The Australian Academy of Cinema Arts (AACTA) is introducing the AACTA Audience Choice Awards this year. The AACTA Awards presented by Foxtel, has responded to COVID-19 restrictions that have placed limits on this year’s Awards with an initiative that will for the first time provide audiences the opportunity to cast their vote on Australian screen and artist achievements that have engaged audiences locally and abroad across the decade.
Voting for the AACTA Audience Choice Awards is now open and will close Sunday 11 October. Voting will run online and the top five nominees in each category will be announced in late November ahead of AACTA’s reimagined broadcast on Channel 7, Wednesday 2 December. Winners of the Audience Choice Awards will be announced alongside highlights from the 2020 AACTA Awards presented by Foxtel.
AACTA CEO Damian Trewhella, said “AACTA is celebrating its 10th year and with COVID-19 restrictions to navigate 2020 has presented us with an opportune time to take a look back on all we have achieved locally and overseas across the last decade. Our homegrown stars have prolific careers and entertain billions across the globe. Our local screen industry grows from strength to strength with Australian stories across multiple genres entertaining and informing millions at home every week. The AACTA Audience Choice Awards is the perfect initiative to engage with those watching so they can have their say on what they think the highlights of the last 10 years are.”
2020 AACTA Audience Choice Awards categories and shortlists
FAVOURITE GLOBAL STAR OF THE DECADE
Cate Blanchett
Rose Byrne
Russell Crowe
Joel Edgerton
Chris Hemsworth
Hugh Jackman
Nicole Kidman
Ben Mendelsohn
Margot Robbie
Jacki Weaver
FAVOURITE GLOBAL STAR OF THE DECADE
Cate Blanchett
Rose Byrne
Russell Crowe
Joel Edgerton
Chris Hemsworth
Hugh Jackman
Nicole Kidman
Ben Mendelsohn
Margot Robbie
Jacki Weaver
FAVOURITE TV CONTESTANT OF THE DECADE
Poh Ling Yeow, MasterChef, 10
Dami Im, The X Factor, Channel Seven, Dancing with the Stars, 10, Eurovision, SBS
Sam Frost, The Bachelor, 10
Steve Flood and Will Stewart, MKR, Channel 7
Chrissie Swan, I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!, 10
Sophie Monk, The Bachelorette, 10
Olivia Vivian, Ninja Warrior, Nine Network
Jules and Cam, MAFS, Nine Network
Josh and Elise, The Block, Nine Network
Angela Clancy, Big Brother, Channel 7
FAVOURITE COMEDY PERFORMER OF THE DECADE
Hamish Blake and Andy Lee
Tom Gleeson
Wil Anderson
Hannah Gadsby
Nazeem Hussain
Steven Oliver
Dave Hughes
Julia Morris
Celia Pacquola
Celeste Barber
FAVOURITE TV ACTOR OF THE DECADE
Sarah Snook
Asher Keddie
Bryan Brown
Claudia Karvan
Rodger Corser
Aaron Pedersen
Deborah Mailman
Marta Dusseldorp
Damon Herriman
Essie Davis
FAVOURITE AUSTRALIAN FILM OF THE DECADE
Peter Rabbit
Red Dog
The Sapphires
The Great Gatsby
The Babadook
The Water Diviner
The Dressmaker
Lion
Ride Like a Girl
Mad Max: Fury Road
FAVOURITE AUSTRALIAN TV DRAMA
Offspring, 10
Neighbours, 10
Mystery Road, ABC TV
Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, ABC TV
Top of the Lake, Foxtel
Wentworth, Foxtel
Molly, Channel 7
Love Child, Nine Network
Doctor Doctor, Nine Network
Home and Away, Channel 7
FAVOURITE TV MOMENT
Scripted
Offspring, Patrick Dying, 2013, 10
Wentworth, “The Freak Buried Alive”, 2018, Foxtel
Please Like Me, Josh Finding His Mother Dead, 2017, ABC TV
News
Thailand Cave Rescue, 2018
The Prime Minister Tony Abbott Eating An Onion, 2015
Reality
The Honey Badger Not Choosing A Partner, The Bachelor, 2018, 10
Dan and Steph Win, MKR, 2013, Channel 7
Ines and Sam Affair, MAFS, 2019, Nine Network
Sport
Mick Fanning Punching a Shark, 2015
Adam Goodes War Cry Dance, 2015
Information on how to vote in the AACTA Audience Choice Awards is available via www.aacta.org. The final five nominees in each category will be announced Sunday 29 November.
AACTA timetable
5 October
Nominees announced for Best Short Film and Best Online Drama or Comedy
1 November
Nominees announced for Best Television Program Award categories for Entertainment, Reality, Lifestyle, Drama Series, Comedy, Factual Entertainment, Childrens, Miniseries or Telefeature, Documentary or Factual
Nominees announced for Best Online Entertainment
Nominees announced across Film and Documentary categories
Acting nominees announced across all television and film categories
11 November
Nominees announced across all TV Craft, Documentary Craft, Casting and VFX