Margot Robbie dazzles as YouTubers scoop top prize at AACTA awards

Margot Robbie and Cate Blanchett shone on the red carpet at Australia’s Academy Awards on Saturday, while a pair of YouTube stars whose low-budget horror movie became one of last year’s most profitable cinema releases globally emerged as the biggest winners of the night.

Danny and Michael Philippou, the 31-year-old Adelaide twins who have amassed a social media following in the millions with comically violent videos made under the name RackaRacka, won the best direction and best film prizes for their horror movie Talk To Me at the Australian Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards (AACTAs).

The movie’s star, Sophie Wilde, also won the best actress award at Saturday’s ceremony on the Gold Coast. That brought to eight the total number of awards for the film, which also collected five more at the industry awards recognising the craft side of the business on Thursday.

The movie was made in South Australia for a budget of around $US4.5 million ($7 million) in 2022, and was bought by indie distributor A24 after its debut at the Sundance Film Festival the following January for a sum reported as being in the “high seven figures”, putting it into profit before a single ticket had been sold.

It went on to take more than $US92 million ($A140 million) globally, becoming A24’s highest-grossing horror film, and second-highest-grossing film of any sort, to date.

In Australia, it took $4.28 million. The only Australian film to perform better at the local box office last year was John Farnham: Finding The Voice, which took $4.5 million and on Saturday was announced as the year’s best documentary.

Cate Blanchett, one of the stars of Warwick Thornton’s award-winning The New Boy, was in attendance too.Credit: Brendon Thorne

Saturday’s event at the Home of the Arts on the Gold Coast was attended by some of Australia’s highest-profile film and television stars, including Margot Robbie, Cate Blanchett, Rebel Wilson, Simon Baker, Joel Edgerton, Colin From Accounts creators and stars Patrick Brammall and Harriet Dyer, and Heartbreak High’s Chloe Hayden.

But while he is in the country and had been tipped to attend, there was no sign of Brisbane-born man of the moment Jacob Elordi, who found himself at the centre of a police investigation last week after a stunt staged by a producer for Kyle and Jackie O’s radio show went awry.

The other big winners at the AACTAs were TV series The Newsreader (including best drama series) and Deadloch, which each collected five awards. The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart collected four, including best miniseries, as did Warwick Thornton’s feature film The New Boy, in which dual Oscar winner Blanchett stars as an alcoholic nun.

All eyes were on another serial winner, though, as hometown hero Margot Robbie was honoured with the Trailblazer Award for her achievements as both producer and actor.

Robbie, who grew up on the Gold Coast and attended Saturday’s event with an entourage of around 20 friends and family members, also collected the International awards for best film and best actress for Barbie, which she both starred in and produced through her company Lucky Chap Entertainment.

Despite the taped tributes from the likes of Charlize Theron and Emerald Fennell, there was more than a hint of light-hearted roast about proceedings in the lead-in to Robbie’s award.

In a pre-recorded segment, Brad Pitt fidgeted and bumbled, saying he hoped Robbie got “all the awards”, including the “trip, er trailblazer” award from the “A.A.T…. ah, AACTA”, because she is “really, really cool”.

Taking to the stage in a ludicrous pink outfit with an oversized polka-dot bow on her head, Cate Blanchett introduced herself as “middle-aged Barbie”. She was there to present Robbie’s award, which was, she said, in recognition of “her body … her body of work”.

Rebel Wilson and Cate Blanchett at the AACTA Awards on the Gold Coast.Credit: Getty Images

Accepting the Trailblazer Award, Robbie said it was “mind-boggling” to be receiving the honour from a woman she had adored “from afar for as long as I can remember”, and in a venue where 20 years earlier she had performed “a vaguely inappropriate routine in our interschool dance eisteddfod”.

It was, she said, “a very full-circle moment for me”, adding that “everything that ever happened to me in my life until the age of 17 happened within about 15 minutes” of the venue.

In a gesture that would have convinced the organisers of the awards that they had made an inspired choice in anointing Robbie, she paid tribute to Australian filmmakers past, present and emerging.

“The stories that come out of here are wild and bold and fierce and unflinching,” she said, name-checking Peter Weir, Baz Luhrmann, Justin Kurzel and Cate Shortland, as well as “the up and comers”.

“I just want to contribute to the extraordinary narratives, and be good enough to stand alongside you all,” she added.

Though the AACTAs consciously try to position themselves as “part of the international awards season conversation”, there is no chance that Robbie’s double win for best picture and best actress will be repeated at next month’s Oscars, as she has not been nominated in the best actress category. She is, however, in contention for best film, as one of Barbie’s lead producers.

Robbie and Barbie also won in the audience awards, collecting the prizes for favourite film and actress in the publicly voted categories.

