It seems controversy leads to awards. The two big winners at last night’s inaugural AACTA Awards were thriller feature film Snowtown and TV drama series The Slap. Both renowned for their controversial nature, the film and TV series netted four and five gongs respectively.
Snowtown, about Australian serial killer John Bunting who befriends a 16-year-old, was honoured in the Best Direction (Justin Kurzel), Best Adapted Screenplay (Shaun Grant), Best Actor (Daniel Henshall) and Best Supporting Actress (Louise Harris) categories.
The last two awards were particularly impressive as neither actor had appeared in a feature film before. While Henshall had previously acted in such shows as Out of the Blue, it was Harris’ first ever acting role.
The four gongs awarded last night at the Sydney Opera House brings the film’s tally to an impressive six AACTA Awards after receiving Best Editing (Veronika Jenet ASE) and Best Sound (Frank Lipson MPSE, Andrew McGrath, Des Kenneally, Michael Carden, John Simpson, Erin McKimm) at the revamped awards’ luncheon, held two weeks ago. The $2.5 million film was nominated in 10 categories in total.
The prestigious Best Film title went to local favourite Red Dog, which also took out the AFI Members’ Choice Award. The biggest film of last year was kept quiet last night in other categories such as Best Direction and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Highly-respected actress Judy Davis won the Best Lead Actress for her performance in Fred Schepisi’s The Eye of the Storm, while Hugo Weaving won Best Supporting Actor for his role in emotional drama Oranges and Sunshine. The unique, original script for Griff The Invisible won Leon Ford his first AACTA Award.
In television circles, Matchbox Pictures series The Slap netted awards for Best Telefeature, Mini Series or Short Run Series; Best Direction (Matthew Saville); Best Screenplay in Television (Brendan Cowell); Best Lead Actor in a TV Drama (Alex Dimitriades) and Best Guest/Supporting Artist in a TV Drama (Diana Glenn).
The ABC series, which has been sold to the US and Canada among many other territories, follows the repercussions of a single ‘slap’ from a man to a child at a summer barbecue. It brings up such debates as parenting, race, class, sexuality and the rights of children.
SBS drama East West 101 (series three) netted Best TV drama series, while ABC’s The Gruen Transfer (series four) took home the Best Light Entertainment TV series award.
Other awards went to Sarah Snook (Best Lead Actress in a TV Drama, Sisters of War), Richard Cawthorne (Best Guest/Supporting Actor in a TV Drama, Killing Time), Lara Robinson (Best Young Actor, cloudstreet), Packed To The Rafters (Audience Choice Award for Best TV program) and Asher Keddie (Audience Choice for Best Performance in TV drama, Paper Giants).
Clips from the AACTA International Awards Ceremony were shown at last night’s awards, acknowledging winning films such as The Artist, The Iron Lady and Margin Call/The Ideas of March. The full AACTA Awards ceremony (formerly the AFIs) from Sydney was broadcast on the Nine Network.
Such actors in attendance included 2012 Australian of the Year Geoffrey Rush, Cate Blanchett, Rachael Taylor, Mia Wasikowska and Olivia Newton-John (A Few Best Men).
Arts Minister Simon Crean told the ceremony that governments needed to continue investing in screen projects.
"Such an investment returns two important dividends – an economic dividend and a social dividend,” he noted. “There's a social dividend, because a creative nation empowers the individual. It teaches the art of expression, the importance of team work and cooperation, an understanding of other cultures, and most importantly the significance of inclusion and Australian values. These are all values that we hold dearly and the more that we can invest in that which underpins them, we get a dividend.
"There’s also an economic dividend, because all of the evidence points to the fact that a creative nation is a more productive nation.That’s why we're investing somewhere in the order of three quarters of a billion dollars directly into the arts and creative industries.
"It’s an industry worth governments of all persuasions to really get behind, particularly in advance of the National Cultural Policy. “
AACTA chief executive Damian Trewhella said later that the awards ceremony last night and the luncheon were two of the most successful awards events in the AFI’s 54-year history.
“We have also held our first Awards events internationally. By announcing and presenting our first ever AACTA International Awards in Los Angeles in January, we have established the AACTA Awards as part of the global screen awards conversation, drawing greater recognition for our Awards, our talented award recipients, and the Australian screen industry,” Trewhella said in a statement.
