The Australian awards season is in full swing, with the first round of nominations for the AACTA Awards out today, naming contenders in the best feature-length documentary and both best short film categories (live-action and animation).
The subjects covered in the best feature length documentary contenders range from a tense, unjust murder trial in Apartheid-era South Africa (A Common Purpose), to a new music school in war-torn Afghanistan (Dr Sarmast's Music School, pictured), and from the high stakes pursuit of giant waves (Storm Surfers 3D), to an orchestra attempting to conquer a notorious piece of music (The Curse Of The Gothic Symphony).
The best short animation category includes a mix of styles and budgets: from epic CGI sci-fi (LEGO® Star Wars®: The Padawan MenaceTM) , to handcrafted sand animation (The Hunter) and equally painstaking stop-motion (both The Maker and Sleight of Hand).
In the best short fiction film category, the nominated films depict: an albino boy's idea of happiness (Bino); an isolated woman's pursuit of a better life (Dumpy Goes To The Big Smoke); a young boy's efforts to speak out against a bully (Julian); and a father/daughter tale of survival in a post-apocalyptic world (Transmission).
The nominees were decided by panels of industry jurors, and members of both the Australian Film Institute and Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts will now vote to decide the winners.
Nominations are a few months off for the feature film categories (and a host of related documentary and short film craft awards). The full list of contenders will be announced in November, with the following films eligible for consideration:
FEATURE FILMS IN COMPETITION FOR THE 2ND AACTA AWARDS
(Follow the links for reviews, interviews, trailers and full credit/synopses)
33 Postcards A Few Best Men Any Questions For Ben? Bait 3D Burning Man Careless Love Dead Europe Hail Housos vs Authority Iron Sky Kath & Kimderella Killer Elite The King Is Dead! Last Dance Lore Mental Not Suitable For Children Santa's Apprentice The Sapphires Swerve Toomelah Wish You Were Here X
To be eligible for contention in the 2nd AACTA Awards, a feature film needs to have had a premiere theatrical release in Australia between 3 November 2011 and 7 November 2012. Members of AACTA will now participate in a two-step voting process to decide the nominees and eventual winners.
The 2nd AACTA Awards will be held in Sydney early in 2013.
The full list of nominees announced today are as follows:
NOMINEES FOR THE AACTA AWARD FOR BEST FEATURE LENGTH DOCUMENTARY
A Common Purpose. Mitzi Goldman
The Curse Of The Gothic Symphony. Veronica Fury
Dr Sarmast's Music School. Beth Frey
Storm Surfers 3D. Ellenor Cox, Marcus Gillezeau
NOMINEES FOR THE AACTA AWARD FOR BEST SHORT ANIMATION
The Hunter. Marieka Walsh
LEGO® Star Wars®: The Padawan MenaceTM. David Scott, Mark Thorley, Amber Naismith
The Maker. Christopher Kezelos, Christine Kezelos
Sleight of Hand. Michael Cusack, Richard Chataway ACS
NOMINEES FOR THE AACTA AWARD FOR BEST SHORT FICTION FILM
B I N O. Billie Pleffer, Rita Walsh
Dumpy Goes To The Big Smoke. Mirrah Foulkes, David Michôd, Michael Cody
Julian. Robert Jago, Matthew Moore
Transmission. Zak Hilditch, Liz Kearney
