Edging ever upwards in the international relevancy sphere are the AACTA Awards (nee The AFI’s), who strive to acknowledge the efforts of our local entertainment heroes. Handed out by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts, the 3rd Annual AACTA Awards, held in early 2014, will span 39 categories, and they have just announced the full nominations list, with 50 feature films, documentaries and television productions in the running to take home some precious metal.
The Great Gatsby from Big Bold Bazza is leading the sparkly, Jay-Z sountracked charged with a whopping 14 nominations, while The Rocket (fresh from winning Best First Feature at the Berlinale and Best Narrative Feature at Tribeca) has scooped up 12 nominations. It’s a pretty safe bet that Gatsby will take home a majority of the technical awards, while Baz will have to fight off Robert Connolly and the cavalcade of superstar Australian directors (like Our Cate) who turned out to contribute to his omnibus adaption of Tim Winton’s The Turning for Best Feature.
Among the nominations for major awards are:
Best Feature Film
DEAD EUROPE
THE GREAT GATSBY
MYSTERY ROAD
THE ROCKET
SATELLITE BOY
THE TURNING
Best Lead Actor in a Feature Film
Leonardo DiCaprio – THE GREAT GATSBY
Sittiphon Disamoe – THE ROCKET
Ewen Leslie – DEAD EUROPE
Hugo Weaving – THE TURNING
Best Lead Actress in a Feature Film
Rose Byrne – THE TURNING
Carey Mulligan – THE GREAT GATSBY
Tasma Walton – MYSTERY ROAD
Naomi Watts – ADORATION
Best Television Drama Series
OFFSPRING
REDFERN NOW
SERANGOON ROAD
WENTWORTH
Best Telefeature or Mini Series
AN ACCIDENTAL SOLDIER
MRS BIGGS
POWER GAMES: THE PACKER-MURDOCH STORY
TOP OF THE LAKE
Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama
Kris McQuade – WENTWORTH
Heather Mitchell – POWER GAMES: THE PACKER-MURDOCH STORY
Robyn Nevin – TOP OF THE LAKE
Kat Stewart – OFFSPRING
Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama
Ernie Dingo – REDFERN NOW
Remy Hii – BETTER MAN
Lachy Hulme – POWER GAMES: THE PACKER-MURDOCH STORY
Meyne Wyatt – REDFERN NOW
Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama
Marie Bunel – AN ACCIDENTAL SOLDIER
Claudia Karvan – THE TIME OF OUR LIVES
Asher Keddie – OFFSPRING
Sheridan Smith – MRS BIGGS
Best Feature Length Documentary
I AM A GIRL – Rebecca Barry
ONCE MY MOTHER – Rod Freedman
RED OBSESSION – Warwick Ross
SHADOW OF DOUBT – Eve Ash
Best Supporting Actor in a Feature Film
Marton Csokas – DEAD EUROPE
Joel Edgerton – THE GREAT GATSBY
Thep Phongam – THE ROCKET
Angus Sampson – 100 BLOODY ACRES
Best Supporting Actress in a Feature Film
Elizabeth Debicki – THE GREAT GATSBY
Isla Fisher – THE GREAT GATSBY
Mirrah Foulkes – THE TURNING
Alice Keohavong – THE ROCKET
Best Original Screenplay
Colin Cairnes and Cameron Cairnes – 100 BLOODY ACRES
Morgan O’Neill and Tim Duffy – DRIFT
Ivan Sen – MYSTERY ROAD
Kim Mordaunt – THE ROCKET
Best Direction in a Feature Film
Baz Luhrmann – THE GREAT GATSBY
Ivan Sen – MYSTERY ROAD
Kim Mordaunt – THE ROCKET
The Turning Ensemble – THE TURNING
The full nominations list is available via the AACTA website. The AACTA Awards have the honour of not being voted for by TV Week readers, but by industry professionals and AACTA members. The 3rd Annual AACTA Awards Ceremony will be held on January 30, 2014 .