"I congratulate all those announced as the Australian Academy’s inaugural winners, and look forward to building on the momentum established by this proud moment in Australian screen history.”
And the winners are….
FEATURE FILM
SAMSUNG AACTA AWARD FOR BEST FILM
• RED DOG. Nelson Woss, Julie Ryan.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTION
• Snowtown. Justin Kurzel.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
• Griff The Invisible. Leon Ford.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
• Snowtown. Shaun Grant.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST LEAD ACTOR
• Daniel Henshall. Snowtown.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST LEAD ACTRESS
• Judy Davis. The Eye Of The Storm.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
• Hugo Weaving. Oranges And Sunshine.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
• Louise Harris. Snowtown.
TELEVISION
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST TELEVISION DRAMA SERIES
• East West 101, Season 3 – The Heroes' Journey. Steve Knapman, Kris Wyld. SBS
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST TELEFEATURE, MINI SERIES OR SHORT RUN SERIES
• The Slap. Tony Ayres, Helen Bowden, Michael McMahon. ABC1
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION SERIES
• The Gruen Transfer, Series 4. Andrew Denton, Anita Jacoby, Jon Casimir. ABC1
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTION IN TELEVISION
• The Slap – Episode 3 ‘Harry’. Matthew Saville. ABC1
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST SCREENPLAY IN TELEVISION
• The Slap – Episode 3 'Harry'. Brendan Cowell. ABC1
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A TELEVISION DRAMA
• Alex Dimitriades. The Slap. ABC1
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST LEAD ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION DRAMA
• Sarah Snook. Sisters Of War. ABC1
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST GUEST OR SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A TELEVISION DRAMA
• Richard Cawthorne. Killing Time – Episode 2. FOXTEL – TV1
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST GUEST OR SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION DRAMA
• Diana Glenn. The Slap – Episode 3 'Harry'. ABC1
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST YOUNG ACTOR
• Lara Robinson. Cloudstreet – Part 1. FOXTEL – Showcase
SWITCHED ON AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD FOR BEST TELEVISION PROGRAM
• Packed To The Rafters. Seven Network
SWITCHED ON AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD FOR BEST PERFORMANCE IN A TELEVISION DRAMA
• Asher Keddie. Paper Giants: The Birth Of Cleo. ABC1
WINNERS BY PRODUCTION
FEATURE FILM
Snowtown – 4 Awards
• AACTA Award for Best Direction
• AACTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay
• AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor – Daniel Henshall
• AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actress – Louise Harris
The Eye Of The Storm – 1 Award
• AACTA Award for Best Lead Actress – Judy Davis
RED DOG – 1 Award
• Samsung AACTA Award for Best Film
Griff The Invisible – 1 Award
• AACTA Award for Best Original Screenplay
Oranges And Sunshine – 1 Award
• AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actor – Hugo Weaving
TELEVISION
The Slap – 5 Awards
• AACTA Award for Best Telefeature, Mini Series or Short Run Series
• AACTA Award for Best Direction in Television – Episode 3 ‘Harry’, Matthew Saville
• AACTA Award for Best Screenplay in Television – Episode 3 ‘Harry’, Brendan Cowell
• AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama – Alex Dimitriades
• AACTA Award for Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama – Diana Glenn, Episode 3 ‘Harry’
Cloudstreet – 1 Award
• AACTA Award for Best Young Actor – Lara Robinson – Part 1
East West 101, Season 3 – The Heroes' Journey – 1 Award
• AACTA Award for Best Television Drama Series
The Gruen Transfer, Series 4 – 1 Award
• AACTA Award for Best Light Entertainment Television Series
Killing Time, Episode 2 – 1 Award
• AACTA Award for Best Guest or Supporting Actor in a Television Drama – Richard Cawthorne
Packed To The Rafters – 1 Award
• Switched On Audience Choice Award for Best Television Program
Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo – 1 Award
• Switched On Audience Choice Award for Best Performance in a Television Drama – Asher Keddie
