Animal Kingdom has broken the record for AFI Awards nominations with selection in 18 categories, including Best Film. David Michôd's exceptional crime drama received a remarkable seven nominations in the acting categories alone, with Jackie Weaver leading the odds to take home the Best Lead Actress award. The film drew considerable attention earlier in the year when it won the Sundance World Cinema Grand Jury prize, and later had a respectable run at the US box office. Animal Kingdom will battle Beneath Hill 60, Bran Nue Dae, Bright Star, The Boys Are Back and Tomorrow, When the War Began for the best film of the year prize.
In what must be considered a strong year for Australian cinema, two other films earned over 10 nominations. The WWII drama from actor-turned-director Jeremy Sims, Beneath Hill 60, received attention in 12 categories and Jane Campion's John Keats bio-pic Bright Star not far behind with 11 nominations. The directing debut from celebrated screenwriter Stuart Beattie, Tomorrow, When the War Began, scored eight nominations, receiving nods for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Editing. The Tree and Bran Nue Dae tied with seven, and will go head-to-head in the Best Adapted Screenplay category.
The AFI's award for acting excellence in international productions is once again a mix bag of veterans and newcomers. In the male category, golden boy Sam Worthington (Avatar) will go against Ryan Kwanten (True Blood), Kodi Smit-McPhee (The Road), and Simon Baker (The Mentalist). Toni Collette (The United States of Tara) leads the ladies, followed by Naomi Watts (Mother and Child), Mia Wasikowska (Alice In Wonderland) and Bojana Novakovic (Edge Of Darkness).
The 2010 AFI Industry Awards will take place on Friday December 10, with the AFI Awards Ceremony held on Saturday December 11. Kenny star Shane Jacobson will host both nights at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne.
2010 AFI AWARDS NOMINATIONS
FEATURE FILM NOMINEES
AFI MEMBERS' CHOICE AWARD
Animal Kingdom. Liz Watts.
Beneath Hill 60. Bill Leimbach.
Bran Nue Dae. Robyn Kershaw, Graeme Isaac.
Bright Star. Jan Chapman, Caroline Hewitt.
The Boys Are Back. Greg Brenman, Tim White.
Tomorrow When The War Began. Andrew Mason, Michael Boughen.
SAMSUNG MOBILE AFI AWARD FOR BEST FILM
Animal Kingdom. Liz Watts.
Beneath Hill 60. Bill Leimbach.
Bran Nue Dae. Robyn Kershaw, Graeme Isaac.
Bright Star. Jan Chapman, Caroline Hewitt.
The Tree. Sue Taylor. Yaël Fogiel.
Tomorrow When The War Began. Andrew Mason, Michael Boughen.
AFI AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTION
Animal Kingdom. David Michôd.
Beneath Hill 60. Jeremy Hartley Sims.
Bright Star. Jane Campion.
The Tree. Julie Bertuccelli.
MACQUARIE AFI AWARD FOR BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Animal Kingdom. David Michôd.
Beneath Hill 60. David Roach.
Bright Star. Jane Campion.
Daybreakers. Peter Spierig, Michael Spierig.
MACQUARIE AFI AWARD FOR BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Bran Nue Dae. Reg Cribb, Rachel Perkins, Jimmy Chi.
The Boys Are Back. Allan Cubitt.
The Tree. Julie Bertuccelli.
Tomorrow When The War Began. Stuart Beattie.
AFI AWARD FOR BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Animal Kingdom. Adam Arkapaw.
Beneath Hill 60. Toby Oliver ACS.
Bright Star. Greig Fraser.
The Waiting City. Denson Baker ACS
AFI AWARD FOR BEST EDITING
Animal Kingdom. Luke Doolan.
Beneath Hill 60. Dany Cooper ASE.
Bright Star. Alexandre de Franceschi ASE.
Tomorrow When The War Began. Marcus D'Arcy.
AFI AWARD FOR BEST SOUND
Animal Kingdom. Sam Petty, Rob Mackenzie, Philippe Decrausaz.
