The Australian Academy of Cinema Television Arts (AACTA) has announced the nominees for the 2021 AACTA Awards presented by Foxtel Group, which will be held at the Sydney Opera House on Wednesday, December 8.
Nine films — including Nitram featuring Anthony LaPaglia, The Dry starring Eric Bana, and Penguin Bloom with Naomi Watts – and 65 critically acclaimed television productions were nominated for awards.
With technical crafts yet to be announced, The Newsreader – a six-part ABC drama about a 1980s TV newsroom – is in the running for 10 awards and currently has the most nominations this year including Best Drama Series, with director Emma Freeman and actors Anna Torv, Sam Reid, William McInnes, and Stephen Peacocke among those up for accolades.
The final seasons of Wentworth, Mr Inbetween, and Jack Irish are also recognised this year.
Actress Noni Hazlehurst’s work in both television and film is acknowledged with nominations for Best Actress in June Again, and Best Supporting Actress in Foxtel euthanasia miniseries The End.
Reality formats such as The Block, MasterChef Australia, The Voice and Lego Masters – will vie for awards alongside Luxe Listings Sydney and returning favourite The Real Housewives of Melbourne.
Comedies Preppers, Fisk, The Moth Effect and Aunty Donna’s Big Ol’ House of Fun have joined perennial favourites Rosehaven, Hard Quiz and The Weekly in the comedy categories. Acclaimed sets from Hannah Gadsby, Tom Gleeson and Celia Pacquola feature in the new Best Stand-Up category and the Best Comedy Performer category expands to eight nominees, with Nakkiah Lui, Sarah Kendall and Kitty Flanagan among the comics in the running.
AACTA also announced the return of the AACTA Audience Choice Awards. Voting for the AACTA Audience Choice Awards opens today via news.com.au and will close Sunday, November 7. Voting will run online, with the top five nominees in each category announced in early December ahead of the 2021 AACTA Awards Presented by Foxtel Group broadcast on Channel 10, on Wednesday, December 8.
The 2021 AACTA Audience Choice Awards are:
• Favourite Australian Actor
• Favourite Australian TV Drama
• Favourite Australian Film
• Favourite Australian Competition Reality Show
• Favourite Australian Entertainment Show
• Favourite Australian Digital Comedy Creator
• Favourite Australian TV Host
The awards will be broadcast on its new home, Channel 10, at 7.30pm, Wednesday, December 8, and encored in the days following on Fox Arena on Foxtel, Binge, and AACTA TV.