4th AACTA Awards Winners Announced in Sydney

4TH AACTA AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED AT STAR-STUDDED CEREMONY IN SYDNEY

Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts

 4th AACTA AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED AT STAR-STUDDED CEREMONY IN SYDNEY 

 

Awards Ceremony Hosts Cate Blanchett and Deborah Mailman were joined on stage by a star-studded line up of presenters including Geoffrey Rush (AACTA president), Lachy HulmeStephen Curry and cricketer Brett Lee to honour Australia’s best achievements in Australian film and television at the 4th  AACTA  Awards Ceremony, held at The Star Event Centre, 80 Pyrmont Street, Pyrmont, SYDNEY, NSW.

FILM & DOCUMENTARY AWARDS In an unusual though not unprecedented twist, an equal tie for Best Film was announced, with  two feature films awarded the AACTA Award for Best FilmTHE BABADOOK (by first-time feature film director, Jennifer Kent) and THE WATER DIVINER (also marking a directorial debut for Russell Crowe). THE BABADOOK  also took home the  AACTA Award  for  Best Direction presented by Hyundai Genesis , and ^ Best Original Screenplay .



Despite a duel for Best Film, Feature Film acting awards were evenly distributed.

David Gulpilil’s performance in CHARLIE’S COUNTRY saw him awarded ^ Best Lead ActorPREDESTINATION star Sarah Snook was awarded ^ Best Lead Actress  and Susan Prior’s performance in THE ROVER earned her ^ Best Supporting Actress and Yilmaz Erdogan was awarded ^ Best Supporting Actor for his role in THE WATER DIVINER.

THE RAILWAY MAN was awarded for Best Adapted Screenplay, whilst THE LEGO MOVIE took home the ^  AACTA Award  for Best Visual Effects or Animation.

The  AACTA Award  for Best Feature Length Documentary went to UKRAINE IS NOT A BROTHEL.

OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

Highlight presentations during the show were for three outstanding individual awards.

AACTA Award winning performer, Rose Byrne, whose career spans Australian and US film and television across drama and comedy, was honoured with the inaugural AACTA Trailblazer Award. Byrne, whose performance in US television series DAMAGES saw her nominated for Golden Globe and Prime Time Emmy Awards, received a tribute from DAMAGES co-star Glenn Close and BRIDESMAIDS co-star Kristen Wiig.

Director, producer, writer Amiel Courtin-Wilson was announced as the recipient of the Byron Kennedy Award, which includes a AUD$10,000 prize, for outstanding creative enterprise within the film and television industries. The Byron Kennedy Award is determined by a jury annually and is given to an individual or organisation whose work embodies innovation and the relentless pursuit of excellence.

Courtin-Wilson’s body of work includes critically acclaimed documentaries  CHASING BHUDDA (which received an AFI Award nomination in 2000) and BASTARDY (which he shot over seven years, following the life of Aboriginal elder Jack Charles), and feature films HAIL (which became the first Australian feature film in ten years selected for the Venice International Film Festival) and RUIN (which won Courtin-Wilson and co-director/co-producer Michael Cody a Special Jury Prize at Venice in 2013).

The Byron Kennedy Award jury said: “We have chosen Amiel Courtin-Wilson for his risk taking and evocative storytelling. Amiel has been patiently searching for truth and beauty at the margins of society, making films which have captured the attention of international audiences.”

The highest honour that the Australian Academy can bestow upon an individual is the AACTA Longford Lyell Award (this award was recently renamed from the AACTA Raymond Longford Award in recognition of Lottie Lyell’s contribution to the work of her partner in filmmaking and in life, Raymond Longford).

The AACTA Longford Lyell Award went to one of Australia’s most loved and respected writers and producers, Andrew Knight. The Award was presented by Adam Zwar and Dave O’Neil, with special tributes from Eric Bana and Shaun Micallef.

Andrew Knight has written and produced vast oceans of television and several films, across several genres, including comedy series Fast ForwardFull Frontal and The D-Generation(executive producer and head writer); television dramas SeaChange (co-writer and executive producer), After The Deluge (writer and co-producer) and Tripping Over (writer, co-writer and executive producer); and feature films The Water DivinerSiam Sunset and Spotswood (co-writer).

Andrew was co-owner of Artist Services – one of the top production houses in Australia – subsequently purchased by Granada. He and his shows have won over forty industry awards, including AFI Awards, Logies, AWGIES, and SPA Awards for both his writing and producing. Andrew is widely admired in the screen industry as an excellent collaborator and mentor, whose talent is unique in its diversity.

  TELEVISION AWARDS

Marking another strong year for Australian television, the 4th AACTA Awards Ceremony saw a total of eight television programs recognised across twelve television awards.

New drama THE CODE (ABC) led the tally, receiving an impressive four awards: Best Television Drama SeriesBest Direction in a Television Drama or Comedy (Episode 1); Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama (Ashley Zukerman); and Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama (Chelsie Preston Crayford – Episode 1).

Josh Thomas’s internationally acclaimed PLEASE LIKE ME (ABC2) followed with two wins: Best Screenplay in Television (Episode 2/07: Scroggin), and Best Performance in a Television Comedy (Debra Lawrance).

