Leo Awards

History and purpose

The Leo Awards were established in 1999 with the founding mission of providing support and recognition for professionals working in British Columbia's film and television industry. The awards were created by the Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Foundation of British Columbia to fill a specific need for a provincial honour that celebrated local talent and production. The event is held annually, traditionally in May or June, though recent ceremonies like the 2026 edition have taken place in early July. In 2005, the organizers expanded the event's scope by adding the Leo Awards Film Festival, which presents the best film and television productions honoured at the awards to a wider audience. This addition created a more comprehensive celebration, allowing the public and industry members to engage with the nominated works beyond the ceremony itself.

Award structure and categories

The Leo Awards honour programs and craft disciplines for works completed in the prior calendar year. Each annual cycle involves a rigorous judging process, with the 2026 edition adjudicating over 1500 eligible entries across 19 different program categories. The awards are presented across multiple evenings, with the 2026 ceremonies held on two consecutive nights at the Hyatt Regency in Vancouver. Categories span the full breadth of screen production, from major feature films to student works and digital series. The awards recognize both creative and technical excellence, ensuring that contributions from all facets of production are celebrated. The extensive list of award categories includes several major groupings, with awards presented for completed programs as well as for specific craft disciplines within those programs.

• Program categories: Motion Picture, Television Movie, Short Drama, Dramatic Series, Feature Length Documentary, Short Documentary Program, Documentary Series, Information, Lifestyle or Reality Series, Music, Comedy or Variety Program Series, Animation Program, Animation Series, Youth or Children's Series, and Web Series.
• Craft and performance categories: Best Direction, Best Screenwriting, Best Cinematography, Best Picture Editing, Best Musical Score, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, Best Make-Up, Best Casting, Best Visual Effects, Best Stunt Coordination, Best Stunt Performance, Best Sound, Best Hairstyling, Best Choreography, Best Art Direction, Best Voice Performance, Best Performance, and Youth Performance.
• Special categories: Music Video and Student Production.

The Leo Awards program features a comprehensive structure of categories. This structure ensures excellence in mainstream productions receives appropriate recognition. It also ensures that excellence in niche genres receives appropriate recognition from the industry. The awards honour programs and crafts in a variety of categories. These categories include motion picture, television movie, short drama, documentary, animation, and web series. The awards also recognize specific craft disciplines such as direction, cinematography, and performance.

The Outstanding Achievement Award

Alongside the competitive categories, the Leo Awards present a special honour called the Outstanding Achievement Award. This award recognizes significant contributions to the British Columbia film and television industry in two distinct categories: Individual and Group, Company or Association. It is reserved for those who have made a substantive difference through sustained commitment and impact on the province's screen sector. The award is not given annually but is presented when the foundation identifies a worthy recipient whose work aligns with the award's lofty criteria. The selection process involves careful consideration by the Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Foundation of British Columbia. In 2026, the Outstanding Achievement Award was presented to Capilano University's School of Motion Picture Arts (SMPA). The award recognized the school's longstanding contribution to film and television education and its role in preparing generations of industry professionals since its founding in 1973.

The award was presented during the 2026 ceremony by presenting sponsor RBC, with remarks from Capilano University alumna Gigi Saul Guerrero. School chair Michael Thoma accepted the honour on behalf of the university, noting the pride in seeing the school recognized as a valued part of the provincial film community. The award highlighted SMPA's location in the state-of-the-art Nat and Flora Bosa Centre for Film and Animation in North Vancouver and its hands-on, industry-focused programs. According to the Leo Awards website, the school received the award for its contribution to education and its role in preparing industry professionals, which was reflected in the many alumni winners that same year.

The 2026 ceremony and notable wins

The 2026 Leo Awards exemplified the event's scale and its deep connection to British Columbia's educational and professional film community. The ceremonies were held on July 4 and 5 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Vancouver. The event highlighted the success of Capilano University's School of Motion Picture Arts, not only through its Outstanding Achievement Award but also through the numerous wins and nominations for its alumni and faculty. Over 60 Capilano University alumni received nominations, with more than a dozen securing wins across various categories. This demonstrated the school's effective role as a pipeline for talent into the provincial industry. The breadth of categories won by the Capilano University community in 2026 illustrates the diverse career paths its graduates pursue.

Winners spanned technical, creative and production roles, reflecting a comprehensive film education. Nach Dudsdeemaytha won Best Picture Editing in a Motion Picture for Akashi. Matthew Rogers won Best Musical Score in both a Motion Picture (Worldbreaker) and a Television Movie (How to Lose a Popularity Contest). Josh Hauca and Dan Clarke, with Colin Matthews, won Best Short Drama as producers of Never Use Alone. Conor Gleeson, with Joseph Boutilier, won Best Picture Editing in a Short Documentary for The Sound of a Pandemic. Hunter Wood won Best Cinematography in a Documentary Series for The Last Captains-All In, All Out. Faculty member Lisa Kolisnyk, recently retired, won Best Sound in a Feature Length Documentary for In the Room. Other notable alumni wins included Kevin Phibbs for Best Art Direction in an Animation Program for After Us, and Alex Gullason for Best Performance in a Web Series for The Dressing Room Season 2. The depth of these achievements confirmed the awards' function as a barometer for industry talent nurtured within the province.

