s Dinner Party Wars, which airs on Food Network Canada, was shortlisted in the competition – lifestyle category, up against U.S. heavy-hitters Project Runway and Top Chef.

Canada Sings, from Insight Production Company and airing on Global TV, made the cut in the competition – talent/studio-based category.

And the Shaftesbury Films food series From Spain with Love: with Annie Sibonney will compete in the lifestyle – food category.

Property Brothers, another reality series from Cineflix Media, and Princess from Winnipeg-based Frantic Films will compete with Leftfield Pictures’ American Restoration in the lifestyle – home programming category.

Elsewhere in the competition, Yonge Street – Rock and Roll Series, produced by David Brady Productions was shortlisted in the best archive non-fiction group. The Bruce McDonald-directed doc aired on Bravo last year.

And Arab Rap, produced by Montreal-based Orbi-XXI Productions, and The Great Escape: Secrets Revealed, produced by Entertainment One Television and Wildfire Television, were named in the best one-off non-fiction category.

The Factual Entertainment Awards recognize the best in factual entertainment programming around the world, and will be presented at Realscreen West in Santa Monica on May 30.