The Code.
Shelley Birse has taken out the top prize at this year’s AWGIE Awards, winning the Major Award for the second season of ABC cyber-thriller The Code.
The first season of The Code also took out the Australian Writers’ Guild Major Award in 2014. This year’s award makes it the only series to have been recognised by two Major Awards for both of its seasons. The Code also received the AWGIE Award for the Television: Miniseries – Original category.
Overall, more than 25 Australian writers – from radio, television, film, theatre and interactive media – were honoured at this year’s AWGIE Awards, held in Sydney on Friday evening.
Andrew Knight and Osamah Sami’s Ali’s Wedding took out the award for most outstanding script for an original feature, while Shaun Grant and Craig Silvey received the award for most outstanding feature adaptation for Jasper Jones.
Samantha Strauss was honoured for her original telemovie, Mary: The Making of a Princess, and Barracuda’s Blake Ayshford and Belinda Chayko took out Television Miniseries – Adaptation category.
Andrew Knight also scored a second AWGIE Award for his work on Rake.
The 2016 Fred Parsons Award for outstanding contribution to Australian Comedy was presented to Barry Humphries. Humphries, whose career has spanned 60 years, was honoured for the contribution he has made to Australian and international comedy writing.
The AWG also honoured Craig Pearce – co-writer of Strictly Ballroom, Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge, Charlie St Cloud and The Great Gatsby – by awarding him the Australian Writers’ Guild Lifetime Achievement Award.
AWG president Jan Sardi said that, at a time when television is experiencing a global renaissance, the Annual AWGIE Awards are a way of honouring the world-class talent of Australian screenwriters and playwrights.
“With the advent of streaming services such as Netflix and Stan revolutionising the way we all consume screen content, there is an undeniable buzz and energy around our film and TV industries in particular,” he said.
“This heralds exciting times ahead not only for Australian writers for performance, but for the millions of viewers hungry for top-notch content on their screens and stages,” he said.
The full list of 2016 winners:
Major Award
The Code: Season 2 – Shelley Birse
Telemovie – Original
Mary: The Making of a Princess – Samantha Strauss
Television: Miniseries – Adaptation
Barracuda – Blake Ayshford and Belinda Chayko
Television: Miniseries – Original
The Code: Season 2 – Shelley Birse
Television – Series
Rake: Season 4, Episode 407 – Andrew Knight
Television – Serial
Neighbours: Episode 7202 – Jason Herbison
Comedy – Sketch or Light Entertainment
The Weekly with Charlie Pickering: ‘Halal Certification’ and ‘Stadium Naming Rights’ – Gerard McCulloch with Charlie Pickering
Comedy – Situation or Narrative
Please Like Me: Season 3, 'Pancakes with Faces' –Josh Thomas and Liz Doran
Feature Film – Original
Ali's Wedding – Andrew Knight & Osamah Sami
Feature Film – Adaptation
Jasper Jones – Shaun Grant & Craig Silvey
Short Form
Slingshot – David Hansen
Radio – Original
Happy Monday – Richie Black
Radio – Adaptation
Spirit – Donna Abela
Interactive Media
The Forgotten City – Nick Pearce
Animation
Beat Bugs: 'Yellow Submarine' – Josh Wakely
Documentary – Public Broadcast or Exhibition
Baxter and Me – Gillian Leahy
The Silences – Margot Nash
Documentary – Corporate & Training
Seven Women Nepal – The Birth of a Social Enterprise – Gaby Purchase and Claire Stone
Community and Youth Theatre
A Kid Like Me – Sally Hardy with Alirio Zavarce
Stage
The Bleeding Tree – Angus Cerini
Children’s Theatre
Reasons to Stay Inside – Katy Warner
The Red Balloon – Hilary Bell
Music Theatre
The Rabbits – Lally Katz
Children’s Television – P Classification
Sydney Sailboat: 'Trash and Treasure' – Rachel Spratt
Children’s Television – C Classification
Ready for This: 'The Birthday Party' – Leah Purcell
SPECIAL AWARDS
David Williamson Prize
Given in celebration and recognition of excellence in writing for Australian theatre
The Bleeding Tree – Angus Cerini
Richard Lane Award
For outstanding service and dedication to the Australian Writers’ Guild
Karin Altmann
Dorothy Crawford Award
For outstanding contribution to the profession
John Romeril
Fred Parsons Award
For outstanding contribution to Australian comedy
Barry Humphries
Hector Crawford Award
For outstanding contribution to the craft as a script producer, editor or dramaturge
Marcia Gardner
The Australian Writers’ Guild Lifetime Achievement Award
Craig Pearce
UNPRODUCED AWARDS
Monte Miller Award – Long Form
Mary, Mary – Penelope Chai & Adam Spellicy
Monte Miller Award – Short Form
It Will Peck You – Katie Found