The Donald Trump biopic “The Apprentice,” a movie about Trump’s early days, took home the big prize – Best Motion Picture – at the Canadian Screen Awards on June 1, 2025. This film is a joint effort by Canada, Ireland, and Denmark. It tells the story of Trump’s start in real estate and his relationship with Roy Cohn, the controversial lawyer who mentored him.
Toronto’s Daniel Bekerman produced “The Apprentice,” which ended up winning a total of five awards. Sebastian Stan snagged Best Lead Performance in a Drama for playing Trump. Additionally, Jeremy Strong won Best Supporting Performance in a Drama for his portrayal of Cohn. The film also got awards for its makeup and hair.
In his acceptance speech, Bekerman talked about the sometimes-difficult relationship between the U.S. and Canada. He said, “Our movie shows how the young Donald Trump got rich and powerful by finding a run-down building and slapping his name on it. As president, he’s doing the same thing with the economy—but now he wants to slap his name on this country.”
Even before it came out, “The Apprentice” faced some hurdles. Trump’s lawyers tried to stop it from being released, calling it “election interference by Hollywood elites.” Despite all that, the film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2024. It was a hit with critics and got a standing ovation that lasted eight minutes.
Other winners at the Canadian Screen Awards included “Universal Language,” which won six awards. “Canada’s Drag Race” led the TV categories with eight wins.
You can find a complete list of winners and more info on the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television website.
