Nitram and The Newsreader have dominated the 2021 AACTA Awards presented by Foxtel Group; collecting 13 top honours between them at the star-studded ceremony held at Sydney Opera House.
The Newsreader led the pack for television with five AACTAs, including acting wins for Anna Torv and William McInnes. Nitram took out all the major categories for film, including Best Director and Best Film and wins for all four of its cast of Caleb Landry Jones, Anthony LaPaglia, Judy Davis, and Essie Davis.
The new ABC series Fisk had a stellar debut at the Awards with a win for Best Narrative Comedy and its star, Kitty Flanagan, named as best comedy performer.
Eric Bana, Gardening Australia host Costa Georgiadis, Sooshi Mango and Wentworth were among those recognised by viewers in the AACTA Audience Choice Awards. Now in its second year, the awards are determined by online voting and recognise performers from film, TV and digital platforms.
In a bittersweet moment of the ceremony, the late, influential actor David Gulpilil Ridjimiraril Dalaithngu AM was awarded the Academy’s highest honour, the Longford Lyell Award, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the Australian screen Industry.
The accolade came just over a week after the Yolngu actor’s death, and on the 50th anniversary of his ground-breaking film debut in Walkabout (1971). Gulpilil’s performance in that film has been credited as a cultural turning point for global cinema.
Over his illustrious career, Gulpilil starred in many Australian classics including Storm Boy, Crocodile Dundee, Ten Canoes and Charlie’s Country.
Fittingly, My Name is Gulpilil – made as the actor was living with stage 4 lung cancer and celebrated his career and life – won this year’s AACTA Award for Best Documentary.
AACTA CEO Damian Trewhella said: “David Gulpilil is truly one of Australia’s most influential stars and has proudly spent his life portraying Indigenous Australian culture on our screens. On behalf of the Academy, it is our pleasure to recognise David for his contribution to the Australian film industry and for his long contribution to Australian cinema, spanning over 50 years.”
“In spite of all the challenges the last year has presented, many wonderful local productions hit our screens – on television, film, documentary and the ever-evolving, exciting online space. We‘re thrilled to have been able to gather to celebrate and honour the talent, resilience and creativity shown by so many of these productions.”
Brian Walsh, executive director of television at Foxtel Group said: “Foxtel Group congratulates all the winners and nominees at this year’s AACTA Awards. It has been an incredible year for Australian storytelling despite the hurdles thrown at the industry. We are particularly thrilled to see Wentworth, Mr InBetween and Grand Designs recognised with wins tonight and know the love and support for these Original series continue to live on with millions of fans right around Australia.”
Watch highlights from the Ceremony on Fox Arena on Foxtel, BINGE, and AACTA TV.
FULL LIST OF WINNERS
TELEVISION
• Best Children’s Program: Bluey – Charlie Aspinwall, Joe Brumm, Daley Pearson, Sam Moor – Ludo Studio (ABC)
• Best Cinematography in Television: Fires (Episode 2: Everything’s Gone) – Bonnie Elliott
• Best Comedy Entertainment Program: Hard Quiz – Kevin Whyte, Chris Walker, Tom Gleeson, John Tabbagh – Thinkative Television & ABC (ABC)
• Best Comedy Performer: Kitty Flanagan – Fisk
• Best Costume Design in Television: New Gold Mountain (Episode 1: Propriety) – Cappi Ireland
• Best Direction in Drama or Comedy: The Newsreader (Episode 1: Three, Two, One…) – Emma Freeman
• Best Direction in Non-Fiction Television: Love on the Spectrum (Episode 4) – Cian O’Clery
• Best Documentary or Factual Program: Old People’s Home For 4 Year Olds – Debbie Cuell, Bethan Arwel-Lewis – Endemol Shine Australia (ABC)
• AACTA Award Best Drama Series: The Newsreader – Joanna Werner, Michael Lucas – Werner Film Productions (ABC)
• Best Editing in Television: Clickbait (Episode 1: Five Million Hits) – Rodrigo Balart
• Best Entertainment Program: Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 2021 – Paul Clarke, Stephanie Werrett, Josh Martin – Blink TV (SBS)
