Warwick Thornton's tragic tale of star-crossed young love, Samson & Delilah, continued its dream run tonight by taking out the top honours of the Australian Film Industry Awards, which were held in Melbourne in a program spread across two nights.
Despite a year of unprecedented diversity in local film, Thornton's Samson & Delilah was the clear favourite in its categories, given the director's Camera d'Or nod in Cannes, and its clean sweep of the recent IF Awards. The film's total AFI Awards haul stands at seven awards, including best film, directing and cinematography honours for Thornton, best sound, and a shared newcomer award for its young stars Marissa Gibson and Rowan McNamara.
Thornton appeared more relieved than anything, and summed up his mood withunderscoring that making a film is 'bloody hard work".
"Be careful what you write," he cautioned the audience. "[Because] you might have to direct it."
Producer Kath Shelper summed up her hopes for the film in recalling a recent conversation with a catholic nun, who observed that the film's tragic lovers were 'the children that God forgot'.
"I hope that in making the film, now [Samson and Delilah] will be the children that Australia will remember," Shelper told the audience.
With the film in strong contention for a foreign film nomination to both the Academy Awards and Golden Globes, Shelper's hopes are all but assured.
Robert Connolly's East Timor-set drama Balibo was the most nominated film going into the awards (14 nominations in total), and it wasn't overlooked, with Anthony LaPaglia awarded best actor for his portrayal of slain Australian journliast Roger East. The film also won best editing, and the supporting actor gong for Oscar Isaac's portrayal of Jose Ramos Horta. In a taped acceptance speech, Isaac referenced the film's recent banning by the Indonesian government as "a pretty good indicator that we're right on point".
Director Robert Connolly accepted his and co-writer David Williamson's award for best adapted screenplay, giving special thanks to the widows and families of the Balibo Five and Roger East, who "imparted the stories of the tragic loss of their loved ones".
Blessed's Frances O'Connor took out the best actress award for her role as a grieving mother searching for her wayward children, and Beautiful Kate's Rachel Griffiths was named best suporting actress for her role in Rachel Ward's family drama.
In the documentary arena, Scott Hicks' Glass: A Portrait of Phillip in Two Parts won best feature-length documentary, and Michael Davie won directing honours for The Choir (The Choir will screen on SBS in 2010).
Baz Luhrmann's Australia scored well in technical categories, with awards for visual effects, costuming and production design, and for its status as the highest-grossing film of the year.
The full list of winners is as follows:
AFI INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR BEST ACTOR
Russell Crowe. State of Play
Martin Henderson. House. Network Ten
Anthony LaPaglia. Without a Trace. Nine Network
Guy Pearce. Bedtime Stories
AFI INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR BEST ACTRESS
Rose Byrne. Damages. Foxtel
Toni Collette. United States of Tara. ABC1
Melissa George. In Treatment. Foxtel
Mia Wasikowska. In Treatment. Foxtel
AFI YOUNG ACTOR AWARD
Brandon Walters. Australia
Sebastian Gregory. Beautiful
Tom Russell. Last Ride
Toby Wallace. Lucky Country
Marissa Gibson. Samson & Delilah Rowan McNamara. Samson & Delilah
AFI VISUAL EFFECTS AWARD
Australia. Chris Godfrey, James E. Price, Andy Brown, Rob Duncan
Death of the Megabeasts. Matt Drummond, Mike Dunn
Plastic. Sandy Widyanata, Eric So, Matthew Mackereth, Christopher Jackson
Scorched. Bertrand Polivka, Soren Jensen. Nine Network
TELEVISION NOMINEES
AFI AWARD FOR BEST CHILDREN'S TELEVISION DRAMA
The Elephant Princess. Jonathan M. Shiff, Joanna Werner. Network Ten
Time Trackers. Sue Taylor. Seven Network
AFI AWARD FOR BEST CHILDREN'S TELEVISION ANIMATION
The Adventures of Charlotte and Henry. Paige Livingston. Seven Network
Classic Tales. Noel Price. ABC
Figaro Pho. Luke Jurevicius. ABC1
Zeke's Pad. Avrill Stark, Delna Bhesania, Liz Scully, Leonard Terhoch. Seven Network
AFI AWARD FOR BEST TELEVISION COMEDY SERIES
Chandon Pictures. Rob Carlton. Movie Network
Lawrence Leung's Choose Your Own Adventure. Nathan Earl, Andy Nehl. ABC1
