27 October, 2009
Source: Screen Daily
Six films have been nominated for best film at this year’s Australian Film Institute (AFI) Awards, rather than the usual four, in acknowledgement of the large number of high-quality films in circulation.The six films are Balibo, Beautiful Kate, Blessed, Mao’s Last Dancer, Mary And Max and Samson & Delilah.Almost the same six films were nominated for the AFI Members’ Choice Award, except that the AFI members replaced Blessed with Australia. This big-budget drama will win the new award for highest grossing film at the presentation ceremony in Melbourne on December 12.In the category for best director the nominees are Robert Connolly (Balibo), Rachel Ward (Beautiful Kate), Bruce Beresford (Mao’s Last Dancer) and Warwick Thornton (Samson & Delilah).There is a strong tradition of writer/directors in Australia and Connolly (with David Williamson), Ward and Thornton are also named in the writing categories. So is the writer of Mao’s Last Dancer, Jan Sardi.Other writer/directors in the running for an AFI Award for screenwriting include Serhat Caradee (Cedar Boys), Adam Elliot (Mary and Max) and Sarah Watt (My Year Without Sex). The skill of the four writers of Blessed, Andrew Bovell, Melissa Reeves, Patricia Cornelius and Christos Tsiolkas, was also acknowledged.In the categories for lead actors the nominees were Sophie Lowe and Ben Mendelsohn (Beautiful Kate), Marissa Gibson and Rowan McNamara (Samson & Delilah), Frances O’Connor (Blessed), Sacha Horler (My Year Without Sex), Anthony LaPaglia (Balibo) and Hugo Weaving (Last Ride).Most of the eight actors named for their work on the international stage this year excelled in television, the exceptions being Russell Crowe in State of Play, and Guy Pearce in Bedtime Stories.Two weeks ago the nominees for the IF Awards, Australia’s other key film awards, were announced. Two of the three best film contenders in the IF Awards were also named this morning, being Balibo and Samson & Delilah, but the third, Cedar Boys, was not. Two of the three best director contenders in the IF Awards were also named this morning, being Warwick Thornton (Samson & Delilah) and Rachel Ward (Beautiful Kate) but the third Adam Elliot (Mary & Max) was not.All the best actor nominees in the IF Awards – Rowan McNamara, Marissa Gibson (Samson & Delilah), Anthony LaPaglia (Balibo), Hugo Weaving (Last Ride), Sacha Horler (My Year Without Sex) and Frances O’Connor (Blessed) – are also nominees for AFI Awards.
Best Film
Balibo, producers John Maynard, Rebecca Williamson
Beautiful Kate, Leah Churchill-Brown, Bryan BrownBlessed, Al ClarkMao’s Last Dancer, Jane ScottMary and Max, Melanie CoombsSamson & Delilah, Kath Shelper
AFI Members’ Choice Award
Australia, producers Baz Luhrmann, G. Mac Brown, Catherine Knapman
Balibo, John Maynard, Rebecca Williamson
Beautiful Kate, Leah Churchill-Brown, Bryan BrownMao’s Last Dancer, Jane ScottMary and Max, Melanie CoombsSamson & Delilah, Kath Shelper
Best Direction
Balibo, Robert Connolly
Beautiful Kate, Rachel WardMao’s Last Dancer, Bruce BeresfordSamson & Delilah, Warwick Thornton
Best Original Screenplay
Cedar Boys, Serhat CaradeeMary and Max.,Adam ElliotMy Year Without Sex, Sarah WattSamson & Delilah, Warwick Thornton
Best Adapted Screenplay
Balibo. Robert Connolly, David Williamson
Beautiful Kate. Rachel WardBlessed. Andrew Bovell, Melissa Reeves, Patricia Cornelius, Christos TsiolkasMao’s Last Dancer. Jan Sardi
Best Cinematography
Balibo, Tristan Milani ACS
Beautiful Kate, Andrew Commis
Last Ride, Greig Fraser
Samson & Delilah, Warwick Thornton
Best Editing
Balibo, Nick Meyers ASE
Blessed, Jill Bilcock ACE, ASEMao’s Last Dancer, Mark WarnerSamson & Delilah, Roland Gallois
Best Sound
Australia, Andy Nelson, Anna Behlmer, Wayne Pashley MPSE, Guntis Sics
Balibo, Sam Petty, Emma Bortignon, Phil Heywood, Ann Aucote
Mao’s Last Dancer, David Lee, Andrew Neil, Yulia Akerholt, Mark Franken, Roger SavageSamson & Delilah, Liam Egan, David Tranter, Robert Sullivan, Tony Murtagh, Yulia Akerholt, Les Fiddess
Best Original Music Score
Australia, David Hirschfelder, Felix Meagher, Baz Luhrmann, Angela Little
Balibo, Lisa Gerrard
Mao’s Last Dancer, Christopher GordonSamson & Delilah, Warwick Thornton
Best Production Design
Australia, Catherine Martin, Ian Gracie, Karen Murphy, Beverley Dunn
Balibo, Robert Cousins
Mao’s Last Dancer, Herbert PinterMary and Max, Adam Elliot
Best Costume Design
Australia, Catherine Martin, Eliza Godman
Balibo, Cappi Ireland
Lucky Country, Mariot KerrMao’s Last Dancer, Anna Borghesi
Best Lead Actor
Anthony LaPaglia, Balibo
Ben Mendelsohn, Beautiful Kate
Hugo Weaving, Last Ride
Rowan McNamara, Samson & Delilah
Best Lead Actress
Sophie Lowe, Beautiful KateFrances O’Connor, BlessedSacha Horler, My Year Without SexMarissa Gibson, Samson & Delilah
Best Supporting Actor
Brandon Walters, Australia
Damon Gameau, Balibo
Oscar Isaac, Balibo
Bryan Brown, Beautiful Kate
Best Supporting Actress
Bea Viegas, Balibo
Maeve Dermody, Beautiful KateRachel Griffiths, Beautiful KateMitjili Gibson, Samson & Delilah
International Award For Best Actor
Russell Crowe, State of PlayMartin Henderson, House, Network Ten
Anthony LaPaglia, Without A Trace, Nine Network
Guy Pearce, Bedtime Stories
International Award for Best Actress
Rose Byrne, Damages, FoxtelToni Collette, United States of Tara, ABC1Melissa George, In Treatment, FoxtelMia Wasikowska, In Treatment, Foxtel
Young Actor Award
Brandon Walters, AustraliaSebastian Gregory, Beautiful
Tom Russell, Last Ride
Toby Wallace, Lucky CountryMarissa Gibson, Samson & DelilahRowan McNamara, Samson & Delilah
Visual Effects Award
Australia, Chris Godfrey, James E. Price, Andy Brown, Rob DuncanDeath of the Megabeasts, Matt Drummond, Mike DunnPlastic, Sandy Widyanata, Eric So, Matthew Mackereth, Christopher JacksonScorched, Bertrand Polivka, Soren Jensen.
Best Feature Length Documentary
Bastardy, Philippa Campey, Amiel Courtin-Wilson, Lynn-Maree Milburn, Andrew de GrootThe Choir, Chris Hilton, Michael DavieGlass: a portrait Of Philip In Twelve Parts, Scott Hicks, Susanne PreisslerLionel, Lizzette Atkins