Beneath Hill 60. Liam Egan, Alicia Slusarski, Mark Cornish, Tony Murtagh.
Bran Nue Dae. Andrew Neil, Steve Burgess, Peter Mills, Mario Vaccaro
Blaire Slater, David Bridie, Scott Montgomery.
Tomorrow When The War Began. Andrew Plain, David Lee, Gethin Creagh
Robert Sullivan.
AFI AWARD FOR BEST ORIGINAL MUSIC SCORE
Animal Kingdom. Antony Partos, Sam Petty.
Beneath Hill 60. Cezary Skubiszewski.
Bran Nue Dae. Cezary Skubiszewski, Jimmy Chi, Patrick Duttoo Bin Amat, Garry Gower, Michael Manolis Mavromatis, Stephen Pigram.
Bright Star. Mark Bradshaw.
AFI AWARD FOR BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Animal Kingdom. Jo Ford.
Beneath Hill 60. Clayton Jauncey.
Bright Star. Janet Patterson.
Tomorrow When The War Began. Robert Webb, Michelle McGahey, Damien Drew, Bev Dunn.
AFI AWARD FOR BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Animal Kingdom. Cappi Ireland.
Beneath Hill 60. Ian Sparke, Wendy Cork.
Bran Nue Dae. Margot Wilson.
Bright Star. Janet Patterson
AFI AWARD FOR BEST LEAD ACTOR
Brendan Cowell. Beneath Hill 60.
James Frecheville. Animal Kingdom.
Ben Mendelsohn. Animal Kingdom.
Clive Owen. The Boys Are Back.
AFI AWARD FOR BEST LEAD ACTRESS
Abbie Cornish. Bright Star.
Morgana Davies. The Tree.
Charlotte Gainsbourg. The Tree.
Jacki Weaver. Animal Kingdom.
AFI AWARD FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Joel Edgerton. Animal Kingdom.
Guy Pearce. Animal Kingdom.
Kodi Smit"McPhee. Matching Jack.
Sullivan Stapleton. Animal Kingdom.
AFI AWARD FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Julia Blake. The Boys Are Back.
Kerry Fox. Bright Star.
Deborah Mailman. Bran Nue Dae.
Laura Wheelwright. Animal Kingdom.
AFI VISUAL EFFECTS AWARD
Daybreakers. Peter Spierig, Michael Spierig, Rangi Sutton, James Rogers, Randy Vellacott
The Tree. Dave Morley, Felix Crawshaw, Claudia Lecaros, Tim Walker
Tinglewood. Wil Manning
Tomorrow When The War Began. Chris Godfrey, Sigi Eimutis, Dave Morley, Tony Cole
AFI INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR BEST ACTOR
Simon Baker. The Mentalist, Season 2. Nine Network
Ryan Kwanten. True Blood, Season 3. Showcase
Kodi Smit"McPhee. The Road
Sam Worthington. Avatar
AFI INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR BEST ACTRESS
Toni Collette. United States of Tara, Season 2. ABC1
Bojana Novakovic. Edge of Darkness
Mia Wasikowska. Alice in Wonderland
Naomi Watts. Mother and Child
AFI YOUNG ACTOR AWARD
Ashleigh Cummings. Tomorrow When The War Began
Morgana Davies. The Tree
James Frecheville. Animal Kingdom
Harrison Gilbertson. Beneath Hill 60
TELEVISION NOMINEES
AFI AWARD FOR BEST CHILDREN'S TELEVISION DRAMA
Dance Academy. Joanna Werner ABC
Dead Gorgeous. Ewan Burnett, Margot McDonald. ABC
Lockie Leonard. Kylie Du Fresne. Nine Network
My Place. Penny Chapman. ABC
AFI AWARD FOR BEST CHILDREN'S TELEVISION ANIMATION
dirtgirlworld. Cate McQuillen. ABC
Erky Perky. Kristine Klohk, Barbara Stephen, Tracy Lenon. Seven Network
The Legend Of Enyo. Avrill Stark, Michael Christensen. Seven Network
AFI AWARD FOR BEST TELEVISION COMEDY SERIES
Lowdown. Nicole Minchin, Amanda Brotchie, Adam Zwar. ABC
