Birdman has topped the list of the 4th AACTA International Award nominees with a total of seven nominations across six of the seven categories.
The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) this morning announced a total of 14 international films nominated across the categories of Best Film, Best Direction, Best Screenplay, Best Lead Actor, Best Lead Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress.
The only category in which Birdman did not receive a nomination is the AACTA International Award for Best Lead Actress; however both Emma Stone and Naomi Watts are up for Best Supporting Actress for their work in the film, directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu.
Following Birdman’s lead of seven is Boyhood and The Imitation Game, both of which received five nominations each, including Best Film, Best Direction and Best Screenplay.
Whiplash received four nods with The Grand Budapest Hotel closely behind on three.
On two nominations each are Foxcatcher and The Theory of Everything, with the remaining seven films all being nominated in acting categories, in which the competition is particularly fierce.
In the Best Lead Actor category, all five nominees – Steve Carell (Foxcatcher), Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game), Jake Gyllenhaal (Nightcrawler), Michael Keaton (Birdman) and Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything) – have also been nominated for SAG Awards and Golden Globes for these performances.
Nominations for the AACTA International Award for Best Lead Actress is equally impressive, with Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything), Julianne Moore (Still Alice), Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl) and Reese Witherspoon (Wild) each nominated alongside Australian actress Essie Davis for her portrayal of a struggling mother in the Australian psychological horror The Babadook. Davis is also nominated for this performance at the domestic 4th AACTA Awards, to be announced in Sydney in January.
Winners of the 4th AACTA International Awards will be announced in Los Angeles on 31 January 2015 at the G’Day USA Gala, which this year, for the first time, will feature the Awards, presented by Qantas.
The AACTA International Awards will form the centrepiece of the Gala, which will also see G’Day USA honour a prominent Australian from the entertainment industry for their individual contribution to the US-Australia relationship. The AACTA International Awards segment of the event will be broadcast on Foxtel’s Arena (Australia) on Sunday 1 February 2015.
In a statement released to the media, AACTA CEO, Damian Trewhella, said: “Nominations for the 4th AACTA International Awards again show consensus as well as some divergence among the Australian screen industry and our international peers regarding which outstanding performers, productions and practitioners should be recognised at the highest level. The AACTA International Awards add an Australian voice to the global screen conversation, and allow us to honour the world’s best, including outstanding Australians working on international productions. We look forward to celebrating at our biggest, best event yet, as the 4th AACTA International Awards form the centrepiece of the high-profile G’Day USA Gala in LA, creating a brand new, stand-out event.”
4TH AACTA INTERNATIONAL AWARDS NOMINEES
AACTA International Award for Best Film
BIRDMAN
BOYHOOD
THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL
THE IMITATION GAME
WHIPLASH
AACTA International Award for Best Direction
BIRDMAN – Alejandro González Iñárritu
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 González Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Armando Bo
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
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
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
AACTA International Award for Best Supporting Actress
Patricia Arquette – BOYHOOD
Keira Knightley – THE IMITATION GAME
Emma Stone – BIRDMAN
Meryl Streep – INTO THE WOODS
Naomi Watts – BIRDMAN