Working Dog Productions continued its long-time legacy of making Award-winning comedy, beating stiff competition from other ABC favourites including THE MOODYS and SHAUN MICALLEF’S MAD AS HELL, SERIES 3 to take out the AACTA Award for Best Television Comedy Serieswith new comedy, UTOPIA.

The television acting categories saw first-time AACTA Awards for all winnersMarta Dusseldorpfor Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama (JANET KING, ABC); Ashley Zukerman for Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama (THE CODE, ABC); Eamon Farron for Best Guest or Supporting Actor in a Television Drama (CARLOTTA, ABC); Chelsie Preston Crayford for Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama (THE CODE, ABC); and Debra Lawrance for Best Performance in a Television Comedy (PLEASE LIKE ME, ABC2).

The AACTA Award for Best Telefeature or Mini Series went to DEVIL’S PLAYGROUND (Foxtel – Showcase).

HAMISH & ANDY’S GAP YEAR ASIA won last year’s AACTA Award for Best Direction in a Television Light Entertainment or Reality Series. The same team won the AACTA Award for Best Light Entertainment Television Series with HAMISH & ANDY’s GAP YEAR SOUTH AMERICA (Nine Network).

THE VOICE AUSTRALIA (Nine Network) was announced as the winner of the AACTA Award for Best Reality Television Series, overcoming tough competition from MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA – SERIES 6 (Network Ten), THE X FACTOR (Seven Network) and THE VOICE KIDS (Nine Network) in this category.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

The show was filled with filmed tributes for  Award winners and Award presentations from some of the world’s leading performers, including Colin Firth (THE RAILWAY MAN) and Ethan Hawke(PREDESTINATION). Russell Crowe presented from a live-cross from LA, and BRIDESMAIDS co-star Kirsten Wigg paid tribute to Rose Byre along with DAMAGES co-star Glenn Close.

In addition to the presentation of the AACTA Awards, show highlights included an Australia’s Favourite Film and Television Moments segment, which was supported by audiences tweeting their favourite moments using the twitter.com hashtag #LoveAusScreen . This segment included a stand-out performance by WONDERLAND’s Ben Mingay and Kirby Burgess, who is currently starring in the stage production of DIRTY DANCING – THE CLASSIC STORY ON STAGE.

A moving performance by ARIA Award  winning Sony Music Recording Artist,  Samantha Jade accompanied the In Memoriam segment of the show.

Australians were able to catch all the star power, sophistication and style of the red carpet and Ceremony as televised live on Network Ten at 8:30pm on Thursday 29th January 2015, with an encore screening on Foxtel’s ARENA channel 105 during Saturday 31 January 2015.

Damian Trewhella said: “Tonight’s Awards recognise the outstanding achievements of the hundreds of people whose skill, passion and commitment continues to put Australia on the world map for film and television excellence.

“Australians are celebrated for our talents in front of and behind the camera, and the AACTA Awards play an important role in promoting this talent to both our international industry peers and audiences here and at home. Our stories are best captured on the big and small screens, and this year our industry produced a diverse slate of Australian stories across all genres including reality TV and documentaries through to dramas, comedies and feature films.

“Whilst we had the extraordinary advent of seeing two Feature Films honoured with the AACTA Award for Best Film, this is not unprecedented, with AFI voting resulting in ties in the past, and international Awards also having seen this result, including just last year when the Producers Guild of America (PGA) saw a tie in voting for GRAVITY and 12 YEARS A SLAVE. I take this result as a mark of considered voting by our Academy members, and I’m pleased that two outstanding films can share the honour of winning this Award in a year of strong competition.

“The Academy in particular takes this opportunity to congratulate our three outstanding individual recipients awarded tonight; Rose Byrne, Andrew Knight and Amiel Courtin-Wilson. Between these exceptional people, their talents serve as in inspiration to the screen industry and to fans like.”

Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism and Major Events Troy Grant said, “Congratulations to the winners at tonight’s  AACTA Awards who have been recognised for their innovation and excellence in screencraft.” … “Sydney is the cultural hub of Asia Pacific and the capital of film and television production in Australia, and the NSW Government is proud to have secured this prestigious event through the support of our tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.”

FULL LIST OF WINNERS

For a full list of  winners as announced, as well as a full list of ALL  winners  announced for the 4th  AACTA  Awards   (across the 4th  AACTA  Awards Luncheon presented by Deluxe and at the 4th AACTA Awards Ceremony)   please click here.

The AACTA AWARDS are proudly supported by the New South Wales Government, through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.  

 

PLEASE NOTE that the six ACCTA AWARDS that are marked with ^ are identical to the choices announced on Wednesday 31st December 2014 by the reviewers of Sydney Arts Guide for the 2014 SYDNEY ARTS GUIDE STAGE & SCREEN AWARDS

 

 








4TH  AACTA INTERNATIONAL AWARDS WINNERS ANNOUNCED


BIRDMAN or (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE)
Leads with Four Wins Including Best Film

 

4TH AACTA INTERNATIONAL AWARDS WINNERS ANNOUNCED
4TH AACTA INTERNATIONAL AWARDS WINNERS ANNOUNCED

 

AACTA has announced seven winners nominated across the following categories – Best Film, Best Direction, Best Screenplay, Best Lead Actor, Best Lead Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress – for the 4th AACTA International Awards.