• Best Factual Entertainment Program: Love on the Spectrum – Jenni Wilks, Karina Holden, Cian O’Clery – Northern Pictures (ABC)
• Best Lead Actor in a Drama Presented by Foxtel: Scott Ryan – Mr Inbetween
• Best Lead Actress in a Drama Presented by Foxtel: Anna Torv – The Newsreader
• Best Lifestyle Program: Grand Designs Australia – Michael O’Neill, Brooke Bayvel – Fremantle (Foxtel)
• Best Miniseries or Telefeature: Fires – Tony Ayres, Andrea Denholm, Liz Watts, Belinda Chayko, Elisa Argenzio – Tony Ayres Production (ABC)
• Best Narrative Comedy Series: Fisk – Vincent Sheehan – Porchlight Films (ABC)
• Best Production Design in Television: The Newsreader (Episode 1: Three, Two, One…) – Melinda Doring
• Best Reality Program: MasterChef Australia – Marty Benson, Adam Fergusson, Eoin Maher – Endemol Shine Australia (Network Ten)
• Best Original Score in Television: New Gold Mountain (Episode 1: Propriety) – Caitlin Yeo
• Best Screenplay in Television: Mr Inbetween (Episode 6: Ray Who?) – Scott Ryan
• Best Sound in Television: Fires (Episode 2: Everything’s Gone) – Emma Bortignon, Paul Pirola, Roger Van Wensveen, Brendan Croxon
• Best Stand-Up Special: Hannah Gadsby – Douglas – Hannah Gadsby, Kevin Whyte, Kathleen McCarthy, John Irwin – Irwin Entertainment & Token Events (Netflix)
• Best Supporting Actor in a Drama: William McInnes – The Newsreader
• Best Supporting Actress in a Drama: Rachel Griffiths – Total Control
FILM
• Best Adapted Screenplay in Film: The Dry – Rob Connolly, Harry Cripps
• Best Cinematography in Film: The Dry – Stefan Duscio
• Best Costume Design in Film: High Ground – Erin Roche
• Best Direction in Film: Nitram – Justin Kurzel
• Best Editing in Film: Nitram – Nick Fenton
• Best Film: Nitram – Nick Batzias, Virginia Whitwell, Justin Kurzel, Shaun Grant – GoodThing Productions
• Best Indie Film: Ellie and Abbie (& Ellie’s Dead Aunt) – Monica Zanetti (Dir.), MahVeen Shahraki, Patrick James – Brazen Lot formerly Cobbstar Productions
• Best Lead Actor in Film: Caleb Landry Jones – Nitram
• Best Lead Actress in Film: Judy Davis – Nitram
• Best Original Screenplay in Film: Nitram – Shaun Grant
• Best Production Design in Film: Mortal Kombat – Naaman Marshall
• Best Original Score in Film: June Again – Christopher Gordon
• Best Sound in Film: Mortal Kombat – Robert McKenzie, James Ashton, Des Kenneally, Adrian Medhurst, Jed Dodge, Phil Heywood
• Best Supporting Actor in Film: Anthony LaPaglia – Nitram
• Best Supporting Actress in Film: Essie Davis – Nitram
SHORT FORM
• Best Short Form Comedy Presented by Facebook: All My Friends Are Racist – Enoch Mailangi, Kodie Bedford, Bjorn Stewart, Liliana Munoz –Maximo Entertainment & Hoodlum Entertainment
• Best Short Form Drama: The Tailings – Liz Doran, Richard Kelly, Stephen Thomas, Stevie Cruz-Martin, Caitlin Richardson – Good Lark Pty Ltd, The Two Jons & Roar Film
• Best Short Form Entertainment: Strong Women – Corinne Innes, Alexandra Gaulupeau, Ann Megalla, Patrick McCabe – Strong Women Documentary Pty. Ltd. & AM Media
DOCUMENTARY
• Best Cinematography in a Documentary: The Beach (Episode 1: Too Mad Too Shy) – Dylan River
• Best Documentary: My Name is Gulpilil – Molly Reynolds (Dir.), Rolf de Heer, Peter Djigirr, David Gulpilil – Vertigo Productions
• Best Editing in a Documentary: My Name is Gulpilil – Tania M. Nehme
• Best Original Score in a Documentary: Playing With Sharks – Caitlin Yeo
• Best Sound in a Documentary: Life in Colour with David Attenborough (Episode 1: Seeing in Colour) – Wayne Pashley
AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS
• Favourite Actor: Eric Bana
• Favourite Competition Reality Show: LEGO Masters Australia
• Favourite Digital Comedy Creator: Sooshi Mango
• Favourite Entertainment Show: Gardening Australia
• Favourite Film: The Dry
• Favourite Television Drama: Wentworth
• Favourite Televission Host: Costa Georgiadis – Gardening Australia – ABC
OTHER
• Best Casting Presented by Casting Networks: High Ground – Anousha Zarkesh
• Best Hair and Makeup presented by HASK: Australian Gangster – Sheldon Wade, Helen Magelaki, Mariel McClorey, Donna Kennedy
• Best Visual Effects or Animation: Peter Rabbit 2 – Will Reichelt, Simon Pickard, Simon Whiteley, Fiona Chilton, Jason Bath, Matt Middleton – Animal Logic