Part 1: Wrapping it up with a Bow – The 2nd AACTA Awards Luncheon, presented by Deluxe

Winners at the 2nd AACTA Awards Luncheon, presented by Deluxe, Monday 28 January. Photo: Belinda Rolland

The statuettes have been presented, the winners have been toasted and the laurels have been sent out to each winning production. While the 2nd AACTA Awards may be fast receding behind us, there’s now the task of looking through all the wonderful photos and priceless video footage from the two Sydney events, and making sure they’re labelled and saved for posterity – and shared with screen industry and audience members alike.

In this, the first part of our AACTA Awards wrap, we shine the spotlight on the 2nd AACTA Awards Luncheon, presented by Deluxe and held in Sydney at The Star Event Centre on Monday 28 January.

The luncheon was hosted by the ever-entertaining Adam Elliot, who memorably appeared in one segment dressed as a gold-clad human statuette. Other presenters included Diana Glenn, Jane Harber and Jimi Bani as well as acclaimed actors Damon Herriman, Daniel Henshall and Felicity Price. Also taking to the stage were The Sapphires stars Miranda Tapsell and Shari Sebbens.

A highlight of the luncheon was the special presentation of the Raymond Longford Award to Producer, Al Clark.

The 2nd AACTA Awards Luncheon, presented by Deluxe also recognised the talent and innovation of artists and craftspeople working across television, documentary, short fiction film, short animation and feature film categories.  Here’s a quick rundown, with clips from our YouTube Channel:

DOCUMENTARY

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST FEATURE LENGTH DOCUMENTARY
Storm Surfers 3D. Ellenor Cox, Marcus Gillezeau.

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY UNDER ONE HOUR
Then The Wind Changed. Jeni McMahon, Celeste Geer. ABC1

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY SERIES
Go Back To Where You Came From. Rick McPhee, Ivan O’Mahoney. SBS

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTION IN A DOCUMENTARY
Fighting Fear. Macario De Souza. FOXTEL – Movie Network

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY IN A DOCUMENTARY
Fighting Fear. Tim Bonython, Chris Bryan, Macario De Souza, Lee Kelly. FOXTEL – Movie Network

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST EDITING IN A DOCUMENTARY
Once Upon A Time In Cabramatta – Episode 1. Sam Wilson. SBS

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST SOUND IN A DOCUMENTARY
Dr Sarmast’s Music School. Dale Cornelius, Livia Ruzic, Keith Thomas. ABC1

 

SHORT FILM

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST SHORT ANIMATION
The Hunter. Marieka Walsh

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST SHORT FICTION FILM
Julian. Robert Jago, Matthew Moore.

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST SCREENPLAY IN A SHORT FILM
Transmission. Zak Hilditch.

TELEVISION

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION SERIES
Agony Aunts. Adam Zwar, Nicole Minchin. ABC1

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST TELEVISION COMEDY SERIES
Lowdown – Season 2. Nicole Minchin, Amanda Brotchie, Adam Zwar. ABC1

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST PERFORMANCE IN A TELEVISION COMEDY
Patrick Brammall. A Moody Christmas. ABC1

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST CHILDREN’S TELEVISION SERIES
The Adventures Of Figaro Pho. Dan Fill, Frank Verheggen, David Webster. ABC3

 

FEATURE FILM

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
The Sapphires. Warwick Thornton.

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST EDITING
The Sapphires. Dany Cooper ASE.

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST SOUND
The Sapphires. Andrew Plain, Bry Jones, Pete Smith, Ben Osmo, John Simpson.

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST ORIGINAL MUSIC SCORE
Not Suitable For Children. Matteo Zingales, Jono Ma.

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
The Sapphires. Melinda Doring.

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST COSTUME DESIGN
The Sapphires. Tess Schofield.

A gallery of gorgeous photos of winners from the luncheon can be found here on Facebook or on our Instagram account, but for a taste, here’s a gallery of selected shots from the event:

For full details of the 2nd AACTA Awards Luncheon, presented by Deluxe, see the AACTA website here.

Coming next: Part 2: Wrapping it up with a Bow: The 2nd AACTA Awards Ceremony.

Join in our live Facebook chat with AACTA Award nominee Felicity Price

Felicity Price is an actress and writer whose involvement with feature film Wish You Were Here is extensive. Not only did she co-write the script with her husband, director Kieran Darcy-Smith, but she stars in the lead role as Alice, a pregnant mother and wife whose carefree getaway to Cambodia goes horribly wrong. It’s a powerful film and a powerful performance, and Felicity is nominated for Best Lead Actress, and Best Original Screenplay (with Darcy-Smith). Join in our live discussion to chat about her creative processes and about the collaborative process of film writing and shooting.

