Inaugural AACTA Awards, 2011
It’s been a year of constant change for the Australian Film Institute (AFI), with the launch of the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA), presided by actor Geoffrey Rush and an Honorary Council of industry professionals who will determine the Academy’s policies and strategies.
The AFI Awards were then officially re-named AACTA Awards and moved from their usual late November slot to the end of January, to coincide with the international awards season, somewhere between the Golden Globes and the Oscars. And after 10 years in Melbourne, the upcoming AACTA ceremony at the Sydney Opera House will be a much more glamorous and high profile event than previous editions. Rumour has it that it will be so big that the photos of the nominees will be projected onto the pylons of the Harbour Bridge.
‘It’s a strategy that makes the film and television industry more accessible to the audience. The public knows that film awards occur in January, February, so it’s a shift to something they understand,’ said AFI and AACTA CEO Damian Trewhella.
Former distribution executive and current Chair of the AFI Alan Finney added that although the Australian film industry ‘is often very cynical’, the response since the changes were announced had been generally positive.
“It’s the feedback I’ve recently received at the Asia Pacific Screen Academy (APSA) Awards, at the launch of the Giorgio Mangiamele book or this week’s NFSA Longford Lyell Lecture by Sigrid Thornton. The industry is behind the new branding; a key factor has been the support of people like Geoffrey Rush, who calls himself our ‘Prez’, Sigrid Thornton, David Hannay, and many other industry veterans as well as young people,” said Finney.
According to Finney, restructuring the AFI and the Awards is not a 12-month project, but a long-term investment in Australia’s industry and screen culture.
'There’s never been a more exciting time. There are more people out there trying to make Australian films than ever before – just look at how many short film festivals we have now. There are also more people watching drama and comedy on TV than ever before. We want to be part of these new exciting developments.’
A touch of irreverence
Writer/director (and AFI and Oscar winner) Adam Elliot hosted the nominations announcement, delivering one one-liner after another:
- ‘Thank you, your Majesty’ – to NSW Minister for the Arts George Souris, following his speech about the state’s film and TV industry.
- ‘A $40m Lego animated movie is to be made in NSW? Why am I playing with plasticine!?’
- ‘ Snowtown (2010), that wonderful children’s film […] Here’s an idea of a Snowtown-based tourism campaign: Come to Australia; it’s barrels of fun!’
- ‘ The Slap (2011) reminds me of my own childhood’
Damian Trewhella said Elliot’s participation in the nominations announcement was setting the tone for the AACTA Awards, but he did not reveal the name of the host of the ceremony. We’ll just have to be patient, but in the meantime, here’s the list of nominees:
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST YOUNG ACTOR
• Olivia DeJonge. Good Pretender.
• Emma Jefferson. My Place, Series 2 – Episode 17 ’1848 – Johanna’. ABC3
• Lara Robinson. Cloudstreet – Part 1. FOXTEL – Showcase
• Lucas Yeeda. Mad Bastards.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
• Cloudstreet. Scott Zero. FOXTEL – Showcase
• Legend Of The Guardians: The Owls Of Ga’Hoole. Grant Freckelton.
• Sanctum. David Booth, Peter Webb, Ineke Majoor, Glenn Melenhorst.
• The Hunter. Felix Crawshaw, James Rogers.
AACTA RAYMOND LONGFORD AWARD
• Don McAlpine
TELEVISION
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST CHILDREN’S TELEVISION SERIES
• a gURLs wURLd. Noel Price. Nine Network
• Gasp! Suzanne Ryan. Nine Network
• H2O: Just Add Water, Series 3. Jonathan M. Shiff. Network Ten
• My Place, Series 2. Penny Chapman. ABC3
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST TELEVISION COMEDY SERIES
• At Home With Julia. Rick Kalowski, Greg Quail, Carol Hughes. ABC1
• Laid. Liz Watts. ABC1
• twentysomething. Nicole Minchin. ABC2
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION SERIES
• The Gruen Transfer, Series 4. Andrew Denton, Anita Jacoby, Jon Casimir. ABC1
• Hungry Beast, Series 3. Andrew Denton, Anita Jacoby, Andy Nehl, Jon Casimir. ABC1
• Judith Lucy’s Spiritual Journey. Todd Abbott. ABC1
• Junior MasterChef, Series 1. Tara McWilliams. Network Ten
• RocKwiz. Brian Nankervis, Ken Connor, Peter Bain-Hogg, Joe Connor. SBS
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST TELEVISION DRAMA SERIES
• East West 101, Season 3 – The Heroes’ Journey. Steve Knapman, Kris Wyld. SBS
• Offspring, Season 2. John Edwards, Imogen Banks. Network Ten