Review With Myles Barlow. Dean Bates. ABC
Very Small Business. Wayne Hope, Robyn Butler. ABC1
AFI AWARD FOR BEST LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION SERIES
The Gruen Transfer, Series 2. Andrew Denton, Anita Jacoby, Jon Casimir, Debbie Cuell. ABC
RocKwiz. Brian Nankervis, Ken Connor, Peter Bain-Hogg, Joe Connor. SBS
Spicks and Specks. Anthony Watt. ABC
AFI AWARD FOR BEST TELEVISION DRAMA SERIES
East West 101, Season 2. Kristine Wyld, Steve Knapman. SBS
Packed to the Rafters. Jo Porter. Seven Network
Satisfaction, Season 2. Andrew Walker, Roger Simpson. Showcase
Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities. Greg Haddrick, Brenda Pam. Nine Network
AFI AWARD FOR BEST TELEFEATURE, MINI SERIES OR SHORT RUN SERIES
3 Acts of Murder. Sue Taylor. ABC1
False Witness. Greg Haddrick, Peter Andrikidis. UKTV
The Last Confession of Alexander Pearce. Nial Fulton. ABC1
Saved. Michael McMahon, Tony Ayres. SBS
AFI AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTION IN TELEVISION
East West 101, Season 2 (Episode 13, Atonement) Peter Andrikidis. SBS
False Witness (Episode 1) Peter Andrikidis. UKTV
Review With Myles Barlow (Episode 1) Trent O'Donnell. ABC
Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities (Episode 11, The Brotherhood) Grant Brown. Nine Network
AFI AWARD FOR BEST SCREENPLAY IN TELEVISION
30 Seconds (Episode 4, Invisible Fault Lines) Tim Bullock, Justin Drape, Scott Nowell. Foxtel
East West 101, Season 2 (Episode 13, Atonement) Michael Miller, Kristen Dunphy. SBS
Review With Myles Barlow (Episode 1) Trent O'Donnell, Phil Lloyd. ABC
Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities (Episode 11, The Brotherhood) Kris Mrksa. Nine Network
AFI AWARD FOR BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A TELEVISION DRAMA
Robert Menzies. 3 Acts of Murder. ABC1
Don Hany. East West 101, Season 2. SBS
Dougray Scott. False Witness. UKTV
Roy Billing. Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities. Nine Network
AFI AWARD FOR BEST LEAD ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION DRAMA
Susie Porter. East West 101, Season 2. SBS
Rachael Blake. False Witness. UKTV
Rebecca Gibney. Packed to the Rafters. Seven Network
Asher Keddie. Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities. Nine Network
AFI AWARD FOR BEST GUEST OR SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A TELEVISION DRAMA
Bille Brown. 3 Acts of Murder. ABC1
Jeremy Lindsay Taylor. False Witness (Episode 2). UKTV
Richard Roxburgh. False Witness (Episode 2). UKTV
Damian de Montemas. Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities (Episode 11, The Brotherhood). Nine Network
AFI AWARD FOR BEST GUEST OR SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION DRAMA
Anni Finsterer. 3 Acts of Murder. ABC1
Claire Forlani. False Witness (Episode 1). UKTV
Kathryn Beck. Scorched. Nine Network
Kate Ritchie. Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities (Episode 4, Business As Usual). Nine Network
AFI AWARD FOR BEST PERFORMANCE IN A TELEVISION COMEDY
Robyn Butler. The Librarians, Series 2. ABC
Phil Lloyd. Review With Myles Barlow. ABC
Kim Gyngell. Very Small Business. ABC1
Wayne Hope. Very Small Business. ABC1
NON-FEATURE FILM NOMINEES
AFI AWARD FOR BEST FEATURE LENGTH DOCUMENTARY
Bastardy. Philippa Campey, Amiel Courtin-Wilson, Lynn-Maree Milburn, Andrew de Groot
The Choir. Chris Hilton, Michael Davie
Glass: a portrait of Philip in twelve parts. Scott Hicks, Susanne Preissler
Lionel. Lizzette Atkins
AFI AWARD FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY UNDER ONE HOUR
The Love Market. Shalom Almond. National Geographic
Salt. Michael Angus. ABC
Solo. Jennifer Peedom. ABC1
Tackling Peace. Marc Radomsky. Network Ten
AFI AWARD FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY SERIES
Beyond Kokoda. Stig Schnell, Shaun Gibbons. Foxtel
First Australians. Darren Dale, Rachel Perkins, Helen Panckhurst. SBS
Once Bitten. Beth Frey, Janette Howe. SBS
Voices From The Cape. David Selvarajah Vadiveloo, Anna Kaplan. ABC1
AFI AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTION IN A DOCUMENTARY
Bastardy. Amiel Courtin-Wilson
The Choir. Michael Davie
First Australians (Episode 4, There Is No Other Law). Rachel Perkins. SBS
The Love Market. Shalom Almond. National Geographic
AFI AWARD FOR BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY IN A DOCUMENTARY
