Matt Johnson’s high school shooting drama The Dirties will lead the way at the upcoming Vancouver Film Critics Circle Awards with five nominations.

Johnson’s debut film, which will also contend at the Toronto Film Critics Association awards in the best Canadian feature competition, will vie in the same category in Vancouver, as well as the best first film competition by a Canadian director.

Johnson also received nods for best director and best actor in a Canadian film.

Toronto critics will also give Johnson the Jay Scott Award for best emerging artist, and The Dirties earlier won the best narrative feature and the Spirit of Slamdance awards after premiering at Slamdance.

The Dirties will compete against Louise Archambault’s Gabrielle and Jennifer Baichwal and Edward Burtynsky’s Watermark for best Canadian film.

And Johnson is joined by Archambault and Rhymes for Young Ghouls director Jeff Barnaby in the best director competition, and will compete against Whitewash‘s Thomas Haden Church and The Dick Knost Show’s Tom Sholte for best actor.

Blood Pressure‘s Michelle Giroux, Picture Day’s Tatiana Maslany and Sarah Prefers to Run’s Sophie Desmarais will vie for the best actress crown.

Baichwal and Burtynsky’s Watermark will also contend for best Canadian documentary against Chelsea McMullan’s My Prairie Home and Charles Wilkinson’s Oil Sands Karaoke.

The VFCC prizes will be handed out on January 7 in Vancouver.