This year’s AACTA Industry Awards presented by Foxtel Group will be held virtually and broadcast online on AACTA TV as part of the 2021 ScreenFest Program, as well as Binge and Foxtel Arena, at 6.30pm on Monday, December 6.
AACTA has also announced the nominees for the Technical Craft Awards. The Newsreader – a six-part ABC drama about a 1980s TV newsroom – has the most nominations and is now in the running for 16 awards after picking up additional six technical craft nominations including Best Casting and Best Production Design in Television.
Fires, Clickbait, and New Gold Mountain are among the other TV shows picking up new technical craft nominations. Peter Rabbit 2, Nitram, High Ground, and The Dry also earned a suite of additional nominations.
The AACTA Award for Best Visual Effects or Animation recognises creativity of local teams working on Mortal Kombat, Peter Rabbit 2, Jungle Cruise, and Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
Earlier this week, AACTA announced the 2021 AACTA Awards Ceremony presented by Foxtel Group will proceed on Wednesday, December 8, 2021, at the Sydney Opera House. The ceremony will be broadcast on its new home, Channel 10, at 7.30pm, Wednesday, and encore in the days following on Fox Arena on Foxtel, Binge, and AACTA TV.
2021 AACTA Awards Presented By Foxtel Group – Key Dates
December 6:
2021 AACTA Industry Awards presented by Foxtel Group will be delivered online at AACTA TV and broadcast on BINGE and Foxtel Arena at 6.30pm. These awards celebrate Australia’s finest creative practitioners in film, TV and digital platforms.
December 8:
2021 AACTA Awards presented by Foxtel Group Ceremony
The ceremony will be held at The Sydney Opera House.
The AACTA Awards Ceremony presented by Foxtel Group will be broadcast nationally on Channel 10 at 7.30pm AEDT and encored on Binge, Foxtel Arena, and AACTA TV.
2021 AACTA Awards Presented By Foxtel Group Nominees
TELEVISION
Best Children’s Program
• 100% Wolf: Legend of the Moonstone
• Bluey
• The Bureau of Magical Things
• Dive Club
• Hardball
• Kangaroo Beach
Best Cinematography in Television
• A Sunburnt Christmas – Dylan River
• Bump (Episode 1: Sorpresa!) – Garry Phillips
• Clickbait (Episode 6: Simon) – Marden Dean
• Fires (Episode 2: Everything’s Gone) – Bonnie Elliot
•The Newsreader (Episode 1: Three, Two, One…) – Earle Dresner
Best Comedy Entertainment Program
• Dom and Adrian 2020
• Hard Quiz
• The Moth Effect
• Spicks And Specks
• The Weekly
Best Comedy Performer
• Mark Samual Bonanno – Aunty Donna’s Big Ol’ House Of Fun
• Kitty Flanagan – Fisk
• Tom Gleeson – Hard Quiz
• Broden Kelly – Aunty Donna’s Big Ol’ House Of Fun
• Sarah Kendall – Frayed
• Nakkiah Lui – Preppers
• Luke McGregor – Rosehaven
• Celia Pacquola – Rosehaven
Best Costume Design in Television
• Dancing With The Stars: All Stars (Episode 6) – Tim Chappel
• Fires (Episode 2: Everything’s Gone) – Cappi Ireland
• Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries (Episode 1: Death By Design) – Penny Dickinson
• New Gold Mountain (Episode 1: Propriety) – Cappi Ireland
• The Newsreader (Episode 1: Three, Two, One…) – Marion Boyce
• Best Direction in Drama or Comedy
• Fires (Episode 2: Everything’s Gone) – Ana Kokkinos
