‘Book of Negroes,’ ‘Schitt’s Creek’ top early Canadian Screen Awards

TORONTO – “The Book of Negroes” and “Schitt’s Creek” head into this weekend’s Canadian Screen Awards poised to dominate the TV categories after collecting a leading trophy haul in a pre-bash ceremony.

CBC’s acclaimed miniseries “The Book of Negroes” collected nine trophies Wednesday including wins for lead actress Aunjanue Ellis, lead actor Lyriq Bent and supporting actress Shailyn Pierre-Dixon.

Other wins included best direction for Clement Virgo, best costume, best original score, and a writing award for Virgo and novelist Lawrence Hill, who adapted his own book.

On the comedy side, CBC’s “Schitt’s Creek” collected six wins including one for supporting actor Chris Elliott and supporting actress Emily Hampshire.

Space’s clone serial “Orphan Black” collected five wins, including best writing for a drama series, while MTV’s “Degrassi” earned four, including best youth fiction series.

The Canadian Screen Awards will hand out its marquee film and TV prizes during a televised gala Sunday, hosted by Norm Macdonald. It airs on CBC-TV.

The Canada-Ireland co-production “Room” leads the film contenders, with recent Oscar-winner Brie Larson and Vancouver’s nine-year-old Jacob Tremblay competing for the best actress and actor trophies.

London, Ont.-based novelist Emma Donoghue is up for best adapted screenplay for adapting her own novel of the same name, about a five-year-old boy who learns he’s spent his entire life in captivity.