How does it work? First, make sure you’re friends with us on the AACTA Facebook page. Click here to join our Felicity Price event page and when you join it will be added to your Facebook calendar. We’ll post event photo (above) to our FB page just before 12 midday on Tuesday. You can then comment on the image the way you would with any photo, and Felicity will log in to answer. Simple!

For background reading – and to remind you about the film Wish You Were Here, you can read this interview with Felicity and Kieran Darcy-Smith.

The winners of the 2nd AACTA Awards will be announced on 28th and 30th January. The winners of the AACTA Award categories in which Felicity is nominated will be announced on Wednesday 30 January at The Star Event Centre in Sydney, and broadcast on Network Ten at 9.30pm. Be watching on the night to catch all the action.

 

Join in our Live Facebook Chat with AACTA Award Nominee, Puberty Blues’ Brenna Harding

You know her as ‘Sue’, the blonde and slightly less ebullient of the terrible twosome (along with Ashleigh Cummings) at the centre of the Ten Network/Southern Star drama series Puberty Blues. Just 16 at the time of filming the first series, Brenna Harding has been nominated for an AACTA Award for Best Young Actor – and the series itself is nominated for Best Television Drama Series – with the winners being announced on Wednesday 30 January at the 2nd AACTA Awards Ceremony, broadcast on Ten at 9.30pm.

Brenna has also appeared in My Place, Packed to the Rafters and short films Shelling Peas and The Road Home. Join us on the AACTA Facebook page on Sunday 27 January at 4pm for a live chat with Brenna about her performance as a naughty-but-nice teenager living in the 1970s in Puberty Blues. We’re also keen to ask her what it’s like having Dan Wyllie and Susie Porter playing your parents.

Join us for live Facebook Chat with AACTA Nominee Susan Prior (Puberty Blues)

Susan Prior played downtrodden wife and mother Yvonne Hennessey in Channel Ten’s Puberty Blues Season 1, but we saw her shedding her inhibitions in the final episode, and look forward to her character’s progress in future eps! Join AACTA nominated actress Susan Prior here for a live Q&A at 3pm today (Thursday 24 Jan, 2013).

The Hennessey family – played by Rodger Corser, Susan Prior and Sean Keenan.

Susan’s extensive film credits include Careless Love, Not Suitable for Children, Animal Kingdom, A Cold Summer, and the Academy Award nominated short film The Saviour. Her television credits include Rake Season 2, All Saints and Water Rats, and she is also an accomplished theatre actor. We look forward to chatting, and would love you to join us.

Susan is nominated for Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama for Puberty Blues. The other nominees in this category are Shareena Clanton (Redfern Now), Mandy McElhinney (Howzat! Kerry Packer’s War) and Laura Wheelwright (Underground). The winner will be announced at the 2nd AACTA Awards Ceremony on Wednesday 30 January 2012, televised on Network Ten from 9.30pm.

Vote for your Most Memorable Screen Moments & Win Tickets to AACTA Awards

The  news.com.au Audience Choice Award for Most Memorable Screen Moment is now open for voting, with prizes including tickets to the AACTA Awards Ceremony on Wednesday 30 January.

VOTE for your most memorable moment in Australian film and television from the past year, and you’ll be in the running to party with the stars at one of Australia’s most glamorous screen events, the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards Ceremony on Wednesday 30 January at The Star Event Centre in Sydney.

This year, the Australian Academy has identified 20 of the finest moments that viewers throughout Australia were treated to both on the small and large screens.

The moments contending for this Audience Choice Award were chosen by the Producers of film and television productions nominated for an AACTA Award this year in the following categories: Best Reality Television Series; Best Television Drama Series; Best Telefeature or Mini Series; and Best Film.Also in the running for this award are moments from the top four highest grossing films at the Australian Box Office for 2012, which were not already captured as nominees for the AACTA Award for Best Film.*From Rachael Leahcar’s evocative rendition of “La Vie En Rose” catapulting the singer and reality series The Voice into the public’s consciousness, to parents skinny dipping on Puberty Blues, and from Kath’s revolutionary speech to the people of Papilloma in Kath & Kimderella, to Kerry Packer (Lachy Hulme) venting in Howzat! Kerry Packer’s War, the contending moments provide a diverse selection for audience consideration.

