AACTA Awards: Red carpet roles as awards take centre stage
From The Dry to Nitram, The Newsreader to Wentworth, the spoils were divided during the night of nights for Australian film and television.
From The Dry to Nitram, The Newsreader to Wentworth, the spoils were divided during the night of nights for Australian film and television.
An A-list cast of national and international names descended on the Sydney Opera House on Wednesday as the 2021 AACTA (Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts) awards, formerly the AFI awards, took place following another tumultuous year for the industry.
Industry heavyweights Simon Baker, Rachel Griffith and Sarah Snook hit the red carpet ahead of the ceremony where awards were presented by a host of names, including Sam Neill, Baz Luhrmann and Rebel Wilson.
The Newsreader, which had a total of 16 nominations, was the first winner of the evening for best drama series.
Sam Reid, who plays ambitious reporter Dale Jennings, won the gong for lead actor in a television drama. His co-star Anna Torv took out lead actress while William McInnes won supporting actor for the series.
The Dry star Eric Bana was awarded favourite actor, while Justin Kurzel’s feature Nitram, which focuses on the events leading up to the 1996 Port Arthur massacre in an attempt to understand why and how the atrocity occurred, won eight awards, including best film.
Its star, Caleb Landry Jones, won lead actor, while Essie Davis took out best supporting actress, Judy Davis took lead actress, Anthony LaPaglia snared supporting actor and Justin Kurzel won for best direction.
On accepting the award for best film, producer Nick Batzias said he was enormously proud of the film for bringing to light a difficult moment in Australian history.
“We accept and appreciate that this is not a film for everybody, but as Russell [Crowe] touched on at the beginning, we live in a place where art ... can start conversations.”
There was a standing ovation for late actor David Gulpilil, who was awarded the Longford Lyell Award for his role in shaping First Nations culture in film.
Hugh Jackman and Bryan Brown were among those to pay tribute to the legendary actor.
“Honestly man, you’re just one of the greats,” Jackman said.
Natasha Wanganeen, who as a 15-year-old appeared alongside Gulpilil in Rabbit-Proof Fence, added: “Thank you for inspiring me and every other Aboriginal actor that has every graced our screens.
“You opened doors for us that I never thought possible.”
The award for best miniseries went to Fires, based on the devastating Black Summer bushfires.
“It’s a call to action against climate change. People said it was too soon to tell this story, but if we don’t act now, it will be too late to save this wild and beautiful place,” said the show’s creator, Belinda Chayko.
Rapper Baker Boy was in attendance, along with the frontmen of Lime Cordiale Oli and Louis Leimbach who were dressed in their signature 1970s style to perform their single Apple Crumble.
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2021 AACTA AWARDS WINNERS
Film
Best Adapted Screenplay in Film: The Dry – Rob Connolly, Harry Cripps
Best Cinematography in Film: The Dry – Stefan Duscio
Best Costume Design in Film: High Ground – Erin Roche
Best Direction in Film: Nitram – Justin Kurzel
Best Editing in Film: Nitram – Nick Fenton
Best Film: Nitram – Nick Batzias, Virginia Whitwell, Justin Kurzel, Shaun Grant – GoodThing Productions
Best Indie Film: Ellie and Abbie (Ellie’s Dead Aunt) – Monica Zanetti (Dir.), MahVeen Shahraki, Patrick James – Brazen Lot formerly Cobbstar Productions
Best Lead Actor in Film: Caleb Landry Jones – Nitram
Best Lead Actress in Film: Judy Davis – Nitram
Best Original Screenplay in Film: Nitram – Shaun Grant
Best Production Design in Film: Mortal Kombat – Naaman Marshall
Best Original Score in Film: June Again – Christopher Gordon
Best Sound in Film: Mortal Kombat – Robert McKenzie, James Ashton, Des Kenneally, Adrian Medhurst, Jed Dodge, Phil Heywood
Best Supporting Actor in Film: Anthony LaPaglia – Nitram
Best Supporting Actress in Film: Essie Davis – Nitram
Short Form
Best Short Form Comedy Presented by Facebook: All My Friends
