Hit musical drama The Sapphires has scored 12 nominations at the 2012 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards including in the coveted best feature film category.
The Sapphires, which follows four indigenous singers during the Vietnam war, has grossed more than $14 million in Australia to become the biggest local film of the year.
Three other films will be also be vying for the best feature film award: Burning Man (10 nominations in total), Lore (eight nominations in total) and Wish You Were Here (eight nominations in total) at the main AACTA ceremony, which will be held on January 30, 2013, at The Star Event Centre. Last year's event was held at the iconic Sydney Opera House.
P.J. Hogan's Mental also scored eight nominations including Best Lead Actress (Toni Collette), Best Supporting Actor (Liev Schreiber) Best Young Actor (Lily Sullivan) and Best Supporting Actress for Rebecca Gibney and Deborah Mailman.
Not Suitable for Children received four AACTA Award nominations, while 33 Postcards and Killer Elite were each nominated for two AACTA Awards. Other feature film nominations included: A Few Best Men (Best Original Music Score); Iron Sky (Best Visual Effects); Swerve (Best Sound); The King is Dead! (Best Supporting Actor – Gary Waddell); and X (Best Editing).
In the television category, Puberty Blues, Redfern Now, Rake – Season 2, and Tangle – Season 3 will be vying to take home the Best Television Drama Series Award. Puberty Blues received six AACTA nominations in total while Redfern Now and Howzat! Kerry Packer’s War each received five. Underground, Devil's Dust and Beaconsfield received two nominations.
The new AACTA Best Reality Television Series Award nominations were: My Kitchen Rules – Series 3, MasterChef Australia – Series 4, The Voice and The Amazing Race Australia.
Three of the four nominees for Best Television Comedy Series were ABC series: A Moody Christmas, Lowdown – Season 2 and Shaun Micallef’s Mad as Hell. SBS series Danger 5 was also nominated.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST YOUNG ACTOR
• Brenna Harding. Puberty Blues. Network Ten
• Ed Oxenbould. Julian.
• Saskia Rosendahl. Lore.
• Lily Sullivan. Mental.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
• Iron Sky. Samuli Torssonen, Jussi Lehtiniemi, Juuso Kaari, Kelly Myers.
• Killer Elite. Ineke Majoor, Julian Dimsey.
• The Sapphires. James Rogers.
• Utopia Girls – How Women Won The Vote. Kylie Robertson, Rebecca Stegh, Monica Monin. ABC1
AACTA RAYMOND LONGFORD AWARD
• Al Clark
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST CHILDREN'S TELEVISION SERIES
• The Adventures of Figaro Pho. Dan Fill, Frank Verheggen, David Webster. ABC3
• Dance Academy – Series 2. Joanna Werner. ABC3
• Flea-bitten! Gillian Carr. Nine Network
• Guess How Much I Love You – The Adventures of Little Nutbrown Hare. Suzanne Ryan, Seng Choon Meng, Sebastian Debertin, Tina Sicker. FOXTEL – Disney Junior, ABC2
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST TELEVISION COMEDY SERIES
• A Moody Christmas. Andrew Walker. ABC1
• Danger 5. Kate Croser, Dario Russo. SBS
• Lowdown – Season 2. Nicole Minchin, Amanda Brotchie, Adam Zwar. ABC1
• Shaun Micallef's Mad As Hell. Peter Beck. ABC1
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION SERIES
• Adam Hills In Gordon Street Tonight – Series 2. Rachel Millar, Adam Hills, Bruce Kane. ABC1
• Agony Aunts. Adam Zwar, Nicole Minchin. ABC1
• Gruen Sweat. Anita Jacoby, Andrew Denton, Jon Casimir, Debbie Cuell. ABC1
• The Hamster Wheel – Series 1. Andy Nehl. ABC1
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST REALITY TELEVISION SERIES
• The Amazing Race Australia. David Gardner, Matthew Kowald. Seven Network
• MasterChef Australia – Series 4. Tim Toni. Network Ten
• My Kitchen Rules – Series 3. Matt Apps, Greg Swanborough, Evan Wilkes. Seven Network
