Canadian hit 'Schitt's Creek' gets 15 Canadian Screen Award nods

FILE PHOTO: Dan Levy, Annie Murphy, Emily Hampshire, Catherine O'Hara and Eugene Levy (L to R), of CBC's "Schitt's Creek," arrive at the Canadian Screen Awards in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, March 11, 2018. REUTERS/Mark Blinch/File Photo

(This February 7 story has been refiled to drop reference to fifth season of "Schitt's Creek" in paragraph 3.)

TORONTO (Reuters) - Canadian comedy "Schitt's Creek" and drama "Anne with an E" led the nominations for the Canadian Screen Awards, grabbing 15 nods each on Thursday.

The awards, which will be broadcast on March 31, recognize achievements in Canadian film, TV and digital media, with 135 nominations this year.

FILE PHOTO: Actors Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara, of CBC's "Schitt's Creek," arrive at the Canadian Screen Awards in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, March 11, 2018. REUTERS/Mark Blinch/File Photo

The two Canadian Broadcasting Corporation shows have garnered a worldwide audience on Netflix, where "Schitt's Creek," a sleeper hit starring father and son duo Eugene and Daniel Levy as well as Catherine O'Hara, began airing last month.

All three are nominated for best lead actor in a comedy for the show about a suddenly impoverished family that is forced to move to a rural town they bought as a joke in richer times. The show also received nominations in the comedy and writing categories.

"Anne with an E," a period drama based on the early 20th century novel "Anne of Green Gables," was nominated for best drama series with its star Amybeth McNulty nominated as best actress in a drama.

FILE PHOTO: Actors Annie Murphy and Dan Levy, of CBC's "Schitt's Creek," arrive at the Canadian Screen Awards in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, March 11, 2018. REUTERS/Mark Blinch/File Photo

Films from Quebec took all five nominations for best motion picture, including "A Colony/Une Colonie," and "The Great Darkened Days/La Grande Noirceur."

"Animal Behaviour," a 2019 Oscar nominee for best animated short film, also got a nod for best animated short.

The nominees were announced Thursday by comedians Andrew Phung, star of the TV series "Kim's Convenience" and Aisha Alfa in Toronto.

FILE PHOTO: Actor Dany Levy, of CBC's "Schitt's Creek," arrives at the Canadian Screen Awards in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, March 11, 2018. REUTERS/Mark Blinch/File Photo

(Reporting by Tyler Choi, editing by G Crosse)