Are Racist – Enoch Mailangi, Kodie Bedford, Bjorn Stewart, Liliana Munoz –Maximo Entertainment; Hoodlum Entertainment
Best Short Form Drama: The Tailings – Liz Doran, Richard Kelly, Stephen Thomas, Stevie Cruz-Martin, Caitlin Richardson – Good Lark Pty Ltd, The Two Jons; Roar Film
Best Short Form Entertainment: Strong Women – Corinne Innes, Alexandra Gaulupeau, Ann Megalla, Patrick McCabe – Strong Women Documentary Pty. Ltd.; AM Media
Documentary
Best Cinematography in a Documentary: The Beach (Episode 1:
Too Mad Too Shy) – Dylan River
Best Documentary: My Name is Gulpilil – Molly Reynolds (Dir.), Rolf de Heer, Peter Djigirr, David Gulpilil – Vertigo Productions
Best Editing in a Documentary: My Name is Gulpilil – Tania M. Nehme
Best Original Score in a Documentary: Playing With Sharks – Caitlin Yeo
Best Sound in a Documentary: Life in Colour with David Attenborough (Episode 1: Seeing in Colour) – Wayne Pashley
Television
Best Children’s Program: Bluey - Charlie Aspinwall, Joe Brumm, Daley Pearson, Sam Moor - Ludo Studio (ABC)
Best Cinematography in Television: Fires (Episode 2: Everything’s Gone) – Bonnie Elliott
Best Comedy Entertainment Program: Hard Quiz – Kevin Whyte, Chris Walker, Tom Gleeson, John Tabbagh – Thinkative Television; ABC (ABC)
Best Comedy Performer: Kitty Flanagan – Fisk
Best Costume Design in Television: New Gold Mountain (Episode 1: Propriety) – Cappi Ireland
Best Direction in Drama or Comedy: The Newsreader (Episode 1: Three, Two, One…) – Emma Freeman
Best Direction in Non-Fiction Television: Love on the Spectrum (Episode 4) – Cian O'Clery
Best Documentary or Factual Program: Old People’s Home For 4 Year Olds – Debbie Cuell, Bethan Arwel-Lewis – Endemol Shine Australia (ABC)
Best Drama Series: The Newsreader – Joanna Werner, Michael Lucas – Werner Film Productions (ABC)
Best Editing in Television: Clickbait (Episode 1: Five Million Hits) – Rodrigo Balart
Best Entertainment Program: Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 2021 – Paul Clarke, Stephanie Werrett, Josh Martin – Blink TV (SBS)
Best Factual Entertainment Program: Love on the Spectrum – Jenni Wilks, Karina Holden, Cian O'Clery – Northern Pictures (ABC)
Best Lead Actor in a Drama Presented by Foxtel: Scott Ryan – Mr Inbetween
Best Lead Actress in a Drama Presented by Foxtel: Anna Torv – The Newsreader
Best Lifestyle Program: Grand Designs Australia – Michael O’Neill, Brooke Bayvel – Fremantle (Foxtel)
Best Miniseries or Telefeature: Fires – Tony Ayres, Andrea Denholm, Liz Watts, Belinda Chayko, Elisa Argenzio – Tony Ayres Production (ABC)
Best Narrative Comedy Series: Fisk – Vincent Sheehan – Porchlight Films (ABC)
Best Production Design in Television: The Newsreader (Episode 1: Three, Two, One…) – Melinda Doring
Best Reality Program: MasterChef Australia – Marty Benson, Adam Fergusson, Eoin Maher – Endemol Shine Australia (Network Ten)
Best Original Score in Television: New Gold Mountain (Episode 1: Propriety) – Caitlin Yeo
Best Screenplay in Television: Mr Inbetween (Episode 6: Ray Who?) – Scott Ryan
Best Sound in Television: Fires (Episode 2: Everything’s Gone) – Emma Bortignon, Paul Pirola, Roger Van Wensveen, Brendan Croxon
Best Stand-Up Special: Hannah Gadsby – Douglas – Hannah Gadsby, Kevin Whyte, Kathleen McCarthy, John Irwin – Irwin Entertainment; Token Events (Netflix)
Best Supporting Actor in a Drama: William McInnes – The Newsreader
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama: Rachel Griffiths – Total Control
Audience Choice Awards
Favourite Actor: Eric Bana
Favourite Competition Reality Show: LEGO® Masters Australia
Favourite Digital Comedy Creator: Sooshi Mango
Favourite Entertainment Show: Gardening Australia
Favourite Film: The Dry
Favourite Television Drama: Wentworth
Favourite Televission Host: Costa Georgiadis - Gardening Australia - ABC
Other
Best Casting Presented by Casting Networks: High Ground – Anousha Zarkesh
Best Hair and Makeup presented by HASK: Australian Gangster – Sheldon Wade, Helen Magelaki, Mariel McClorey, Donna Kennedy
Best Visual Effects or Animation: Peter Rabbit 2 – Will Reichelt, Simon Pickard, Simon Whiteley, Fiona Chilton, Jason Bath, Matt Middleton – Animal Logic