The winners were announced at the G’Day USA Gala featuring the 4th AACTA International Awards presented by Qantas at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles during Sunday 31st January 2015. The Awards were presented by multi-award winner and AACTA President Geoffrey Rush who shared the stage with fellow presenters including Nicole Kidman, Elizabeth Debicki, John Travolta, Rachel Griffiths, Jonathan LaPaglia, Rebel Wilson and Russell Crowe.

BIRDMAN or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) leads the wins with a total of four wins including BEST FILM, BEST SCREENPLAY, BEST DIRECTION (Alejandro G. Iñárritu) and BEST LEAD ACTOR (Michael Keaton). The film, which has received much international critical acclaim, beat fellow BEST FILM nominees including BOYHOOD and THE IMITATION GAME which had received five AACTA nominations each, including Best Film, Best Direction and Best Screenplay.

STILL ALICE’S Julianne Moore picked up the AACTA International Award for Best Lead Actress, and is now the frontrunner to sweep the Awards circuit with Golden Globe and SAG Award wins for her portrayal of Alice, a Columbia linguistics professor diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease.

Similarly to Moore, both Golden Globe and SAG Award Winners, J.K. Simmons (WHIPLASH) and Patricia Arquette (BOYHOOD) each picked up their statuettes for the AACTA International Award for Best Supporting Actor and Actress.

Winners of the 4th AACTA International Awards were announced in Los Angeles on 31 January 2015 at the G’Day USA Gala featuring the 4th AACTA International Awards presented by Qantas. This marks a brand new event format for the AACTA International Awards, and for the G’Day USA Gala, following the announcement of a partnership between AACTA and G’Day USA in December 2014. The AACTA International Awards served as the centrepiece of the Gala, which also saw Chris Hemsworth honoured by G’Day USA.

AFI | AACTA CEO, Damian Trewhella, said:

“The AACTA International Awards are Australia’s international stamp of screen success, adding an Australian perspective alongside that of our international counterparts in recognition of outstanding screen craft excellence by our international peers, as well as by Australians working internationally.

“Each year we see a fascinating situation wherein the voting patterns of the Australian Academy’s international chapter often presage those of the SAG Awards, Golden Globes and the Oscars, though sometimes with interesting deviations too. I congratulate all of this year’s AACTA International Award nominees and winners on their outstanding work, and look forward with anticipation to seeing the outcome of this year’s Oscars in relation to today’s winners.”

The AACTA International Awards was broadcast on Foxtel’s Arena channel 105 at 7:30pm on Sunday 1st February 2015.    


 

4TH AACTA INTERNATIONAL AWARDS WINNERS

AACTA International Award for Best Film
BIRDMAN – Alejandro G. Iñárritu, John Lesher, James W. Skotchdopole * WINNER
BOYHOOD
THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL
THE IMITATION GAME
WHIPLASH

AACTA International Award for Best Direction
BIRDMAN – Alejandro G. Iñárritu * WINNER
BOYHOOD – Richard Linklater
THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL – Wes Anderson
THE IMITATION GAME – Morten Tyldum
WHIPLASH – Damien Chazelle

AACTA International Award for Best Screenplay
BIRDMAN – Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris Jr, Armando Bo * WINNER
BOYHOOD – Richard Linklater
THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL – Wes Anderson
THE IMITATION GAME – Graham Moore
WHIPLASH – Damien Chazelle

AACTA International Award for Best Lead Actor
Steve Carell – FOXCATCHER
Benedict Cumberbatch – THE IMITATION GAME
Jake Gyllenhaal – NIGHTCRAWLER
Michael Keaton – BIRDMAN * WINNER
Eddie Redmayne – THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING

AACTA International Award for Best Lead Actress
Essie Davis – THE BABADOOK
Felicity Jones – THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING
Julianne Moore – STILL ALICE * WINNER
Rosamund Pike – GONE GIRL
Reese Witherspoon – WILD

AACTA International Award for Best Supporting Actor
Ethan Hawke – BOYHOOD
Edward Norton – BIRDMAN
Mark Ruffalo – FOXCATCHER
Andy Serkis – DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES
J.K. Simmons – WHIPLASH * WINNER

AACTA International Award for Best Supporting Actress
Patricia Arquette – BOYHOOD * WINNER
Keira Knightley – THE IMITATION GAME
Emma Stone – BIRDMAN
Meryl Streep – INTO THE WOODS
Naomi Watts – BIRDMAN

 ABOUT THE AACTA
INTERNATIONAL AWARDS

The AACTA International Awards recognise film excellence regardless of geography. These Awards are determined by the invitation only AACTA International Chapter which comprises 140 Australian screen professionals with distinguished international credentials, many of whom are also members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.

For more information on the AACTA International Awards, please click here.

The AACTA Awards are proudly supported by the New South Wales Government, through its tourism and major events agency, Destination New South Wales.