Review With Myles Barlow, Season 2. Dean Bates. ABC
Wilfred II. Jenny Livingston, Tony Rogers, Adam Zwar, Jason Gann. SBS
AFI AWARD FOR BEST LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION SERIES
The Gruen Transfer, Series 3. Andrew Denton, Anita Jacoby, Jon Casimir, Debbie Cuell. ABC1
Hungry Beast, Series Two. Andrew Denton, Andy Nehl. ABC1
MasterChef Australia. Margaret Bashfield, Judy Smart, Caroline Spencer. Network Ten
Talkin' 'bout Your Generation. Peter Beck. Network Ten
AFI AWARD FOR BEST TELEVISION DRAMA SERIES
The Circuit, Series 2. Ross Hutchens, Colin South. SBS
Rush, Season 3. John Edwards, Mimi Butler. Network Ten
Spirited. Claudia Karvan, Jacquelin Perske, John Edwards. W
Tangle, Season 2. John Edwards, Imogen Banks. Showcase
AFI AWARD FOR BEST TELEFEATURE, MINI SERIES OR SHORT RUN SERIES
A Model Daughter: The Killing Of Caroline Byrne. Karl Zwicky. Network Ten
Hawke. Richard Keddie. Network Ten
AFI AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTION IN TELEVISION
Dance Academy " Episode 2, 'Week Zero'. Jeffrey Walker. ABC
Hawke. Emma Freeman. Network Ten
Rush, Season 3 " Episode 308, 'Train'. Grant Brown. Network Ten
Tangle, Season 2 " Episode 16, 'Lost and Found'. Emma Freeman. Showcase
AFI AWARD FOR BEST SCREENPLAY IN TELEVISION
Hawke. Glen Dolman. Network Ten
Review With Myles Barlow, Season 2 " Episode 6, 'Happiness, Escapism, Acceptance'.
Trent O'Donnell, Phil Lloyd. ABC
Tangle, Season 2 " Episode 15, 'Sleepwalking'. Fiona Seres. Showcase
Wilfred II – Episode 7, 'Dog Star'. Jason Gann, Adam Zwar. SBS
AFI AWARD FOR BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A TELEVISION DRAMA
Garry McDonald. A Model Daughter: The Killing Of Caroline Byrne. Network Ten
Corey McKernan. Lockie Leonard. Nine Network
Aaron Pedersen. The Circuit, Series 2. SBS
Richard Roxburgh. Hawke. Network Ten
AFI AWARD FOR BEST LEAD ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION DRAMA
Cheree Cassidy. Underbelly: The Golden Mile " Episode 7, 'Full Force Gale'. Nine Network
Justine Clarke. Tangle, Season 2. Showcase
Poppy Lee Friar. Dead Gorgeous. ABC
Catherine McClements. Tangle, Season 2. Showcase
AFI AWARD FOR BEST GUEST OR SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A TELEVISION DRAMA
Damien Garvey. Underbelly: The Golden Mile " Episode 10, 'Hurt on Duty'. Nine Network
Rhys Muldoon. Lockie Leonard " Episode 11, 'Snake Hide Oil. Nine Network
John Waters. Offspring. Network Ten
Ben Winspear. My Place " Episode 5, '1968 Sofia'. ABC
AFI AWARD FOR BEST GUEST OR SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION DRAMA
Linda Cropper. Satisfaction, Season 3 " Episode 8, 'Not Vanilla'. Showcase
Sacha Horler. Hawke. Network Ten
Asher Keddie. Hawke. Network Ten
Deborah Mailman. Offspring. Network Ten
AFI AWARD FOR BEST PERFORMANCE IN A TELEVISION COMEDY
Paul Denny. Lowdown. ABC
Jason Gann. Wilfred II. SBS
Phil Lloyd. Review With Myles Barlow, Season 2. ABC
NON"FEATURE FILM NOMINEES
AFI AWARD FOR BEST FEATURE LENGTH DOCUMENTARY
Contact. Martin Butler, Bentley Dean. ABC1
Inside The Firestorm. Lucy Maclaren, Alex West. ABC
The Snowman. Rachel Landers, Dylan Blowen.