• Rake. Ian Collie, Peter Duncan, Richard Roxburgh. ABC1
• Spirited, Season 2. Claudia Karvan, Jacquelin Perske. FOXTEL – W
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST TELEFEATURE, MINI SERIES OR SHORT RUN SERIES
• Cloudstreet. Greg Haddrick, Brenda Pam. FOXTEL – Showcase
• Paper Giants: The Birth Of Cleo. John Edwards, Karen Radzyner. ABC1
• Sisters Of War. Andrew Wiseman. ABC1
• The Slap. Tony Ayres, Helen Bowden, Michael McMahon. ABC1
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTION IN TELEVISION
• Paper Giants: The Birth Of Cleo – Episode 1. Daina Reid. ABC1
• The Slap – Episode 1 ‘Hector’. Jessica Hobbs. ABC1
• The Slap – Episode 3 ‘Harry’. Matthew Saville. ABC1
• Small Time Gangster – Episode 1 'Jingle Bells’. Jeffrey Walker. FOXTEL – Movie Network
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST SCREENPLAY IN TELEVISION
• Cloudstreet – Part 3. Tim Winton, Ellen Fontana. FOXTEL – Showcase
• Laid – Episode 3. Kirsty Fisher. ABC1
• The Slap – Episode 1 'Hector’. Kris Mrksa. ABC1
• The Slap – Episode 3 'Harry’. Brendan Cowell. ABC1
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A TELEVISION DRAMA
• Rob Carlton. Paper Giants: The Birth Of Cleo. ABC1
• Alex Dimitriades. The Slap. ABC1
• Don Hany. East West 101, Season 3 – The Heroes’ Journey. SBS
• Jonathan LaPaglia. The Slap. ABC1
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST LEAD ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION DRAMA
• Essie Davis. Cloudstreet. FOXTEL – Showcase
• Kerry Fox. Cloudstreet. FOXTEL – Showcase
• Asher Keddie. Paper Giants: The Birth Of Cleo. ABC1
• Sarah Snook. Sisters Of War. ABC1
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST GUEST OR SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A TELEVISION DRAMA
• Richard Cawthorne. Killing Time – Episode 2. FOXTEL – TV1
• Aaron Fa’aoso. East West 101, Season 3 – The Heroes’ Journey – Episode 18 'The Price Of Salvation’. SBS
• Jacek Koman. Spirited, Season 2 – Episode 2 'Time After Time’. FOXTEL – W
• Todd Lasance. Cloudstreet – Part 3. FOXTEL – Showcase
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST GUEST OR SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION DRAMA
• Diana Glenn. The Slap – Episode 3 'Harry’. ABC1
• Rena Owen. East West 101, Season 3 – The Heroes’ Journey – Episode 18 'The Price Of Salvation’. SBS
• Susie Porter. Sisters Of War. ABC1
• Lara Robinson. Cloudstreet – Part 1. FOXTEL – Showcase
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST PERFORMANCE IN A TELEVISION COMEDY
• Alison Bell. Laid. ABC1
• Jess Harris. twentysomething. ABC2
• Chris Lilley. Angry Boys. ABC1
• Celia Pacquola. Laid. ABC1
SHORT ANIMATION
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST SHORT ANIMATION
• Forget Me Not. Emily Dean.
• The Missing Key. Garth Nix, Anna McFarlane, Jonathan Nix.
• The Moment. Justin Wight, Kristian Moliere, Troy Bellchambers, Shane McNeil.
• Nullarbor. Alister Lockhart, Patrick Sarell, Katrina Mathers, Merrin Jensen, Daryl Munton.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST SHORT FICTION FILM
• Adam’s Tallit. Justin Olstein, Marie Maroun.
• Cropped. Bettina Hamilton, Dave Wade.
• The Palace. Kate Croser, Anthony Maras, Andros Achilleos.
• The Telegram Man. James F. Khehtie, Victoria Wharfe McIntyre.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST SCREENPLAY IN A SHORT FILM
• Afterglow. Nadine Garner.
• Cropped. Dave Wade.
• The Palace. Anthony Maras.
• Waiting For The Turning Of The Earth. David Evan Giles.
DOCUMENTARY
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST FEATURE LENGTH DOCUMENTARY
• Life In Movement. Sophie Hyde, Bryan Mason.
• Mrs Carey’s Concert. Bob Connolly, Helen Panckhurst, Sophie Raymond. ABC1
• Shut Up Little Man! An Audio Misadventure. Sophie Hyde, Matthew Bate.
• The Tall Man. Darren Dale. SBS
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY UNDER ONE HOUR
• The Ball. Yael Bergman, Laura Waters, Jessica Leski. ABC1
• Jandamarra’s War. Andrew Ogilvie, Andrea Quesnelle, Eileen Torres. ABC1
• Leaky Boat. Penny Chapman. ABC1
• Orchids: My Intersex Adventure. Phoebe Hart. ABC
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY SERIES
• Immigration Nation, The Secret History Of Us. Jacob Hickey, Alex West, Lucy Maclaren. SBS
• Outback Fight Club. Paul Scott, Isabel Perez. SBS
• Outback Kids. Mike Bluett, Mark Hamlyn, Marc Radomsky. ABC1
• SAS – The Search for Warriors. Julia Redwood, Ed Punchard. SBS
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTION IN A DOCUMENTARY
• Life In Movement. Bryan Mason, Sophie Hyde.
• Mrs Carey’s Concert. Bob Connolly, Sophie Raymond. ABC1
• Shut Up Little Man! An Audio Misadventure. Matthew Bate.
