Writer, director and actor Paul Gross wades through a shell crater on the battlefield set of his film Passchendaele in 2007. (Canadian Press)

Paul Gross's Canadian war epic Passchendaele has received five nominations for the Directors Guild of Canada Awards, including best feature and best direction.

Gross wrote, directed and starred in the movie about the Canadian experience during the First World War.

Deepa Mehta's Heaven on Earth, Gary Yates's marijuana comedy High Life and Michael McGowan's road movie One Week also are nominated for best feature, the DGA said Tuesday.

Heaven on Earth, about an abused Indian bride living in Canada, also earned a nod for sound editing.

Gross is vying for the best director's honour with Kari Skogland for Fifty Dead Men Walking, Patricia Rozema for Kit Kittredge: An American Girl and McGowan for One Week.

Fifty Dead Men Walking, which just had its commercial release, is about a man recruited by the British to spy on the Irish Republican Army during the so-called Troubles in Northern Ireland.

Documentaries to be recognized include The Most Interesting Group of People You'll Ever Meet by John Houston, Air India 182 by Sturla Gunnarsson, Malls R Us by Helene Klodawsky and Prom Night in Mississippi by Paul Saltzman.

CBC's The Border has a total of four nominations in the television drama categories, including best drama.

Other CBC productions to get nominations include Little Mosque on the Prairie for best comedy, Booky's Crush for best family TV film and Heartland for best family series.

Murdoch Mysteries, Flashpoint and Capture of the Green River Killer also have multiple nominations.

The awards will be handed out Oct. 24 at a gala hosted by comedian Shaun Majumder in Toronto.