• Mr Inbetween (Episode 6: Ray Who?) – Nash Edgerton
• The Newsreader (Episode 1: Three, Two, One…) – Emma Freeman
• Wakefield (Episode 5) – Kim Mordaunt
• Wakefield (Episode 8) – Jocelyn Moorhouse
Best Direction in Non-Fiction Television
• Brazen Hussies – Catherine Dwyer
• Hannah Gadsby – Douglas – Madeleine Parry
• Love on the Spectrum (Episode 4) – Cian O’Clery
• Ms Represented with Annabel Crabb (Episode 1: Getting There) – Stamatia Maroupas
• You Can’t Ask That (Episode 1: Cheaters) – Kirk Docker
Best Documentary or Factual Program
• Brazen Hussies
• EXPOSED: The Ghost Train Fire
• Life in Colour with David Attenborough
• Ms Represented with Annabel Crabb
• Old People’s Home For 4 Year Olds
• The School That Tried to End Racism
Best Drama Series
• Clickbait
• Jack Irish
• Mr Inbetween
• The Newsreader
• Total Control
• Wakefield
• Wentworth
Best Editing in Television
• Clickbait (Episode 1: Five Million Hits) – Rodrigo Balart
• Fires (Episode 2: Everything’s Gone) – Mark Atkin
• The Newsreader (Episode 5: No More Lies) – Angie Higgins
• Total Control (Episode 1: Aftermath) – Nicholas Holmes
• Wakefield (Episode 8) – Gabriel Dowrick
Best Entertainment Program
• Australian Ninja Warrior
• LEGO® Masters Australia
• The Masked Singer
• Mastermind
• Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 2021
• The Voice
Best Factual Entertainment Program
• Australia Talks
• Courtney Act’s One Plus One
• Gogglebox Australia
• Love on the Spectrum
• The Project
• You Can’t Ask That
Best Lead Actor in a Drama Presented by Foxtel
• Rudi Dharmalingam – Wakefield
• Guy Pearce – Jack Irish
• Sam Reid – The Newsreader
• Richard Roxburgh – Fires
• Scott Ryan – Mr Inbetween
Best Lead Actress in a Drama Presented by Foxtel
• Deborah Mailman – Total Control
• Mandy McElhinney – Wakefield
• Miranda Otto – Fires
• Pamela Rabe – Wentworth
• Anna Torv – The Newsreader
Best Lifestyle Program
• Adam and Poh’s Malaysia in Australia
• The Cook Up with Adam Liaw
• Gardening Australia
• Grand Designs Australia
• The Living Room
• Love it or List it Australia
Best Miniseries or Telefeature
• A Sunburnt Christmas
• The End
• Fires
• New Gold Mountain
• The Unusual Suspects
Best Narrative Comedy Series
• Aftertaste
• Aunty Donna’s Big Ol’ House Of Fun
• Fisk
• Frayed
• Preppers
• Rosehaven
Best Production Design in Television
• Fires (Episode 2: Everything’s Gone) – Jo Ford
• Jack Irish (Episode 1) – Carrie Kennedy
• Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries (Episode 1: Death By Design) – Ben Bangay
• New Gold Mountain (Episode 1: Propriety) – Paddy Reardon & Adele Flere
• The Newsreader (Episode 1: Three, Two, One…) – Melinda Doring
Best Reality Program
• The Amazing Race Australia
• Australian Survivor: Brains v Brawn
• The Block
• Luxe Listings Sydney
• MasterChef Australia
• The Real Housewives of Melbourne
Best Original Score in Television
• Aunty Donna’s Big Ol’ House Of Fun (Episode 1: Housemates) – Tom Armstrong
• Clickbait (Episode 1: Five Million Hits) – Cornel Wilczek
• Fires (Episode 2: Everything’s Gone) – Cornel Wilczek
• Frayed (Episode 1) – Bryony Marks
• New Gold Mountain (Episode 1: Propriety) – Caitlin Yeo
Best Screenplay in Television
• Mr Inbetween (Episode 6: Ray Who?) – Scott Ryan