Ryan Gosling was voted best supporting actor for his turn as Ken in the highest-grossing film of 2023, while the international award for best direction in film went to Christopher Nolan for Oppenheimer.

While it aimed for lightness, the telecast on Ten had a couple of genuinely touching moments too.

The award for best comedy performer went to Cal Wilson, but it was left to her husband Chris Woods and son Digby to take to the stage and accept the statuette on behalf of the New Zealand-born performer who passed away from cancer last October.

And when MasterChef was announced as best reality show – the fourth time it has won that honour – Andy Allen spoke of how big a hole had been left by the passing of fellow judge Jock Zonfrillo, before handing over to Zonfrillo’s widow, Lauren.

She paid tribute to her husband as “an extraordinary teacher … who gave people the courage to push and maybe leap into the unknown”.

“Without Jock the days seem like they have been drained of colour,” she added. “But today is one of pride and celebration for the kids and I.”

The AACTA winners list in full

FILM

• AACTA Award for Best Direction in Film: Talk to Me – Danny and Michael Philippou
• AACTA Award for Best Film: Talk to Me – Samantha Jennings, Kristina Ceyton – Causeway Films
• AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor in Film: Aswan Reid – The New Boy
• AACTA Award for Best Lead Actress in Film: Sophie Wilde – Talk to Me
• AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actor in Film: Hugo Weaving – The Rooster
• AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actress in Film: Deborah Mailman – The New Boy

• AACTA Award for Best Casting in Film presented by Casting Networks: Shayda – Anousha Zarkesh
• AACTA Award for Best Cinematography in Film: The New Boy – Warwick Thornton
• AACTA Award for Best Costume Design in Film: Carmen – Emily Seresin
• AACTA Award for Best Editing in Film, presented by Spectrum Films: Talk to Me – Geoff Lamb
• AACTA Award for Best Hair and Makeup, presented by HASK: Talk to Me – Rebecca Buratto, Paul Katte, Nick Nicolaou
• AACTA Award for Best Indie Film: Limbo – Ivan Sen (Dir.), David Jowsey, Greer Simpkin, Rachel Higgins – Bunya Productions
• AACTA Award for Best Original Score in Film: Talk to Me – Cornel Wilczek
• AACTA Award for Best Production Design in Film: The New Boy – Amy Baker
• AACTA Award for Best Screenplay in Film: Talk to Me – Danny Philippou, Bill Hinzman
• AACTA Award for Best Sound in Film Talk to Me – Emma Bortignon, Pete Smith, Nick Steele

TELEVISION

• AACTA Award for Best Acting in a Comedy: Kate Box – Deadloch
• AACTA Award for Best Children’s Program: Bluey – Joe Brumm, Charlie Aspinwall, Sam Moor, Daley Pearson – Ludo Studio (ABC)
• AACTA Award for Best Comedy Entertainment Program: Hard Quiz – Chris Walker, Kevin Whyte, Tom Gleeson, John Tabbagh – Thinkative Television and ABC (ABC)
• AACTA Award for Best Comedy Performer, presented by Network Ten: Cal Wilson – The Great Australian Bake Off
• AACTA Award for Best Drama Series: The Newsreader – Joanna Werner, Michael Lucas – Werner Film Productions (ABC)
• AACTA Award for Best Factual Entertainment Program: Old People’s Home for Teenagers – Tony De La Pena, Tara McWilliams, Emily Potts – Endemol Shine Australia (ABC)
• AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor in a Drama, presented by BINGE: Hugo Weaving – Love Me
• AACTA Award for Best Lead Actress in a Drama, presented by BINGE: Anna Torv – The Newsreader
• AACTA Award for Best Lifestyle Program: Gardening Australia – Gill Lomas – ABC TV (ABC)
• AACTA Award for Best Miniseries: The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart – Jodi Matterson, Bruna Papandrea, Steve Hutensky, Barbara Gibbs, Sarah Lambert, Glendyn Ivin – Made Up Stories, Amazon Studios, Fifth Season (Amazon Prime Video)
• AACTA Award for Best Narrative Comedy Series: Colin From Accounts – Ian Collie, Rob Gibson, Patrick Brammall, Harriet Dyer – Easy Tiger (Binge, Foxtel)
• AACTA Award for Best Reality Program: MasterChef Australia – David Forster, Simon Child, Eoin Maher, April Mackay – Endemol Shine Australia (Network Ten)
• AACTA Award for Best Screenplay in Television: Deadloch (Episode 1) – Kate McCartney, Kate McLennan
• AACTA Award for Best Stand-Up Special: Hannah Gadsby: Something Special – Hannah Gadsby, Kevin Whyte, Kathleen McCarthy, Jenney Shamash, Frank Bruzzese – Guesswork Television Pty Ltd (Netflix)
• AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama: Hunter Page-Lochard – The Newsreader

• AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama: Heather Mitchell – Love Me
• AACTA Award for Best Casting in Television, presented by Casting Networks: Deadloch – Alison Telford, Kate Leonard
• AACTA Award for Best Cinematography in Television: The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart – Episode 1 – Sam Chiplin
• AACTA Award for Best Costume Design in Television: The Newsreader – Episode 4 – Zed Dragojlovich
• AACTA Award for Best Direction in Drama or Comedy: The Newsreader (Episode 4) – Emma Freeman
• AACTA Award for Best Direction in Nonfiction Television: The Australian Wars (Episode 1) – Rachel Perkins, Dylan River, Tov Belling
• AACTA Award for Best Documentary or Factual Program: The Australian Wars – Darren Dale, Rachel Perkins, Belinda Mravicic – Blackfella Films Pty Ltd (NITV, SBS)
• AACTA Award for Best Editing in a Documentary: The Australian Wars – Andrea Lang, Mark Atkin, Hilary Balmond
• AACTA Award for Best Editing in Television: Deadloch – Episode 1 – Angie Higgins
• AACTA Award for Best Entertainment Program: Eurovision Song Contest 2023 - Grand Final – Paul Clarke, Emily Griggs – Blink TV Production Pty Ltd (SBS)
• AACTA Award for Best Original Score in Television: Deadloch – Episode 1 – Amanda Brown
• AACTA Award for Best Production Design in Television: The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart – Episode 1 – Melinda Doring
• AACTA Award for Best Sound in Television: The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart – Episode 6 – David Lee, Robert Mackenzie, Leah Katz, James Ashton

DOCUMENTARY

• AACTA Award for Best Documentary: John Farnham: Finding The Voice – Poppy Stockell (Dir.), Mikael Borglund, Paul Clarke, Martin Fabinyi, Olivia Hoopmann – Beyond Oz in association with Blink TV Production
• AACTA Award for Best Cinematography in a Documentary: The Giants – Sherwin Akbarzadeh
• AACTA Award for Best Original Score in a Documentary: The Dark Emu Story – Caitlin Yeo, Damien Lane
• AACTA Award for Best Sound in a Documentary: Ego: The Michael Gudinski Story – David Williams

ONLINE

• AACTA Award for Best Online Drama or Comedy: Latecomers – Liam Heyen, Hannah Ngo, Angus Thompson, Emma Myers, Nina Oyama, Madeleine Gottlieb, Alistair Baldwin – Mad Ones Films & Lazy Susan Films

SHORT FILM

• AACTA Award for Best Short Film: Finding Addison – Francisca Braithwaite, Jess Milne, Nick Bolton – Blue Sparrow Entertainment

OTHER

• AACTA Award for Best Visual Effects or Animation: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny – Andrew Whitehurst, Kathy Siegel, Alistair Williams, Julian Hutchens, Ian Cope – Rising Sun Pictures

INDIVIDUAL

• 2024 AACTA Trailblazer Award Recipient: Margot Robbie
• 2024 AACTA Byron Kennedy Award Recipient: Bruna Papandrea
• 2024 AACTA Brian Walsh Award Recipient: Ngali Shaw
• 2024 AACTA Reg Grundy Award Recipient: Rachel Berger (Seriously Funny)

AACTA AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS

• AACTA Audience Choice Award for Favourite TV Show: Ginny & Georgia
• AACTA Audience Choice Award for Favourite Film: Barbie
• AACTA Audience Choice Award for Favourite Actress: Margot Robbie
• AACTA Audience Choice Award for Favourite Actor: Adam Sandler
• AACTA Audience Choice Award for Favourite Australian Media Personality: Sophie Monk
• AACTA Audience Choice Award for Favourite Australian Digital Creator: Kat Clark and family @katclark
• AACTA Audience Choice Award for Favourite Australian Sporting Moment: Soccer: Matilda’s World Cup run

AACTA INTERNATIONAL AWARDS

• AACTA International Award for Best Actor in a Series: Jeremy Allen White – The Bear
• AACTA International Award for Best Actress in a Series: Sarah Snook – Succession
• AACTA International Award for Best Comedy Series: The Bear
• AACTA International Award for Best Direction in Film: Oppenheimer – Christopher Nolan
• AACTA International Award for Best Drama Series: Succession
• AACTA International Award for Best Film: Barbie
• AACTA International Award for Best Lead Actor in Film: Cillian Murphy – Oppenheimer
• AACTA International Award for Best Lead Actress in Film: Margot Robbie – Barbie
• AACTA International Award for Best Screenplay in Film: Poor Things – Tony McNamara
• AACTA International Award for Best Supporting Actor in Film: Ryan Gosling – Barbie
• AACTA International Award for Best Supporting Actress in Film: Vanessa Kirby – Napoleon

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