In another stellar year for Victorian film and television, an impressive contingent of Film Victoria-supported projects, productions and practitioners have been nominated in the 2018 AACTA Awards presented by Foxtel.
Victorian screen productions and practitioners received a total of 54 nominations announced today, including 18 nominations for feature film, seven for documentary and 29 for television.
In a strong field for feature film, Clayton Jacobson's black comedy Brother’s Nest is nominated for both Best Original Screenplay and in the new category of Best Indie Film, where it will compete with Strange Colours, directed by Alena Lodkina, and Jason Raftopolous’ crime drama West of Sunshine, which also received nods for Best Cinematography and Best Lead Actor; a poignant nomination for the late Damian Hill. Victorian actor Ryan Corr also earned a nomination in this category for his role in 1%.
Biblical biopic Mary Magdalene, helmed by Victorian Director Garth Davis, picked up nominations for Best Lead Actress (Rooney Mara), Best Original Music Score and Best Costume Design, while Leigh Whannell’s Melbourne-made sci-fi thriller Upgrade scored six nominations – Best Original Screenplay, Best Editing, Best Hair and Makeup, Best Sound, Best Original Music Score and Best Production Design.
Also vying for Best Production is the Spierig Brothers’ horror, Winchester. Filmed in the US and Victoria, Winchester also received nods for Best Costume Design and Best Hair and Makeup, while Victoria’s post-production prowess has been recognised in a nomination for Luma Pictures for their work on Black Panther.
Acclaimed documentary Gurrumul is holding joint lead in its category, with five nominations including Best Feature Documentary, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Sound and Best Original Music Score, with nominations also going to Jill Bilcock: Dancing the Invisible (Best Feature Documentary) and Have You Seen the Listers? (Best Editing).
In another strong year for Victorian television productions, Picnic at Hanging Rock is in contention for eight awards, picking up nominations for Best Telefeature or Mini Series, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Sound, Best Original Music Score, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design and Best New Talent (Inez Curro).
Perennial audience favourites Jack Irish and Wentworth are contenders for Best Drama Series, with Wentworth also picking up nominations for Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama (Leah Purcell) and Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama (Celia Ireland).
Romper Stomper scored nominations for Best Guest or Supporting Actor in a Television Drama (Dan Wyllie), Best New Talent (Markella Kavenagh), Best Sound and Best Original Music Score. In the running for Best Direction in Nonfiction Television is David Batty’s web series Black As.
On the comedy and light entertainment front, True Story with Hamish and Andy and Rosehaven are nominated for Best Comedy Program, with Celia Pacquola also nominated for Best Performance in a Television Comedy. Also in contention in this category are Wayne Hope and Robyn Nevin for their performances in Gristmill’s Back in Very Small Business.
In children’s television, Princess Pictures’ My Year 7 Life is nominated for Best Children’s Program, while Deadlock and Homecoming Queens are in the running for Best Online Video or Series, and Monster’s Playground has been nominated for Best Short Animation.
Rounding out the Victorian productions to receive nominations are: AFL 360, Finals Footy on Fox, Food Safari Water, Hard Quiz, The Real Housewives of Melbourne and The Weekly with Charlie Pickering.