Ruby Entertainment is pleased to announce its landmark ABC series The Secret River received eight nominations in this year's AACTA Awards.
The series attracted 1.4 million viewers and is so far is the ABCs’ highest rating Australian drama in its prime time Sunday night slot.
The nominations are for Best Mini-Series, for best actress for Sarah Snook, best actor for Oliver Jackson-Cohen, best supporting actor for Lachy Hulme as well as best Cinematography, best original Music, best Production Design and Best Costumes.
Producer Stephen Luby said: “The sheer quality and power of this Series is a testament to the brilliant cast and crew with whom we worked to bring this inspiring story to life. Daina Reid is one of the most creative and brilliant directors in the country. Oscar nominated Jan Sardi and Mac Gudgeon gave us an absolutely inspired screenplay. The amazing Sarah and Oliver shone as did best supporting actor nominated, Lachy Hulme and Tim Minchin and Trevor Jamieson. The crew were incredibly brilliant.”
Ruby’s Mark Ruse, said: “It’s been a real labour of love bringing this important and powerful story to the screen. Over the years our productions have been nominated for many awards, but I think this is right up there with those we are proudest of.”
The series recently picked up the peer voted Awgie award for Best mini-series screenplay and has been nominated in the Composers Guild awards for Best Music. It’s also nominated for best drama series in the Screen Producers Australia awards.
Based on Kate Grenville’s multi-award wining bestselling novel, the mini-series tells the deeply personal story of Will and Sal Thornhill, early convict colonialists in New South Wales.
It dramatises the British colonisation of Australia in a microcosm, with the dispossession of indigenous Australians made comprehensible and ultimately heart-breaking as Will Thornhill’s claim over a piece of land on the beautiful and remote Hawkesbury River, brings his family and neighbours into conflict with the traditional owners of the land.
Will Thornhill is driven by an oppressed, impoverished past and a desperate need to provide a safe home for his beloved family in a strange, foreboding land.
Ruby Entertainment is a boutique producer of bold, thought provoking television drama. Over the years principals Stephen Luby and Mark Ruse have produced a strong of high quality ground breaking television include early series of Kath and Kim, the top grossing movie, Crackerjack, John Clarke’s The Games, the Murray Whelan telemovies Stiff and The Brushoff directed by Sam Neill and John Clarke and three season of the popular drama Bed of Roses.