Now it’s time to have your say, by voting in the news.com.au Audience Choice Award for Most Memorable Screen Moment.

The Award will be announced at the 2nd AACTA Awards Ceremony on Wednesday 30th January at The Star’s brand new Event Centre in Sydney. The AACTA Awards Ceremony will be broadcast on Network Ten.

Vote now and go in the draw to win the major prize of a ‘VIP Money Can’t Buy’ experience for you and a friend, including:

• Two tickets to attend the 2nd AACTA Awards Ceremony and Official After Party.
• Return domestic economy flights from your nearest capital city and overnight accommodation.
• A personal appointment in the AACTA Styling Suite including make-up by Napoleon Perdis and Hair by ELEVEN Australia.

5 State Winners will also receive a pamper pack courtesy of Napoleon Perdis and ELEVEN Australia, valued at $350.

Click through to see the memorable moments vying for the Audience Choice Award and then cast your vote to be in the running to win these great prizes.

Competition Closes Sunday 20^th January 2013 at 23:59 AESDT.

Australians Going Global in International Screen Awards

Earlier this week the nominees for the 2nd AACTA International Awards were revealed, with 14 films competing for awards.

Silver Linings Playbook leads with five nominations, closely followed by Lincoln and Zero Dark Thirty with four nominations each.

With the nominees announced last night for the  85th Academy Awards^®  we were thrilled to see many of our own AACTA International Awards nominees among the nominees, especially, of course Australian actors Hugh Jackman (nominated for Best Actor for Les Misérables) and Naomi Watts (Best Actress for The Impossible). Congratulations also to Jacki Weaver (nominated Best Supporting Actress for Silver Linings Playbook). Congratulations too to Australian Makeup and Hair supervisor Rick Findlater for his nomination (alongside Peter King and Tami Lane) for work on The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

We’ll be watching with great anticipation to see which of our talented Australians and which of our AACTA International Award winners will go on to win when the Oscar^® winners are announced on February 24 (Monday, February 25 in Australia).

In the meantime, a recap on our own nominees for the 2nd AACTA International Awards:

AACTA INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR BEST SCREENPLAY

• Argo. Chris Terrio
• Django Unchained. Quentin Tarantino
• Lincoln. Tony Kushner
• The Master. Paul Thomas Anderson
• Silver Linings Playbook. David O. Russell
• Zero Dark Thirty. Mark Boal

AACTA INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTION

• Argo. Ben Affleck
• Life Of Pi. Ang Lee
• Lincoln. Steven Spielberg
• The Sessions. Ben Lewin
• Silver Linings Playbook. David O. Russell
• Zero Dark Thirty. Kathryn Bigelow

AACTA INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR BEST ACTOR

• Bradley Cooper. Silver Linings Playbook
• Daniel Day-Lewis. Lincoln
• John Hawkes. The Sessions
• Hugh Jackman. Les Misérables
• Joaquin Phoenix. The Master
• Denzel Washington. Flight

AACTA INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR BEST ACTRESS

• Jessica Chastain. Zero Dark Thirty
• Marion Cotillard. Rust and Bone
• Nicole Kidman. The Paperboy
• Jennifer Lawrence. Silver Linings Playbook
• Emmanuelle Riva. Amour
• Naomi Watts. The Impossible

AACTA INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR BEST FILM

• Argo. Ben Affleck, George Clooney, Grant Heslov
• Les Misérables. Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Debra Hayward, Cameron Mackintosh
• Life of Pi. Ang Lee, Gil Netter, David Womark
• Lincoln. Kathleen Kennedy, Steven Spielberg
• Silver Linings Playbook. Bruce Cohen, Donna Gigliotti, Jonathan Gordon
• Zero Dark Thirty. Kathryn Bigelow, Mark Boal, Megan Ellison

The 2nd AACTA International Awards winners’ announcement event will be held in L.A., late January 2013.

To find out more about the 2nd AACTA International Awards, visit this page on the AACTA website.

How are the International AACTA Awards determined?

The jury for these awards is made up of eminent Australian screen professionals working in Australia and the US. Jurors work in a cross-section of the industry and screen crafts, including direction, screenwriting, producing, acting, distribution and exhibition. Screenings were held in Australia and the US. AACTA received access to films not yet released in Australia from local distributors. We consider the same films as other international screen organisations, including AMPAS, so that the AACTA International Awards are relevant, and the Australian industry is therefore part of the shared international screen awards conversation. Of course those contending for the International Awards are not eligible to be on a jury.