‘Breath’.
Simon Baker’s feature debut Breath only hit cinemas last week, but the film has already rung up an accolade for the director, with the Australian Directors’ Guild (ADG) awarding Baker Best Direction of a Feature Film at its annual awards in Melbourne on Friday evening.
Baker was up against Tori Garrett for Don’t Tell, Jason Raftopoulos for West of Sunshine, Jeffrey Walker for Ali’s Wedding and Greg McLean for Jungle.
Other winners on the night included Larissa Behrendt, who was recognised with the award for Best Direction of a Documentary Feature for After The Apology, beating out Jen Peedom who was nominated for Mountain, Kriv Stenders for The Go-Betweens: Right Here and Sascha Ettinger Epstein for The Pink House.
In television, Fiona Banks took home two awards – Best Direction of TV or SVOD Drama series for Wentworth and the Esben Storm Award for Best Direction of Children’s TV or SOD Drama for Mustangs FC.
Daina Reid’s work on SBS mini Sunshine saw her win the ADG Award for Best Direction of TV or SVOD Mini Series, and Jonathan Brough took home the prize for Best Direction of a TV or SVOD Comedy Program for ABC series Rosehaven.
The full list of winners:
Best Direction of a Feature Film
Simon Baker for Breath
Best Direction of a Short Film
John Sheedy for Mrs McCutcheon
Best Direction of a Student Film
Lucy Knox for An Act of Love
Best Direction of a Documentary Feature Film
Larissa Behrendt for After the Apology
Best Direction of a Documentary Series
Alex Barry for The Surgery Ship
Best Direction of a Documentary Standalone Project
Sari Braithwaite for Paper Trails
High commendation: Jolyon Hoff for The Staging Post
Esben Storm Award For Best Direction of A Children’s TV or SVOD Drama
Fiona Banks for Mustangs FC (Series 1, Episode 13)
Best Direction of a TV or SVOD Drama Series
Fiona Banks for Wentworth (Series 5, Episode 5)
Best Direction of a TV or SVOD Drama Serial
Danny Raco for Home and Away (Episode 6756)
Best Direction of a TV or SVOD Mini Series
Daina Reid for Sunshine
Best Direction of a TV or SVOD Comedy Program
Jonathan Brough for Rosehaven (Series 2, Episode 4)
Best Direction of an Online Drama Project
Scott Mannion for The Defector
Best Direction of an Online Comedy Project
Henry Inglis for Small Town Hackers
Best Direction of an Animated Project
Steve Baker for This is Desmondo Ray!
High Commendation: Marieka Walsh and Larissa Behrendt for Barbara
Best Direction of Commercial Content
Paul Middleditch for Celebrate Australia
Best Direction of a Music Video
Nick Waterman for Edge of the Night
Artist: Sheppard
Ray Argall