Jennifer Kent has won Best Direction in a Feature Film for The Babadook at the 2015 Australian Directors Guild Awards, held in Melbourne on Friday night.
The Awards celebrate the outstanding work of Australian screen directors over the past year, across 15 categories including film, television , TVC and content created for the internet.
Other winners included Tony Krawitz for Best Direction in a TV Mini Series for episode five of Devil’s Playground and Matthew Saville for Best Direction in a TV Comedy for Please Like Me.
The ceremony, ordinarily held in Sydney, switched it up this year and took place at the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins.
Hosted by The Chaser’s Chris Taylor, the event honoured the 30th anniversary of Neighbours, with long-serving cast members Jackie Woodburne and Alan Fletcher in attendance along with Ariel Kaplan and Harley Bonner.
This year, the ADG presented both the Michael Carson Award and the ADG/DGA Finders Award.
The recipients of both awards had previously been revealed with Chris Langman at the Awards to celebrate his many achievements with the Michael Carson Award and Craig Monahan was the recipient of the ADG/DGA Finders Award for HEALING.
In a moving and emotional speech, Monahan dedicated his award to the late cinematographer Andrew Lesnie, with whom he had worked with on Healing.
See the full list of winners below.
THE 2015 ADG AWARD WINNERS
BEST DIRECTION IN A TV DRAMA SERIES
Proudly sponsored by Screenwise Film & TV School for Actors
The Code – Series 1 Episode 4 – Shawn Seet
BEST DIRECTION IN A DOCUMENTARY (Stand Alone)
Prison Songs – Kelrick Martin
ESBEN STORM AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTION IN A CHILDREN’S TV PROGRAM
Proudly sponsored by the Australian Children’s Television Foundation
(There are 2 winners in this category)
Get Grubby TV – Cate McQuillen
Nowhere Boys – Series 2 Episode 7 – Craig Irvin
BEST DIRECTION IN A TV COMMERCIAL
Life Through Wool – Jessie Oldfield & Adam Murfet
BEST DIRECTION IN A MUSIC VIDEO
It’s Alright (Fractures) – Matthew Chuang
BEST DIRECTION IN A STUDENT FILM
Proudly sponsored by AFTRS
I Am Emmanuel – Genevieve Clay-Smith
BEST DIRECTION IN AN ORIGINAL ONLINE PROJECT
Wastelander Panda: Exile – Victoria Cocks
BEST DIRECTION IN A SHORT FILM
Proudly sponsored by RMIT School of Media & Communication
Grey Bull – Eddy Bell
BEST DIRECTION IN A TV DRAMA SERIAL
Home and Away – Episode 6051 – Scott Hartford-Davis
ADG/DGA FINDERS AWARD
Craig Monahan – Healing
BEST DIRECTION IN A TV COMEDY
Proudly sponsored by ABC TV
Please Like Me – Series 2 Episode 7 – Matthew Saville
BEST DIRECTION IN A DOCUMENTARY SERIES
Changing Minds – Episode 2 – Cian O'Clery
BEST DIRECTION IN A TV MINI SERIES
Proudly sponsored by Foxtel
Devil's Playground – Episode 5 – Tony Krawitz
BEST DIRECTION IN A DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Love Marriage in Kabul – Amin Palangi
BEST DIRECTION IN A TELEMOVIE
Jack Irish: Dead Point – Jeffrey Walker
MICHAEL CARSON AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN TELEVISION DRAMA DIRECTION
Chris Langman
BEST DIRECTION IN A FEATURE FILM
Proudly sponsored by Media Super
The Babadook – Jennifer Kent