• The Tall Man. Tony Krawitz. SBS
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY IN A DOCUMENTARY
• Jandamarra’s War. Allan Collins ACS, Jim Frater, Rusty Geller SOC. ABC1
• Mrs Carey’s Concert. Bob Connolly. ABC1
• Out Of The Ashes. David Parer ACS. ABC1
• The Tall Man. Germain McMicking. SBS
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST EDITING IN A DOCUMENTARY
• Leaky Boat. Lawrie Silvestrin. ABC1
• Mrs Carey’s Concert. Sophie Raymond, Ray Thomas ASE, Nick Meyers ASE. ABC1
• Shut Up Little Man! An Audio Misadventure. Bryan Mason.
• The Tall Man. Rochelle Oshlack. SBS
FILM
SAMSUNG AACTA AWARD FOR BEST FILM
• The Eye Of The Storm. Antony Waddington, Gregory Read, Fred Schepisi.
• The Hunter. Vincent Sheehan.
• Mad Bastards. David Jowsey, Alan Pigram, Stephen Pigram, Brendan Fletcher.
• Oranges And Sunshine. Camilla Bray, Emile Sherman, Iain Canning.
• RED DOG. Nelson Woss, Julie Ryan.
• Snowtown. Anna McLeish, Sarah Shaw.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTION
• The Eye Of The Storm. Fred Schepisi.
• The Hunter. Daniel Nettheim.
• RED DOG. Kriv Stenders.
• Snowtown. Justin Kurzel.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
• Griff The Invisible. Leon Ford.
• The Loved Ones. Sean Byrne.
• Mad Bastards. Brendan Fletcher, Dean Daley-Jones, Greg Tait, John Watson.
• Red Hill. Patrick Hughes.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
• The Eye Of The Storm. Judy Morris.
• The Hunter. Alice Addison.
• RED DOG. Daniel Taplitz.
• Snowtown. Shaun Grant.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
• The Hunter. Robert Humphreys ACS.
• RED DOG. Geoffrey Hall ACS.
• Sleeping Beauty. Geoffrey Simpson ACS.
• Snowtown. Adam Arkapaw.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST EDITING
• Oranges And Sunshine. Dany Cooper ASE.
• RED DOG. Jill Bilcock ASE ACE.
• Snowtown. Veronika Jenet ASE.
• Wasted On The Young. Leanne Cole.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST SOUND
• The Hunter. Sam Petty, David Lee, Robert Mackenzie, Les Fiddess MPSE, Tony Murtagh,
Tom Heuzenroeder.
• Legend Of The Guardians: The Owls Of Ga’Hoole. Wayne Pashley, Derryn Pasquill, Polly McKinnon, Fabian Sanjurjo, Phil Heywood, Peter Smith.
• Mad Bastards. Phil Judd, Nick Emond, Johanna Emond.
• Snowtown. Frank Lipson MPSE, Andrew McGrath, Des Kenneally, Michael Carden, John Simpson,
Erin McKimm.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST ORIGINAL MUSIC SCORE
• The Hunter. Matteo Zingales, Michael Lira, Andrew Lancaster.
• Legend Of The Guardians: The Owls Of Ga’Hoole. David Hirschfelder.
• RED DOG. Cezary Skubiszewski.
• Snowtown. Jed Kurzel.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
• The Eye Of The Storm. Melinda Doring.
• The Hunter. Steven Jones-Evans APDG.
• RED DOG. Ian Gracie.
• Sleeping Beauty. Annie Beauchamp.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST COSTUME DESIGN
• The Eye Of The Storm. Terry Ryan.
• The Hunter. Emily Seresin.
• Oranges And Sunshine. Cappi Ireland.
• Sleeping Beauty. Shareen Beringer.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST LEAD ACTOR
• Willem Dafoe. The Hunter.
• Daniel Henshall. Snowtown.
• Geoffrey Rush. The Eye Of The Storm.
• David Wenham. Oranges And Sunshine.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST LEAD ACTRESS
• Judy Davis. The Eye Of The Storm.
• Frances O’Connor. The Hunter.
• Charlotte Rampling. The Eye Of The Storm.
• Emily Watson. Oranges And Sunshine.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
• John Gaden. The Eye Of The Storm.
• Sam Neill. The Hunter.
• Robert Rabiah. Face To Face.
• Hugo Weaving. Oranges And Sunshine.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
• Morgana Davies. The Hunter.
• Louise Harris. Snowtown.
• Helen Morse. The Eye Of The Storm.
• Alexandra Schepisi. The Eye Of The Storm.
AFI MEMBERS’ CHOICE AWARD
• The Eye Of The Storm. Antony Waddington, Gregory Read, Fred Schepisi.
• The Hunter. Vincent Sheehan.
• Mad Bastards. David Jowsey, Alan Pigram, Stephen Pigram, Brendan Fletcher.
• Oranges And Sunshine. Camilla Bray, Emile Sherman, Iain Canning.
• Red Dog. Nelson Woss, Julie Ryan.
• Snowtown. Anna McLeish, Sarah Shaw.