Toronto filmmakers Sarah Polley and Domee Shi are among the Canadians competing in the top categories at this year’s Academy Awards.

Polley’s “Women Talking” receiveda best picture Oscar nomination as well as an adapted screenplay nod.

The movie is based on Manitoba author Miriam Toews’ 2018 novel of the same name. It’s about a group of women who gather in a barn to discuss what steps to take after a series of sexual assaults shocks their remote Mennonite community.

“Women Talking” is competing for the coveted top prize against nine other films including “Avatar: The Way of Water,” from Ontario-raised filmmaker James Cameron.

Meanwhile, Shi’s “Turning Red” was nominated in the best animated feature category. The film follows the story of Meilin “Mei” Lee, a 13-year-old girl living in Toronto who discovers she has the ability to turn into a giant red panda.

Among the other Canadian projects that received mentions Tuesday are the animated short “The Flying Sailor,” made by Calgary-based Wendy Tilby and Amanda Forbis.

Competing in the best animated short category, the film is inspired by a maritime tale about a seaman who was blasted into the air after two ships collided in the Halifax harbour during the First World War.

Meanwhile American-Canadian actor Brendan Fraser continues to collect praise for his performance in Darren Aronofsky’s “The Whale.”

Fraser, who went to high school in Toronto but was born in the United States to Canadian parents, is nominated for best actor for his turn as a reclusive English teacher living with obesity who attempts to reconnect with his estranged daughter.

The annual film awards celebrate their 95th anniversary this year, and winners will be announced during a ceremony hosted by Jimmy Kimmel at on Sunday, March 12.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 24, 2023.

The Canadian Press