It’s awards season, so make your vote count in the AACTA Audience Choice event

Snook or Kidman? Pedro or Colin? Tis the season for TV and film awards – and you can help your favourites get a gong, by voting now in the prestigious Audience Choice extravaganza.

Golden Globe winner Sarah Snook, international comedy hit Colin From Accounts, Margot Robbie, Nicole Kidman and the Matildas’ inspiring turn at the 2023 World Cup are among the homegrown contenders for the revamped AACTA Audience Choice awards.

For the fourth year running, the Australian Academy of Cinema Television Arts has opened voting to the public for its ­annual awards, with an expanded focus on creators across all platforms and a new sports-focused gong.

The popular audience choice categories, which run alongside the peer-voted prizes, will be announced at the AACTA awards night at the HOTA – home of the arts – on the Gold Coast next month.

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Succession plan … will the show or its star Sarah Snook rise to the top in the AACTA Audience Choice awards after her Golden Globes win? You decide.

Snook’s already had a stellar award season, taking home her second Golden Globe this week for her role as Shiv Roy in the drama Succession that ended last year after four series. Along with her potential AACTA nod, she’s a firm favourite for an Emmy on Tuesday, and will also compete for a Critics Choice and SAG Award.

Succession, the final season of which won the best TV drama at the Globes and screened on Binge here, is also in the running for Australians’ favourite TV show.

While the 36-year-old flew home in 2021 to present an award at Australia’s top event honouring the film and television industry, it’s unlikely she’ll be able to do the same this year.

TV Roy-alty … Sarah Snook as Shiv Roy, flanked by on-screen brother Roman Roy (played by Kieran Culkin) and on-screen husband Tom Wambsgans (Matthew Macfadyen). Image credit: HBO/Binge

She’s currently wowing UK audiences, headlining the Sydney Theatre Company’s acclaimed one-woman adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray in London’s West End.

The top six nominees from each category will be revealed ahead of the ceremony on February 10, which is presented by The Foxtel Group.

AACTA have refreshed the Audience Choice Awards categories, renaming Best TV personality to Best Media Personality, acknowledging individuals with a wide-ranging presence across Australian platforms, including TV, podcasts, radio and social media.

Goal-den global heroes … the new Best Sporting Moment award takes in Sam Kerr and the Matildas’ World Cup adventures, among other breathtaking athletic achievements.

A new category, the Audience Choice Award for Best Sporting Moment, has been introduced to celebrate the outstanding achievements of Australia’s top athletes and teams over the past year.

This year, AACTA ran a poll on social media, asking audiences to tell them the stars, productions, media personalities and digital creators they wanted to see in contention. Thousands of responses poured in, determining the short-list for each award.

Colin From Accounts, the heartwarming Binge comedy that has also become a huge hit overseas, was among the shows and stars singled out.

‘We’re all beyond chuffed’ ... Tai Hara (left) with his Colin From Accounts co-stars. Picture: Lisa Tomasetti

Reflecting on the attention it has received, Tai Hara, who plays James, said: “It’s been a joy seeing the series take on its own life. The response has been absolutely overwhelming. I think it resonates with people because it’s so well written, it’s not just about the jokes, it’s has so much heart.”

Paying tribute to his co-stars, the show’s creators Patrick Brammall and Harriet Dyer – with whom he is currently filming an “even better” second season – Hara added: “Pat and Harri have captured an undeniably honest, funny world.”

And he saluted the fans behind the Audience Choice nomination, saying, “We’re all beyond chuffed. It just means so much that people even watched the show, let alone support us in this way.”

‘It just means so much’ ... Colin From Accounts star Tai Hara ahead of the AACTA awards. Photo Jeremy Piper

Audience Choice voting is now open and fans have until 5pm AEDT, January 25 to cast their vote. The winners will be announced on February 10 2024.

Last year Heartbreak High swept the audience choice awards, taking home Best TV Series and Best Actors for Bryn Chapman Parish and Chloe Hayden; Baz Luhmrman’s epic movie Elvis was voted the Best Film, while TikToker Kat Clark was named Best Digital Creator.

Who will have the chance to join them this year? Over to you …

Originally published as It’s awards season, so make your vote count in the AACTA Audience Choice event