• The Voice. Julie Ward. Nine Network
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST TELEVISION DRAMA SERIES
• Puberty Blues. John Edwards, Imogen Banks. Network Ten
• Rake – Season 2. Ian Collie, Peter Duncan, Richard Roxburgh. ABC1
• Redfern Now. Darren Dale, Miranda Dear. ABC1
• Tangle – Season 3. John Edwards, Imogen Banks. FOXTEL – Showtime
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST TELEFEATURE OR MINI SERIES
• Beaconsfield. John Edwards, Jane Liscombe. Nine Network
• Devil's Dust. Antonia Barnard, Stephen Corvini. ABC1
• Howzat! Kerry Packer's War. John Edwards, Mimi Butler. Nine Network
• Underground. Helen Bowden. Network Ten
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTION IN TELEVISION
• The Amazing Race Australia – Episode 1. Michael McKay. Seven Network
• Beaconsfield. Glendyn Ivin. Nine Network
• Howzat! Kerry Packer's War – Part 1. Daina Reid. Nine Network
• Jack Irish: Bad Debts. Jeffrey Walker. ABC 1
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST SCREENPLAY IN TELEVISION
• A Moody Christmas – Episode 5 'Water Under the Bridge'. Trent O'Donnell, Phil Lloyd. ABC1
• Lowdown – Season 2 – Episode 3 'One Fine Gay'. Amanda Brotchie, Adam Zwar, Trudy Hellier. ABC1
• Puberty Blues – Episode 5. Alice Bell, Tony McNamara. Network Ten
• Redfern Now – Episode 6 'Pretty Boy Blue'. Steven McGregor. ABC1
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A TELEVISION DRAMA
• Jimi Bani. Mabo. ABC1
• Anthony Hayes. Devil's Dust. ABC1
• Lachy Hulme. Howzat! Kerry Packer's War. Nine Network
• Richard Roxburgh. Rake – Season 2. ABC1
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST LEAD ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION DRAMA
• Ashleigh Cummings. Puberty Blues. Network Ten
• Essie Davis. Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. ABC1
• Susie Porter. Dangerous Remedy. ABC1
• Leah Purcell. Redfern Now – Episode 1 'Family'. ABC1
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST GUEST OR SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A TELEVISION DRAMA
• Luke Carroll. Redfern Now – Episode 6 'Pretty Boy Blue'. ABC1
• Abe Forsythe. Howzat! Kerry Packer's War – Part 1. Nine Network
• Aaron Jeffery. Underbelly Badness – Episode 3 'The Loaded Dog’. Nine Network
• Dan Wyllie. Puberty Blues – Episode 4. Network Ten
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST GUEST OR SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION DRAMA
• Shareena Clanton. Redfern Now – Episode 1 'Family'. ABC1
• Mandy McElhinney. Howzat! Kerry Packer's War – Part 2. Nine Network
• Susan Prior. Puberty Blues – Episode 4. Network Ten
• Laura Wheelwright. Underground. Network Ten
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST PERFORMANCE IN A TELEVISION COMEDY
• Patrick Brammall. A Moody Christmas. ABC1
• Barry Crocker. The Strange Calls. ABC2
• Damon Herriman. Laid – Series 2. ABC1
• Frank Woodley. Woodley. ABC1
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST SHORT ANIMATION
• The Hunter. Marieka Walsh.
• LEGO® Star Wars®: The Padawan Menace™. David Scott, Mark Thorley, Amber Naismith.
• The Maker. Christopher Kezelos, Christine Kezelos.
• Sleight of Hand. Michael Cusack, Richard Chataway ACS.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST SHORT FICTION FILM
• B I N O. Billie Pleffer, Rita Walsh.
• Dumpy Goes To The Big Smoke. Mirrah Foulkes, David Michôd, Michael Cody.
• Julian. Robert Jago, Matthew Moore.
• Transmission. Zak Hilditch, Liz Kearney.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST SCREENPLAY IN A SHORT FILM
• B I N O. Billie Pleffer.
• Dumpy Goes To The Big Smoke. Mirrah Foulkes.
• Julian. Matthew Moore.
• Transmission. Zak Hilditch.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST FEATURE LENGTH DOCUMENTARY
• A Common Purpose. Mitzi Goldman.