• The Newsreader (Episode 1: Three, Two, One…) – Michael Lucas
• The Newsreader (Episode 5: No More Lies) – Kim Ho & Michael Lucas
• Total Control (Episode 1: Aftermath) – Stuart Page
• Wakefield (Episode 5) – Sam Meikle
Best Sound in Television
• Clickbait (Episode 1: Five Million Hits) – Emma Bortignon, Stephen Witherow, Nigel Croyden & John Wilkinson
• Fires (Episode 2: Everything’s Gone) – Emma Bortignon, Paul Pirola & Roger Van Wensveen
• Frayed (Episode 1) – Paul Finlay, Robert Sullivan, James Andrews & Dino Giacomin
• The Newsreader (Episode 1: Three, Two, One…) – Nick Godkin
• Total Control (Episode 1: Aftermath) – Phil Keros, Stuart Waller, Andy Wright & Diego Ruiz
Best Stand-Up Special
• Anne Edmonds and Lloyd Langford – Business with Pleasure
• Celia Pacquola – Let Me Know How It All Works Out
• Hannah Gadsby – Douglas
• Lano and Woodley in Lano and Woodley
• Rhys Nicholson Live at the Athenaeum
• Tom Gleeson – Lighten Up
Best Supporting Actor in a Drama
• Harry Greenwood – Wakefield
• William McInnes – The Newsreader
• Matt Nable – Mr Inbetween
• Stephen Peacocke – The Newsreader
• Justin Rosniak – Mr Inbetween
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama
• Michelle Lim Davidson – The Newsreader
• Marg Downey – The Newsreader
• Harriet Dyer – Wakefield
• Rachel Griffiths – Total Control
• Noni Hazlehurst – The End
FILM
Best Adapted Screenplay in Film
• The Dry – Rob Connolly & Harry Cripps
• Penguin Bloom – Shaun Grant & Harry Cripps
• Peter Rabbit 2 – Will Gluck & Patrick Burleigh
• Rams – Jules Duncan
Best Cinematography in Film
• The Dry – Stefan Duscio
• High Ground – Andrew Commis
• Mortal Kombat – Germain McMicking
• Nitram – Germain McMicking
• Penguin Bloom – Sam Chiplin
Best Costume Design in Film
• The Dry – Cappi Ireland
• High Ground – Erin Roche
• Mortal Kombat – Cappi Ireland
• Nitram – Alice Babidge
• Rams – Tess Schofield
• Best Direction in Film
• The Dry – Rob Connolly
• The Furnace – Roderick MacKay
• High Ground – Stephen Maxwell Johnson
• Nitram – Justin Kurzel
• Penguin Bloom – Glendyn Ivin
Best Editing in Film
• The Dry – Nick Meyers & Alexandre de Franceschi
• Friends and Strangers – James Vaughan
• High Ground – Jill Bilcock, Karryn de Cinque & Hayley Miro Browne
• Nitram – Nick Fenton
• Peter Rabbit 2 – Matt Villa
Best Film
• The Dry
• The Furnace
• High Ground
• Nitram
• Penguin Bloom
• Rams
Best Indie Film
• Disclosure
• Ellie and Abbie (& Ellie’s Dead Aunt)
• Lone Wolf
• Moon Rock For Monday
• My First Summer
• Under My Skin
Best Lead Actor in Film
• Simon Baker – High Ground
• Eric Bana – The Dry
• Caleb Landry Jones – Nitram
• Ahmed Malek – The Furnace
• Jacob Junior Nayinggul – High Ground
• Best Lead Actress in Film
• Rose Byrne – Peter Rabbit 2
• Judy Davis – Nitram
• Noni Hazlehurst – June Again
• Genevieve O’Reilly – The Dry
• Naomi Watts – Penguin Bloom
Best Original Score in Film
• The Dry – Peter Raeburn
• June Again – Christopher Gordon
• Nitram – Jed Kurzel
• Penguin Bloom – Marcelo Zarvos
• Rams – Antony Partos
• Best Original Screenplay in Film
• Ellie and Abbie (& Ellie’s Dead Aunt) – Monica Zanetti
• The Furnace – Roderick MacKay
• High Ground – Chris Anastassiades
• June Again – JJ Winlove
• Nitram – Shaun Grant
