The Weeknd, Rachel McAdams receive Oscar nominations

More than dozen Canadians received Oscar nominations on Thursday in nine different categories.

Toronto-native the Weeknd had his song ‘Earned It,’ from the film ‘Fifty Shades of Grey,’ nominated for the best original song Oscar. Fellow Canadians Ahmad Balshe, Jason Daheala Quenneville and Stephan Moccio are also nominated alongside the chart-topping singer.

London, Ont.-born Rachel McAdams was nominated for a best supporting actress Oscar for her role in ‘Spotlight,’ and Irish-Canadian author Emma Donoghue has picked up a best adapted screenplay Oscar nomination for ‘Room.’

Donoghue’s book won the Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize and was a finalist for the Man Booker Prize and a Governor General’s Literary Award. The harrowing novel is about a young boy held captive in a shed with his mother. The child has no idea there’s a world outside that shed.

The film won the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it immediately began generating awards buzz.

Two Canadians have Oscar nominations this year for their documentary short films.

Pakistani-born Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, who became a Canadian citizen after moving to Toronto in 2004, is in the running for ‘A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness.’ She previously won the documentary short Oscar for ‘Saving Face’ in 2012.

Director Adam Benzine, who is based in Toronto, received his first nomination for ‘Claude Lanzmann: Spectres of the Shoah.’

Two Canadian co-productions, ‘Brooklyn’ and ‘Room,’ are among the eight films in the best picture category.

Several Canucks were recognized for their work on the dark drama ‘The Revenant,’ which was partially shot in Alberta and British Columbia and picked up a leading 12 nominations.

British Columbia is represented by Chris Duesterdiek, up for sound mixing, Cameron Waldbauer, named in the best visual effects category, and set decorator Hamish Purdy, who got a production design nod.

Edmonton-born Robert Pandini received a nomination in the makeup and hairstyling category.

Canadian Paul Massey is also up for a best sound mixing Oscar for his work on ‘The Martian,’ along with co-nominees Mark Taylor and Mac Ruth.

Click here for the full list of Oscar nominations.

The brutal frontier saga ‘The Revenant’ leads the 88th annual Academy Awards with 12 nominations, while the acting categories were again filled entirely by white performers. The strong showing for ‘The Revenant,’ including a best actor nod for Leonardo DiCaprio, follows its win at the Golden Globes.

It sets director Alejandro Inarritu for a possible back-to-back win following his best-picture winning ‘Birdman’ last year.

George Miller’s ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ followed with 10 nominations, including best picture. Ridley Scott’s sci-fi epic ‘The Martian’ landed seven nominations, including best picture, but no best director nod for Scott.

The other five movies nominated for best picture include ‘Room,’ ‘Spotlight,’ ‘Bridge of Spies,’  ‘The Big Short’ and ‘Brooklyn.’

Left on the outside were the acclaimed lesbian romance ‘Carol’ and the N.W.A biopic ‘Straight Outta Compton.’

The acting nominees notably omitted Idris Elba for ‘Beasts of No Nation’ and Benicio Del Toro for ‘Sicario,’ giving the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences an awkward repeat of the “OscarsSoWhite” backlash that followed last year’s acting nominees.

Alongside DiCaprio, the nominees for best actor are Matt Damon for ‘The Martian,’ Michael Fassbender for ‘Steve Jobs,’ Eddie Redmayne for ‘The Danish Girl’ and Bryan Cranston for ‘Trumbo.’

The best actress field is led by favourite Brie Larson for ‘Room,’ along with Jennifer Lawrence for ‘Joy,’ Cate Blanchett for ‘Carol,’ Saoirse Ronan for ‘Brooklyn’ and Charlotte Rampling for ’45 Years.’