Ontario nominees to root for at this year's Oscars

The 98th Academy Awards will roll out the red carpet on Sunday, March 15, and several Ontario nominees have the chance to make their mark on Hollywood's biggest night.

Canadians have had a significant history with the Oscars since the annual award show began in 1929, and many legendary talents like James Cameron and Christopher Plummer have picked up the revered golden statues over the decades of cinema history, along with other big-name nominees like actors Dan Aykroyd and Ryan Gosling, screenwriters Celine Song and Sarah Polley, and composer Howard Shore.

This year is no exception, with numerous Ontario-born creatives up for prestigious awards on Sunday.

Maggie Kang

Toronto's Maggie Kang co-wrote and co-directed KPop Demon Hunters, Netflix's most-viewed film in history, earning a nomination for Best Animated Feature and becoming the first Korean animated film to contend for an Oscar.

Kang is a former Sheridan College student in Oakville, alongside fellow Oscar nominee Domee Shi.

Domee Shi

Shi is also competing in the Best Animated Feature category for Disney-Pixar's Elio, which she co-wrote and co-directed.

You may be familiar with Shi's game, as the animator already proudly displays an Oscar at home after winning Best Animated Short in 2018 for the film Bao. She earned her second nomination in 2023 for the animated feature film Turning Red. 

J. Miles Dale

Guillermo del Toro's Netflix film Frankenstein is up for Best Picture, with Toronto-born producer J. Miles Dale among the nominees.  Much of the film was shot in Toronto and nearby areas, and del Toro has made around half of his 30-year career's films in the city, including Pacific Rim, Crimson Peak, and the Oscar-winning best picture The Shape of Water.

Frankenstein earned a total of nine nominations this year. Toronto's Jordan Samuel and Cliona Furey received Best Makeup and Hairstyling nominations for their work on the gothic horror/drama.

Tamara Deverell and Shane Vieau

Toronto-based production designer Tamara Deverell earned a nod alongside Canadian set decorator Shane Vieau for their work on the film. Deverell was also nominated back in 2021 for her production design on del Toro's Nightmare Alley. 

Vieau, an industry veteran for over 25 years, has worked with acclaimed directors including Tim Burton and Canada's very own Denis Villeneuve. Vieau has been nominated for four Oscars throughout his career, winning Best Production Design for The Shape of Water in 2018.

At this year's Oscars, a total of 10 Canadians are up for awards, coming close to 2016 when more than a dozen artists — including The Weeknd, Rachel McAdams, and Emma Donoghue — received nominations across nine different categories.

The 98th Academy Awards will take place in Los Angeles on Sunday, March 15, and will be hosted by Conan O'Brien.