Venue and event format

The Leo Awards ceremonies are major social and professional events within the British Columbia film industry calendar. For the 2026 edition, the events were hosted live at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Vancouver on two consecutive nights. This two-night format allows for the presentation of awards across the many categories without an overly lengthy single ceremony. The specific awards handed out on each evening are detailed in the annual 'Awards by Evening' schedule published by the organizers. The events typically include red carpet arrivals, media coverage, and post-ceremony receptions, fostering networking and celebration among peers. The 2026 awards featured red carpet coverage by outlets like The Permanent Rain Press, highlighting attendees such as actors Christian Convery, Mayumi Yoshida and Nat Boltt.

The inclusion of a film festival component, added in 2005, extends the event's cultural impact beyond the awards gala itself. By screening nominated works, the festival provides a public-facing element that promotes British Columbia productions to a wider audience. The combination of competitive awards, special honours, industry networking and public screenings makes the Leo Awards a comprehensive institution dedicated to the province's screen sector. This format supports the industry by celebrating current work and inspiring future productions through visible recognition and community gathering.

Role in the British Columbia industry

The Leo Awards are a central institution in the ecosystem of British Columbia's film and television industry, which is one of the largest production centres in Canada. By specifically honouring work produced within the province, the awards create a focused platform for local talent that might otherwise be overshadowed in national or international competitions. This recognition is important for career advancement, project funding and attracting further production to the region. The awards validate the quality of work being done in British Columbia, reinforcing its reputation as a centre for excellence in filmmaking. The awards also strengthen community ties by bringing together professionals from all disciplines. The ceremonies and associated events act as an annual gathering point for writers, directors, producers, performers and technicians.

The special Outstanding Achievement Award further cements this community focus by honouring institutions, like Capilano University in 2026, that form the foundation of the industry's talent pipeline. As noted by school chair Michael Thoma in 2026, the awards inspire the community by highlighting the collective achievement of students, alumni and faculty. The Leo Awards thus function not only as a competition but as a celebration of a collaborative and thriving creative industry, directly supporting the sector's growth and cohesion through annual recognition. The event's design, from the film festival to the multi-night gala, is structured to maximize this community benefit and industry support.

Questions about Leo Awards

What are the Leo Awards?

The Leo Awards are the awards program for the British Columbia film and television industry. They were founded by the Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Foundation of British Columbia in 1999. The awards celebrate and support the achievements of British Columbia's film and television talent. They honour programs and crafts in a variety of categories including motion picture, television movie, short drama, documentary series, and animation.

When and where are the Leo Awards held?

The Leo Awards are held each May or June in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. For example, the 2026 awards events took place at the Hyatt Regency in Vancouver on July 4 and 5. The ceremony is hosted live over multiple evenings. Awards are presented on these evenings to recognize achievements from the prior calendar year.

Who won the Outstanding Achievement Award in 2026?

In 2026, the Leo Awards Outstanding Achievement Award was presented to Capilano University's School of Motion Picture Arts. This award recognizes groups, companies, associations or individuals that have made a significant impact on British Columbia's film and television industry. The school was honoured for its longstanding contribution to film education and for preparing generations of industry professionals since 1973. The award was accepted by school chair Michael Thoma, with remarks from alumna Gigi Saul Guerrero.

How many entries are judged for the Leo Awards?

The Leo Awards process a substantial number of entries each year. For the 2026 cycle, judges adjudicated over 1500 eligible entries submitted across 19 different program categories. This volume reflects the significant output of British Columbia's film and television production community and the competitive nature of the awards. Entries must be programs completed in the prior calendar year to be eligible for consideration.

Can student productions win Leo Awards?

Yes, student productions are eligible for Leo Awards. There is a dedicated category called Best Student Production. Students and recent graduates from film schools often compete and win in other mainstream categories. For instance, at the 2026 awards, Capilano University alumni won in categories including Best Picture Editing, Best Musical Score, Best Short Drama and Best Web Series, demonstrating that emerging talent is recognized alongside established professionals.

What is the Leo Awards Film Festival?

The Leo Awards Film Festival is a component of the overall Leo Awards event that was introduced in 2005. Its purpose is to present the best film and television productions that have been honoured at the awards ceremony to the public. By screening nominated and winning works, the festival extends the reach of the awards beyond the industry gala, allowing the public and wider creative community to engage with and appreciate the excellence being produced in British Columbia. This festival was added to show the best film and television productions honoured at the awards. It operates as part of the annual event held each May or June in Vancouver.

Sources and further reading

• Leo Awards (Wikipedia)
• 2026 Outstanding Achievement Award (leoawards.com)
• 2026: Capilano University honoured by Leo Awards for ... (capilanou.ca)

Checked by the Novello Desserts desk. Last updated 2026-10-29.