Wattpad WEBTOON Studios Celebrates Multiple Canadian Screen Award Nominations for Adaptations of “Boot Camp” and “Near or Far”
Both Wattpad adaptations received multiple nominations across five categories
LOS ANGELES - April 1, 2025 – Wattpad WEBTOON Studios, the fan-driven studio and IP business from WEBTOON Entertainment Inc., today announced five Canadian Screen Award nominations for recent projects, including original film “Boot Camp” and CBC Gem Original web series “Near or Far.” The nominations mark Wattpad WEBTOON Studios’ first recognition from the Canadian Screen Awards.
A film adaptation of Gina Musa’s hit 27 million-view Wattpad webnovel of the same name, “Boot Camp” premiered in August 2024. The film has been honored with three Canadian Screen Award nominations, including: “Best TV Movie,” “Best Writing, TV Movie,” and “Best Lead Performer, TV Movie” for star Rachel Boudwin.
About “Boot Camp”
“Boot Camp” follows bookworm Whitney (Boudwin) as she begins to fall for her off-limits personal trainer (“Riverdale’s” Drew Ray Tanner) after signing up for an intense summer boot camp to reinvent herself. A deepening connection inspires her to let go of the expectations of others and, instead, find the strength to embrace her true self.
The film was developed by Wattpad WEBTOON Studios in collaboration with GPM, December Films, Junction Hammer Productions and Channel Zero Studios. The film is directed by Mackenzie Munro (“Salvation”), with a script penned by Gemma Holdway (“Cardinal,” “The Murders”). “Boot Camp” was executive produced for Wattpad WEBTOON Studios by Aron Levitz, David Madden and Lindsey Weems Ramey. Lindsay Macadam produced for GPM, with David Way and Wendy McKernan serving as executive producers for the company. Todd Berger and Julie DiCresce are executive producing for December Films and Jennifer Chen and Sabrina Spence are executive producing for Junction Hammer Productions.
Family drama “Near or Far,” developed by Wattpad WEBTOON Studios in partnership with CBC as a CBC Gem Original, is based on the original Wattpad story by author Emma Szalai. The series has been nominated for two Canadian Screen Awards, including: “Best Direction, Web Program or Series” (“Return to the Mean,” Harlow Creative, Vanessa Magic) and “Best Writing, Web Program or Series” (“Home for the Holidays,” Harlow Creative, Duana Taha).
About “Near or Far”
Family drama “Near or Far” is an 8x12 minute web series that tells the story of teenage twin sisters – played by Fanar Zak (“Rabbit Hole”) and Chloe Avakian (“Locke & Key”) – from an immigrant family whose tight bond begins to unravel as they venture down opposite paths.
A CBC Gem original series, “Near or Far” is co-created by Emma Szalai and Duana Taha in association with Wattpad WEBTOON Studios and Harlow Creative. Taha serves as the series showrunner and executive producer and is also director alongside creative producer Vanessa Magic. Executive producers include Taha in addition to Caitlin Brown and Wattpad WEBTOON Studios’ Aron Levitz, David Madden, and Sera Tabb. Michael Bawcutt is co-executive producer and Angelica Mendizabal is co-producer. “Near or Far” was first announced as in development in 2021 as part of the CBC and Wattpad WEBTOON Studios partnership for emerging Canadian writers to create content for CBC Gem.
“We are honored and grateful to see these incredible stories recognized by the Canadian Screen Awards with multiple nominations,” said Aron Levitz, President of Wattpad WEBTOON Studios and Co-President, Wattpad. “This recognition not only speaks to the talent of the teams behind each project, but also to the creativity of Wattpad authors Gina Musa and Emma Szalai, and the fans who love these stories and have supported them across multiple formats.”
Wattpad WEBTOON Studios is bringing some of the biggest names and titles in webcomics and webnovels to film and TV screens all over the world with some of the most exciting names in entertainment. Upcoming projects include the 1.7 billion-read sensation “Lore Olympus” with The Jim Henson Company; “Stagtown” with LuckyChap; “Death of a Pop Star” with Oscar winner Diablo Cody and Oscar-nominated producer Mason Novick; “HAWK” with MCU screenwriter Christopher Yost based on the popular sci-fi Wattpad webnovel; T.L. Bodine’s supernatural thriller “The Hound,” adapted by screenwriter Angela LaManna (Netflix's “The Haunting of Bly Manor”); “Freaking Romance” with Skybound Entertainment and much more.