NIDA congratulates our outstanding alumni for their nominations and awards in the 2020 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards.
Babyteeth (above), directed byShannon Murphy (Directing, 2007),won awards across several categories, including Best Direction for Shannon, Best Supporting Actress for Essie Davis (Acting, 1992) and Best Film.
It was nominated for Best Lead Actress for NIDA Open Youth participant Eliza Scanlen, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Sound, Best Original Score and Best Production Design.
Stateless (above) won the award for Best Telefeature or Mini Series, produced byCate Blanchett (Acting, 1992) and Sally Riley (Directing, 1993). Cate won Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama for her role in the series. The Best Guest or Supporting Actor in a Television Drama went to Darren Gilshenan (Acting, 1988) for his role in the series. The series included NIDA alumni Belinda Chayko (Playwrights Studio, 1985) who wrote two episodes. The cast includes Kate Box (Acting, 2003), Helmut Bakaitis (Acting, 1965), Vince Poletto (Acting, 1993), Terence Crawford (Acting, 1984) and Jodie Dry (Acting, 1996).
True History of the Kelly Gang (above) won Alice Babidge (Design, 2004) a Best Costume Design for her work on the film.
Directed byJustin Kurzel (Design, 1995), the film was nominated for Best Film and Best Direction and includes Essie Davis (Acting, 1992), with dialect coach Jenny Kent (Voice Studies, 2002).
In other awards:
Steven Vidler (Acting, 1983) wrote and directed Standing Up For Sunny, which won Best Indie Film.
Writer Chris Taylor’s (Playwrights Studio, 1995) Upright won Best Comedy Series.
The Byron Kennedy Award, which is given to an individual or organisation whose work embodies innovation and the relentless pursuit of excellence, went to Jennifer Kent’s (Acting, 1991) 2014 directorial debut film The Babadook, starring Essie Davis.
In other nominations:
Relic was nominated for Best Film, Best Screenplay and Best Sound and features Robyn Nevin AO (Acting, 1960) with costume design by Louise McCarthy (Design, 1987).
Unsound was nominated for Best Indie Film. The film is directed by Ian Watson (Directing, 1976) and written by Ally Burnham (Writing for Performance, 2016) with Ana Maria Belo (Acting, 1998) and costume design by Rachel Giuffre (Design, 2014).
Hugo Weaving (Acting, 1981) was nominated as Best Lead Actor for Measure for Measure, with Doris Younane (Acting, 1986),nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film.
Bloom was nominated for Best Television Drama Series, withJacqueline McKenzie (Acting, 1990) nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Television Drama. The series includes Toby Schmitz (Acting, 1999).
Mystery Road was nominated for Best Television Drama Series.Rob Collins (Acting, 2013) was nominated for Best Supporting Actor. The series includes executive producer Sally Riley (Directing, 1993) and Joel Jackson (Acting, 2013).
Doctor Doctor was nominated for Best Television Drama Series. The series includesMiranda Tapsell (Acting, 2008), Robyn Nevin (Acting, 1960) and Charles Wu (Acting, 2014), with guest stars Uli Latukefu (Acting, 2012) and Ella Scott Lynch (Acting, 2004). One episode was written by Gretel Vella (Writing for Performance, 2017).
The Heights was nominated for Best Television Drama Series and includes Shari Sebbens (Acting, 2009), Fiona Press (Acting, 1983) and Annie Murtagh-Monks (Acting, 1983).
H Is for Happiness, directed by John Sheedy (Directing, 2002), was nominated for Best Film and Best Direction, with Richard Roxburgh (Acting, 1986) nominated for Best Lead Actor. The film includes Joel Jackson (Acting, 2013). The film was also nominated for Best Costume Design, Best Original Score and Best Cinematography.
Nominated forBest Telefeature or Mini Series wasHungry Ghosts withGareth Yuen (Acting, 2005), Ryan Corr (Acting, 2009) and Susie Porter (Acting, 1995).
Nominated forBest Telefeature or Mini Series wasOperation Buffalo, with executive producer Sally Riley (Directing, 1993) and Shaka Cook (Acting, 2012).
The Moogai with Shari Sebbens (Acting, 2009), Meyne Wyatt (Acting, 2010), was nominated for Best Short Film.
Wentworth was nominated for Best Television Drama Series. It includes Vivienne Awosoga (Dip Musical Theatre, 2015; Acting, 2018) and Kate Box (Acting 2003). Susie Porter (Acting, 1995) and Katrina Milosevic (Acting, 1997).
Black Comedy was nominated for Best Comedy Series with executive producer Sally Riley (Directing, 1992) and featuring Dalara Williams (Acting, 2017).
Lindy Chamberlain: the True Story was nominated for Best Documentary with NIDA Board member Ian Collie as co-producer.