Best Production Design in Film
• 2067 – Jacinta Leong
• Mortal Kombat – Naaman Marshall
• Nitram – Alice Babidge
• Penguin Bloom – Annie Beauchamp
• Peter Rabbit 2 – Roger Ford
Best Sound in Film
• Ascendant – Angus Robertson & Peter Purcell
• The Dry – Chris Goodes
• Mortal Kombat – Robert McKenzie, Steve Burgess & Phil Heywood
• Nitram – Steve Single, Dean Ryan & James Ashton
• Peter Rabbit 2 – Kevin O’Connell, Robert Mackenzie, Andy Wright & Ben Osmo
• Best Supporting Actor in Film
• Michael Caton – Rams
• Baykali Ganambarr – The Furnace
• Anthony LaPaglia – Nitram
• Sean Mununggurr – High Ground
• Jack Thompson – High Ground
• Best Supporting Actress in Film
• Essie Davis – Nitram
• Claudia Karvan – June Again
• Esmerelda Marimowa – High Ground
• Miranda Tapsell – The Dry
• Jacki Weaver – Penguin Bloom
SHORT FORM NOMINEES
Best Short Form Comedy Presented by Facebook
• A Life in Questions: Wisdom School with Aaron Chen
• All My Friends Are Racist
• Celebration Nation
• Hug the Sun
• Jimmy Rees
• Samantha Andrew
Best Short Form Drama
• Beautiful They
• The Bends
• Dwarf Planet
• Grace
• The Tailings
• You and Me, Before and After
Best Short Form Entertainment
• Chopsticks or Fork?
• Gourmet Lazy
• Nat’s What I Reckon
• Ozzy Man Reviews
• Strong Women
• Woven Threads – Stories from Within
DOCUMENTARY
Best Cinematography in a Documentary
• After The Night (Episode 1: The End of Innocence) – Jim Frater
• The Beach (Episode 1: Too Mad Too Shy) – Dylan River
• The Bowraville Murders – Nathan Barlow
• FREEMAN – Bonnie Elliott
• Step into Paradise – Bonnie Elliott
Best Documentary
• Girls Can’t Surf
• I’m Wanita
• My Name is Gulpilil
• Playing With Sharks
• Strong Female Lead
• When the Camera Stopped Rolling
Best Editing in a Documentary
• FREEMAN – Daniel Wieckmann
• My Name is Gulpilil – Tania M. Nehme
• Playing With Sharks – Adrian Rostirolla
• Under The Volcano – Karen Johnson
• When the Camera Stopped Rolling – Ray Thomas
Best Original Score in a Documentary
• FREEMAN – James Henry
• Playing With Sharks – Caitlin Yeo
• Step into Paradise – Amanda Brown & Nick Wales
• The Beach (Episode 1: Too Mad Too Shy) – Megan Washington & Kristin Rule
• When the Camera Stopped Rolling – Kyls Burtland
Best Sound in a Documentary
• The Bowraville Murders – Richard Boxhall
• FREEMAN – Byron Scullin
• Life in Colour with David Attenborough (Episode 1: Seeing in Colour) – Wayne Pashley
• My Name is Gulpilil – Tom Heuzenroeder
• When the Camera Stopped Rolling – Sam Petty
OTHER
Best Casting Presented by Casting Networks
• The Dry – Jane Norris
• High Ground – Anousha Zarkesh
• The Newsreader – Nathan Lloyd
• Nitram – Nikki Barrett, Alison Telford & Kate Leonard
• Wakefield – Marianne Jade
Best Hair and Makeup presented by HASK
• Australian Gangster – Sheldon Wade
• Mortal Kombat – Nikki Gooley
• Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries – Lynn Wheeler
• New Gold Mountain – Cheryl Williams, Helen Magelaki & Ian Loughnan
• Nitram – Fiona Rees-Jones
Best Visual Effects or Animation
• Jungle Cruise (Rising Sun Pictures)
• Mortal Kombat (Method Studios)
• Mortal Kombat (Rising Sun Pictures)
• Peter Rabbit 2 (Animal Logic Entertainment)
• Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (Method Studios)