Young BC Film actors and filmmakers are finding work and kicking ass, judging from the recent crop of Leo Awards nominees and winners.
For once Richard Harmon didn’t win a Leo at the 16th annual Leo Awards but this 22-year-old is everywhere, playing future “terrorist” Julian/Theseus on Continuum, revenge-killer Murphy on The 100 and starring as the blind runner in the Harmon family-produced Best Motion Picture nominee If I Had Wings. He also took time out to play a parent-killer in motion picture Cruel & Unusual and has past stints as rich, sleazy boyfriends on Bates Motel and The Killing. Sensing a pattern? This nice guy excels at playing creepy psychos. Here he is on stage at the Leo Awards Gala with his sister Jessica Harmon, who was nominated for her supporting performance in the family film.
But it was their If I Had Wings co-star 25-year-old Jaren Brandt Bartlett (Alex on Blackstone, Nelson on Arctic Air) who won the Leo for his lead performance as Brad Coleman in the movie while 22-year-old Genevieve Buechner (Caprica) was nominated for her supporting performance in the film.
20-year-old Paloma Kwiatkowski (Bates Motel’s Cody, who memorably seduced Norman in her tree house) was up for a Leo for her lead performance as Sammie in the motion picture Sitting on the Edge of Marlene.
Paloma Kwiatkowski and her Sitting on the Edge of Marlene co-star Dakota Daulby (Falling Skies).
Kat de Lieva (Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn) was nominated for her lead performance in horror thriller Evangeline.
Dylan Playfair ( Knox on sitcom Some Assembly Required) won the Leo for his supporting performance as Marty Howe in the TV movie Mr. Hockey: The Gordie Howe Story.
Keenan Tracey (Bates Motel’s Gunner, who was Emma’s first) was nominated for his best supporting performance on TV movie The Hunters. He’s Ian Tracey’s son.
Brett Dier was nominated for his guest performance on the Bomb Girls. He and Haley Lu Richardson co-star on ABC Family’s Ravenswood.
And these young BC filmmakers won the Leo for their student film Backward Fall (Andrew Pollins, Mackenzie Bowen, James C. Gill, Mitchell Allen – Producers).
Credit goes to The Permanent Rain Press for spotting and interviewing young BC Film talent on the red carpet.