Screen adaptions of two real-life stories from New Brunswick are in competition for Canadian screenwriting awards.

Still Mine, Michael McGowan’s feature film adaptation of a real-life story about a New Brunswick man who runs afoul of a building inspector when he tries to build a house for his disabled wife, is based on a real-life case of a 91-year-old man from near St. Martin’s.

Still Mine is set for release May 3 in Canada and has also won a U.S. distribution deal.

CBC mini-series The Phantoms, written by Andrew Wreggitt, about a school basketball team that rebounded to win a provincial championship following a tragedy, is based on the Bathurst High School tragedy that saw seven players and the coach’s wife killed in an accident.

The Writers Guild of Canada released its nominations for screenwriting on Thursday.

Also nominated in the category for movies and mini-series are coming-of-age tale Picture Day, by Kate Melville and crime drama The Samaritan, written by Elan Mastai and David Weaver.

CBC’s Heartland earned two nominations in the TV drama category for episodes written by Leila Basen and Heather Conkie.

The other TV drama nominees:

  • Bomb Girls “Jumping Tracks,” written by Michael MacLennan.
  • Continuum “End Times,” written by Simon Barry.
  • The L.A. Complex “Down in L.A.” written by Martin Gero.
  • Saving Hope “Bea, Again,” written by Esta Spalding

Less Than Kind, the show about a dysfunctional family who run a Winnipeg driving school, dominated the comedy category with three nominations. Todd & the Book of Pure Evil was also recognized in the same category.

Nominees in animation:

  • Johnny Test “Johnny vs. The Tickler,” written by John Derevlany.
  • League of Super Evil “Kinderprison,” written by Phil Ivanusic-Vallee and Davila LeBlanc.
  • Scaredy Squirrel “Grand Ole Grocery,” written by Terry McGurrin.
  • Sidekick “I, Sidebot,” written by Dan Williams and Lienne Sawatsky.

Nominees for children’s programs:

  • Finding Stuff Out “Animals Big and Small,” written by Lisa Hunter.
  • How To Be Indie “How To Make a Christmas Miracle,” written by John May and Suzanne Bolch.
  • My Babysitter’s a Vampire “Independence Daze,” written by Simon Racioppa and Richard Elliott.
  • My Babysitter’s a Vampire “Hottie Ho-Tep,” written by Miles Smith.

A total of 37 screenwriters were nominated, from 145 entries.

The awards will be given out April 22 in Toronto at a gala hosted by Ryan Belleville.