Strange Birds In Paradise " A West Papuan Story. Jamie Nicolai, John Cherry.
AFI AWARD FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY UNDER ONE HOUR
A Thousand Encores: The Ballets Russes In Australia. Sharyn Prentice, Marianne Latham, Lavinia Riachi. ABC
Rudely Interrupted. Susie Jones, Benjamin Jones. ABC1
Surviving Mumbai. Andrew Ogilvie, Andrea Quesnelle. ABC
You Only Live Twice " The Incredibly True Story Of The Hughes Family. Ruth Cullen. ABC1
AFI AWARD FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY SERIES
Addicted To Money. Andrew Ogilvie, Andrea Quesnelle. ABC
Disable Bodied Sailors. Karina Holden, Nick Robinson. SBS
Kokoda. Andrew Wiseman. ABC1
Liberal Rule" The Politics That Changed Australia. Nick Torrens, Frank Haines. SBS
AFI AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTION IN A DOCUMENTARY
A Thousand Encores: The Ballets Russes In Australia. Amanda Chang. ABC
Contact. Martin Butler, Bentley Dean. ABC1
Inside The Firestorm. Jacob Hickey. ABC
Strange Birds In Paradise " A West Papuan Story. Charlie Hill"Smith.
AFI AWARD FOR BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY IN A DOCUMENTARY
Disable Bodied Sailors " Episode 3. Nick Robinson. SBS
Miracles " Episode 1, 'Miracle in the Storm'. Tony Oliver ACS. ABC1
Strange Birds In Paradise " A West Papuan Story. Angus Kemp.
Surviving Mumbai. Jim Frater. ABC
AFI AWARD FOR BEST EDITING IN A DOCUMENTARY
A Thousand Encores: The Ballets Russes In Australia. Karin Steininger. ABC
Contact. Tania Nehme. ABC1
Inside The Firestorm. Steven Robinson. ABC
Surviving Mumbai. David Fosdick. ABC
AFI AWARD FOR BEST SOUND IN A DOCUMENTARY
A Thousand Encores: The Ballets Russes In Australia. Brett Aplin, Andrew McGrath, Erin McKimm. ABC
Inside The Firestorm. Jock Healy, Tristan Meredith. ABC
Kokoda " Episode 1, 'The Invasion'. David Bridie, Chris Goodes, Ian Grant, Patrick Slater. ABC1
Strange Birds In Paradise " A West Papuan Story. Mik la Vage, Doron Kipen, David Bridie.
AFI AWARD FOR BEST SHORT ANIMATION
The Lost Thing. Sophie Byrne, Andrew Ruhemann, Shaun Tan.
Zero. Christopher Kezelos, Christine Kezelos.
AFI AWARD FOR BEST SHORT FICTION FILM
Deeper Than Yesterday. Ariel Kleiman, Benjamin Gilovitz, Sarah Cyngler, Anna Kojevnikov.
The Kiss. Sonya Humphrey, Ashlee Page.
The Love Song Of Iskra Prufrock. Lucy Gaffy, Lyn Norfor.
Suburbia. Antonio Oreña"Barlin, Richard Halsted.
AFI AWARD FOR BEST SCREENPLAY IN A SHORT FILM
A Parachute Falling In Siberia. Sarah Shaw, Ian Meadows.
Deeper Than Yesterday. Ariel Kleiman.
Glenn Owen Dodds. Trent Dalton.
The Kiss. Ashlee Page
