ABC telemovie Mabo and its two lead actors Deborah Mailman and Jimi Bani have scooped the best film and actor categories at the 2012 Deadly Awards.
The telemovie about Eddie and Bonita Mabo (played by Bani and Mailman), and their fight for indigenous land rights, was directed by Rachel Perkins (Bran Nue Dae, First Australians) and written by Sue Smith (Bastard Boys, Brides of Christ).
The television show of the year was awarded to SBS series The Straits, which was set in Far North Queensland and the Torres Strait, and followed the drug-smuggling Montebello family. The cast included Rena Owen, Jimi Bani, Firass Dirani and Suzannah Bayes-Morton and Aaron Fa’Aoso.
Indigenous feel-good movie The Sapphires, which has taken more than $12 million at the box office to date, was also recognised. The original Sapphires – Beverly Briggs, Naomi Mayers, Lois Peeler, Laurel Robinson and Tony Briggs – who wrote the original Sapphires play which the film was based on, were honoured through the Jimmy Little Award for Lifetime Achievement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music.
Meanwhile, Jessica Mauboy, who stars in The Sapphires, took home Deadlys for Single of the Year (Galaxy) and Female Artist of the Year.
The Deadlys, now in its 18th year, recognises, celebrates and showcases the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to the indigenous community and to Australian society.
A full list of winners, which span music, sport, the arts and entertainment, community and leadership categories, can be found at the Deadlys website.
Contact this reporter at bswift@www.if.com.au or on Twitter at @bcswift.
The Deadlys will be broadcast on SBS One on Sunday, September 30 and repeated on Thursday, October 4 at 9.30pm on SBS Two and Wednesday, October 3 at 9.30pm on NITV.