Sisters Of War – 1 Award
• AACTA Award for Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama – Sarah Snook
WINNERS BY NETWORK
ABC1
The Slap – 5 Awards
• AACTA Award for Best Telefeature, Mini Series or Short Run Series
• AACTA Award for Best Direction in Television – Episode 3 ‘Harry’, Matthew Saville
• AACTA Award for Best Screenplay in Television – Episode 3 ‘Harry’, Brendan Cowell
• AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama – Alex Dimitriades
• AACTA Award for Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama – Diana Glenn. Episode 3 ‘Harry’
The Gruen Transfer, Series 4 – 1 Award
• AACTA Award for Best Light Entertainment Television Series
Paper Giants: The Birth Of Cleo – 1 Award
• Switched On Audience Choice Award for Best Performance in a Television Drama – Asher Keddie
Sisters Of War – 1 Award
• AACTA Award for Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama – Sarah Snook
CHANNEL 7
Packed To The Rafters – 1 Award
• Switched On Audience Choice Award for Best Television Program
SBS
East West 101, Season 3 – The Heroes' Journey – 1 Award
• AACTA Award for Best Television Drama Series
FOXTEL
Cloudstreet, SHOWCASE – 1 Award
• AACTA Award for Best Young Actor – Lara Robinson – Part 1
Killing Time, TV1 – 1 Award
• AACTA Award for Best Guest or Supporting Actor in a Television Drama – Richard Cawthorne, Episode 2
Samsung AACTA Awards Luncheon Winners (PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED)
AACTA RAYMOND LONGFORD AWARD
• Don McAlpine
BYRON KENNEDY AWARD
• Ivan Sen
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
• Legend Of The Guardians: The Owls Of Ga'Hoole. Grant Freckelton.
FEATURE FILM
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
• The Hunter. Robert Humphreys ACS.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST EDITING
• Snowtown. Veronika Jenet ASE.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST SOUND
• Snowtown. Frank Lipson MPSE, Andrew McGrath, Des Kenneally, Michael Carden, John Simpson,
Erin McKimm.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST ORIGINAL MUSIC SCORE
• The Hunter. Matteo Zingales, Michael Lira, Andrew Lancaster.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
• The Eye Of The Storm. Melinda Doring.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST COSTUME DESIGN
• The Eye Of The Storm. Terry Ryan.
AFI MEMBERS' CHOICE AWARD
• Red Dog. Nelson Woss, Julie Ryan.
TELEVISION
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST TELEVISION COMEDY SERIES
• Laid. Liz Watts. ABC1
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST PERFORMANCE IN A TELEVISION COMEDY
• Chris Lilley. Angry Boys. ABC1
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST CHILDREN'S TELEVISION SERIES
• My Place, Series 2. Penny Chapman. ABC3
AACTA AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN TELEVISION SCREEN CRAFT
• Herbert Pinter – Production Design. Cloudstreet. FOXTEL – Showcase
SHORT FILM
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST SHORT ANIMATION
• Nullarbor. Alister Lockhart, Patrick Sarell, Katrina Mathers, Merrin Jensen, Daryl Munton.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST SHORT FICTION FILM
• The Palace. Kate Croser, Anthony Maras, Andros Achilleos.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST SCREENPLAY IN A SHORT FILM
• The Palace. Anthony Maras.
DOCUMENTARY
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST FEATURE LENGTH DOCUMENTARY
• Mrs Carey's Concert. Bob Connolly, Helen Panckhurst, Sophie Raymond. ABC1
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY UNDER ONE HOUR
• Jandamarra's War. Andrew Ogilvie, Andrea Quesnelle, Eileen Torres. ABC1
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY SERIES
• SAS – The Search for Warriors. Julia Redwood, Ed Punchard. SBS
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTION IN A DOCUMENTARY
• Mrs Carey's Concert. Bob Connolly, Sophie Raymond. ABC1
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY IN A DOCUMENTARY
• Out Of The Ashes. David Parer ACS. ABC1
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST EDITING IN A DOCUMENTARY
• Shut Up Little Man! An Audio Misadventure. Bryan Mason.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST SOUND IN A DOCUMENTARY
• murundak – songs of freedom. Emma Bortignon, Michael Letho, Peter Smith, Christopher O'Young, Simon Walbrook. SBS