• The Curse Of The Gothic Symphony. Veronica Fury. ABC1
• Dr Sarmast's Music School. Beth Frey. ABC1
• Storm Surfers 3D. Ellenor Cox, Marcus Gillezeau.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY UNDER ONE HOUR
• All The Way. Anne Delaney. ABC1
• I Can Change Your Mind About Climate. Simon Nasht, Kate Hodges. ABC1
• The Man Who Jumped. Julia Redwood, Ed Punchard. SBS
• Then The Wind Changed. Jeni McMahon. ABC1
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY SERIES
• Go Back To Where You Came From. Rick McPhee. SBS
• Once Upon A Time In Cabramatta. Jacob Hickey. SBS
• Singapore 1942 – End of Empire. Andrew Ogilvie, Trevor Graham, Ned Lander. SBS
• Sporting Nation. Andrea Denholm, Lavinia Riachi, John Clarke, Laura Waters. ABC1
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTION IN A DOCUMENTARY
• Dr Sarmast's Music School. Polly Watkins. ABC1
• Fighting Fear. Macario De Souza. FOXTEL – Movie Network
• Go Back To Where You Came From – Episode 2. Ivan O'Mahoney. SBS
• Once Upon A Time In Cabramatta – Episode 2. Bernadine Lim. SBS
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY IN A DOCUMENTARY
• Dr Sarmast's Music School. Peter Zakharov, Stephen Amis. ABC1
• Fighting Fear. Tim Bonython, Chris Bryan, Macario De Souza, Lee Kelly. FOXTEL – Movie Network
• Go Back To Where You Came From – Episode 3. Stephen Baker, Nicola Daley. SBS
• Storm Surfers 3D. David Maguire, Robert Morton, Dean Cropp, Richard Kickbush.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST EDITING IN A DOCUMENTARY
• Chateau Chunder – A Wine Revolution. Lawrie Silvestrin. ABC1
• Dr Sarmast's Music School. Tony Stevens ASE. ABC1
• Once Upon A Time In Cabramatta – Episode 1. Sam Wilson. SBS
• Storm Surfers 3D. Rodrigo Balart, Campbell Wilson.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST SOUND IN A DOCUMENTARY
• Dr Sarmast's Music School. Dale Cornelius, Livia Ruzic, Keith Thomas. ABC1
• Once Upon A Time In Cabramatta – Episode 2. Christopher Elves, Chris McCallum, David White. SBS
• Paul Kelly – Stories Of Me. Paul Charlier, Ian McLoughlin, Brooke Trezise, Nick Batterham, Richard Boxhall.
• Singapore 1942 – End of Empire – Episode 1. Glenn Martin, Ric Curtin, Ash Gibson Greig, Ian Grant, Leo Sullivan, Mark Tarpey. SBS
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST FILM
• Burning Man. Andy Paterson, Jonathan Teplitzky.
• Lore. Karsten Stöter, Liz Watts, Paul Welsh, Benny Drechsel.
• The Sapphires. Rosemary Blight, Kylie du Fresne.
• Wish You Were Here. Angie Fielder.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTION
• Burning Man. Jonathan Teplitzky.
• Lore. Cate Shortland.
• The Sapphires. Wayne Blair.
• Wish You Were Here. Kieran Darcy-Smith.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
• Burning Man. Jonathan Teplitzky.
• Mental. PJ Hogan.
• Not Suitable For Children. Michael Lucas.
• Wish You Were Here. Kieran Darcy-Smith, Felicity Price.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
• Lore. Cate Shortland, Robin Mukherjee.
• The Sapphires. Keith Thompson, Tony Briggs.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
• Burning Man. Garry Phillips ACS.
• Lore. Adam Arkapaw.
• The Sapphires. Warwick Thornton.
• Wish You Were Here. Jules O'Loughlin ACS.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST EDITING
• Burning Man. Martin Connor.
• The Sapphires. Dany Cooper ASE.
• Wish You Were Here. Jason Ballantine ASE.
• X. Cindy Clarkson.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST SOUND
• Burning Man. David Lee, Andrew Plain, Gethin Creagh.
• Lore. Sam Petty, Michael Busch, Robert Mackenzie, Antony Gray, Yulia Akerholt, Brooke Trezise.
• The Sapphires. Andrew Plain, Bry Jones, Pete Smith, Ben Osmo, John Simpson.
• Swerve. Pete Smith, John Simpson, Martyn Zub, Des Kenneally.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST ORIGINAL MUSIC SCORE
• 33 POSTCARDS. Antony Partos.
• A Few Best Men. Guy Gross.
• Mental. Michael Yezerski.
• Not Suitable For Children. Matteo Zingales, Jono Ma.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
• Burning Man. Steven Jones-Evans APDG.
• Killer Elite. Michelle McGahey.
• Lore. Silke Fischer.
• The Sapphires. Melinda Doring.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST COSTUME DESIGN
• Burning Man. Lizzy Gardiner.
• Lore. Stefanie Bieker.
• Mental. Tim Chappel.
• The Sapphires. Tess Schofield.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST LEAD ACTOR
• Joel Edgerton. Wish You Were Here.
• Matthew Goode. Burning Man.
• Chris O'Dowd. The Sapphires.
• Guy Pearce. 33 POSTCARDS.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST LEAD ACTRESS
• Toni Collette. Mental.
• Deborah Mailman. The Sapphires.
• Felicity Price. Wish You Were Here.
• Sarah Snook. Not Suitable For Children.
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
• Ryan Corr. Not Suitable For Children.
• Liev Schreiber. Mental.
• Antony Starr. Wish You Were Here.
• Gary Waddell. The King Is Dead!
AACTA AWARD FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
• Essie Davis. Burning Man.
• Rebecca Gibney. Mental.
• Deborah Mailman. Mental.
• Jessica Mauboy. The Sapphires.