Russell Crowe's The Water Diviner is in the running for nine awards from the Film Critics Circle of Australia.
The Babadook and Predestination each scored eight nominations for the awards which will be presented on Tuesday 10 March in Sydney.
There are five nominations apiece for Charlie’s Country, Felony, The Rover and Tracks. Some 12 films released in calendar 2014 got nods.
Up for best film are The Babadook (producers Kristina Ceyton and Kristian Moliere), Charlie’s Country (Rolf de Heer, Peter Djigirr and Nils Erik Nielsen), Predestination (Paddy McDonald, Tim McGahan and Michael Spierig), Tracks (Iain Canning, Emile Sherman) and The Water Diviner ( Troy Lum, Andrew Mason and Keith Rodger).
Unlike the AACTA Awards, Crowe was nominated for best director alongside John Curran, de Heer, Jennifer Kent and the Spierig brothers.
FCCA president and ABC Radio host Rod Quinn said, “This year’s nominees show the diversity of the Australian film industry – from a scary movie set in a haunted house, to a modern day epic, and stories that cover our entire continent. The filmmakers nominated include the biggest names in Australian film and many talented newcomers.”
The awards will be held at the Paddington/Woollahra RSL and will feature a tribute to long-time FCCA members Evan Williams, who has retired as film critic for The Australian, and Margaret Pomeranz and David Stratton, who departed after 28 years as hosts of SBS’s The Movie Show and ABC’s At The Movies.
2014 FCCA AWARDS NOMINATIONS
BEST FILM
THE BABADOOK PRODUCERS: Kristina Ceyton, Kristian Moliere
CHARLIE'S COUNTRY PRODUCERS: Rolf de Heer, Peter Djigirr, Nils Erik Nielsen
PREDESTINATION PRODUCERS: Paddy McDonald, Tim McGahan, Michael Spierig, Peter Spierig
TRACKS PRODUCERS: Iain Canning, Emile Sherman
THE WATER DIVINER PRODUCERS: Troy Lum, Andrew Mason, Keith Rodger
BEST DIRECTOR
Russell Crowe The Water Diviner
John Curran Tracks
Rolf de Heer Charlie's Country
Jennifer Kent The Babadook
Michael Spierig & Peter Spierig Predestination
BEST ACTRESS
Essie Davis The Babadook
Sarah Snook Predestination
Mia Wasikowska Tracks
BEST ACTOR
Russell Crowe The Water Diviner
Joel Edgerton Felony
David Gulpilil Charlie's Country
Don Hany Healing
Guy Pearce The Rover
BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Justine Clarke Healing
Melissa George Felony
Erin James The Little Death
Jacqueline McKenzie The Water Diviner
Susan Prior The Rover
BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Jai Courtney Felony
Adam Driver Tracks
Yilmaz ErdoÄŸan The Water Diviner
Robert Pattinson The Rover
Tom Wilkinson Felony
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A YOUNG ACTOR
Tilda Cobham-Hervey 52 Tuesdays
Ashleigh Cummings Galore
Angourie Rice These Final Hours
Noah Wiseman The Babadook
BEST SCREENPLAY
Matthew Cormack 52 Tuesdays
Rolf de Heer, David Gulpilil Charlie's Country
Joel Edgerton Felony
Jennifer Kent The Babadook
Michael Spierig & Peter Spierig Predestination
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Ian Jones Charlie's Country
Radek Ladezuk The Babadook
Andrew Lesnie The Water Diviner
Ben Nott Predestination
Mandy Walker Tracks
BEST MUSIC SCORE
David Hirschfelder Healing
David Hirschfelder The Water Diviner
Antony Partos The Rover
Peter Spierig Predestination
BEST EDITOR
Bryan Mason 52 Tuesdays
Simon Njoo The Babadook
Matt Villa Predestination
Matt Villa The Water Diviner
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Jo Ford The Rover
Alex Holmes The Babadook
Chris Kennedy The Water Diviner
Matthew Putland Predestination