Beyond Kokoda (Buying Time). Stig Schnell, Shaun Gibbons, Brett Murphy, Ben Nunney. Foxtel
Cracking the Colour Code (Episode 2, Making Colours). Ian Batt, Vincent Fooy. SBS
My Asian Heart. David Bradbury
Salt. Murray Fredericks. ABC
AFI AWARD FOR BEST EDITING IN A DOCUMENTARY
Bastardy. Bill Murphy, Jack Hutchings, Richard Lowenstein
Cracking the Colour Code (Episode 2, Making Colours). Lawrie Silvestrin. SBS
How Kevin Bacon Cured Cancer. Zen Rosenthal. ABC
Yes Madam, Sir. Megan Doneman, Annie Collins
AFI AWARD FOR BEST SOUND IN A DOCUMENTARY
The Choir. Sam Hayward, Phil Judd, Felicity Fox, Alli Heynes, Phil Vail, David White
Glass: a portrait of Philip in twelve parts. Stephen R. Smith, Peter Smith
Intangible Asset Number 82. Matthew Ferris, Michael Gissing, Andrew McGrath
Lionel. Nick Batterham, Keith Thomas, Cezary Skubiszewski
AFI AWARD FOR BEST SHORT ANIMATION
The Cat Piano. Jessica Brentnall, Eddie White, Ari Gibson
Chicken of God. Jodi Satya, Frank Woodley
The Not-So-Great Eugene Green. Melanie Brunt, Michael Hill
Reach. Luke Randall
AFI AWARD FOR BEST SHORT FICTION FILM
Burn. Anna Kaplan, David Selvarajah Vadiveloo
Liebermans In The Sky. Jessica Redenbach, Richard Vilensky
Miracle Fish. Drew Bailey, Luke Doolan
Water. Sarah Shaw, Corrie Jones
AFI AWARD FOR BEST SCREENPLAY IN A SHORT FILM
Boxer. Michael Latham
Liebermans In The Sky. Richard Vilensky
Miracle Fish. Luke Doolan
Water. Corrie Jones, Sarah Shaw, Ian Meadows
FEATURE FILM NOMINEES
AFI MEMBERS' CHOICE AWARD
Australia. Baz Luhrmann, G. Mac Brown, Catherine Knapman
Balibo. John Maynard, Rebecca Williamson
Beautiful Kate. Leah Churchill-Brown, Bryan Brown
Mao's Last Dancer. Jane Scott
Mary and Max. Melanie Coombs
Samson & Delilah. Kath Shelper
SAMSUNG MOBILE AFI AWARD FOR BEST FILM
Balibo. John Maynard, Rebecca Williamson
Beautiful Kate. Leah Churchill-Brown, Bryan Brown
Blessed. Al Clark
Mao's Last Dancer. Jane Scott
Mary and Max. Melanie Coombs
Samson & Delilah. Kath Shelper
AFI AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTION
Balibo. Robert Connolly
Beautiful Kate. Rachel Ward
Mao's Last Dancer. Bruce Beresford
Samson & Delilah. Warwick Thornton
MACQUARIE AFI AWARD FOR BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Cedar Boys. Serhat Caradee
Mary and Max. Adam Elliot
My Year Without Sex. Sarah Watt
Samson & Delilah. Warwick Thornton
MACQUARIE AFI AWARD FOR BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Balibo. Robert Connolly, David Williamson
Beautiful Kate. Rachel Ward
Blessed. Andrew Bovell, Melissa Reeves, Patricia Cornelius, Christos Tsiolkas
Mao's Last Dancer. Jan Sardi
AFI AWARD FOR BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Balibo. Tristan Milani ACS
Beautiful Kate. Andrew Commis
Last Ride. Greig Fraser
Samson & Delilah. Warwick Thornton
AFI AWARD FOR BEST EDITING
Balibo. Nick Meyers ASE
Blessed. Jill Bilcock ACE, ASE
Mao's Last Dancer. Mark Warner
Samson & Delilah. Roland Gallois
AFI AWARD FOR 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 Savage
Samson & Delilah. Liam Egan, David Tranter, Robert Sullivan, Tony Murtagh, Yulia Akerholt, Les Fiddess
AFI AWARD FOR BEST ORIGINAL MUSIC SCORE
Australia. David Hirschfelder, Felix Meagher, Baz Luhrmann, Angela Little
Balibo. Lisa Gerrard
Mao's Last Dancer. Christopher Gordon
Samson & Delilah. Warwick Thornton
AFI AWARD FOR BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Australia. Catherine Martin, Ian Gracie, Karen Murphy, Beverley Dunn
Balibo. Robert Cousins
Mao's Last Dancer. Herbert Pinter
Mary and Max. Adam Elliot
AFI AWARD FOR BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Australia. Catherine Martin, Eliza Godman
Balibo. Cappi Ireland
Lucky Country. Mariot Kerr
Mao's Last Dancer. Anna Borghesi
AFI AWARD FOR BEST LEAD ACTOR
Anthony LaPaglia. Balibo
Ben Mendelsohn. Beautiful Kate
Hugo Weaving. Last Ride
Rowan McNamara. Samson & Delilah
AFI AWARD FOR BEST LEAD ACTRESS
Sophie Lowe. Beautiful Kate
Frances O'Connor. Blessed
Sacha Horler. My Year Without Sex
Marissa Gibson. Samson & Delilah
AFI AWARD FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Brandon Walters. Australia
Damon Gameau. Balibo
Oscar Isaac. Balibo
Bryan Brown. Beautiful Kate
AFI AWARD FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Bea Viegas. Balibo
Maeve Dermody. Beautiful Kate
Rachel Griffiths. Beautiful Kate
Mitjili Gibson. Samson & Delilah
