SBS congratulates AFI Winners

14 December 2009

SBS scored six AFI awards at Saturday night’s ceremony including a hat-trick of awards for SBS’s police drama East West 101.

SBS documentaries also won awards including the landmark documentary series First Australians as well as The Choir and Cracking the Colour Code.

East West 101 dominated the television categories, winning for Best Television Drama Series (beating hit shows like Packed To The Rafters, Underbelly and Satisfaction), Best Direction in Television (Peter Andrikidis) and Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama Series (Susie Porter).

Shaun Brown, Managing Director of SBS said:

“SBS content continues to garner critical acclaim. Our investment in edgy, local content means that some of the most exciting stories coming out of Australian producers can be seen on our screens. Congratulations to everyone involved.”

SBS’s Director of Content – Television and Online, Matt Campbell said:

“This is an outstanding result for SBS which year after year continues to support the very best locally produced content. The fact we can beat ratings giants produced by the commercial networks underpins the importance of what we do here at SBS.

“SBS also acknowledges the support of our funding partners for this content including Screen Australia, Screen NSW, South Australian Film Corporation, Screenwest and Lotterywest. Without them we couldn’t continue to invest in quality Australian content.”

SBS won the following AFI Awards:

– Best Television Drama: East West 101 Season 2 Kristine Wyld, Steve Knapman
– Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama: Susie Porter, East West 101, Season 2
– Best Direction in Television: East West 101 Season 2 (Episode 13) Peter Andrikidis
– Best Documentary Series: First Australians; Darren Dale, Rachel Perkins, Helen Panckhurst
– Best Direction in a Documentary: The Choir, Michael Davie
– Best Cinematography in a Documentary: Cracking the Code (Episode 2) Ian Batt and Vincent Fooy.