AFI Awards ready to elevate TV
Look out Logies. The new-look AFI Awards is considering new names including, ''Australian Film and TV Academy.''
- Published by David Knox
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A forum on the new-look AFI Awards in Melbourne tonight and Sydney tomorrow will discuss proposed changes on the event that include elevating the television component.
Restructuring of the awards to an Australian Academy will consider new names including the ”Australian Film and TV Academy.”
As previously reported the event is also seeking to switch from early December to late January, to capitalise on the US and UK awards season.
That will put the event well-ahead of the Logies which is traditionally staged in May.
If the AFIs opt to stage separate television and film awards (as the BAFTAs do) it would be a major strike into the Logies terrain. But it would also nab wider public attention and could become a major television event at the top of the TV ratings year.
”There’s a rich heritage,” AFI chief executive Damian Trewhella tells The Age. ”There’s no doubt that TV is a critical part of our screen industry.
”It’s the biggest and the most dynamic part, most of the time, and we want this academy to be referencing great screen production, recognising that occurs across a range of screens.
”They’re interconnected and both are big parts of the industry.”
The forums take place tonight at Cinema Nova in Melbourne and tomorrow at AFTRS, Moore Park in Sydney.
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- Tagged with AFI Awards, BAFTA Awards, Logie Awards
12 Responses
I agree with Andrew Mercado, the film industry does seem to look down on TV, although a lot of the actors and crew got their start in TV. No matter what happens, the Logies will still live on.
Great news and on just on Logies, held far too late into the year. Should go back to mid March.
This will be a disaster because film snobs look down on TV as a lesser medium. Last year’s Offspring debacle (not even nominating Asher Keddie) is a perfect example of how badly things can go. Say what you like about the Logies but at least readers of TV Week have a say (they do, after all, love TV) And there is a peer voted panel (although given those judges called Underbelly: The Golden Mile the best drama of 2010, it is also not without mistakes).
@Anthony – i mostly agree with you on the peer voted prizes of both awards, and the Offspring inclusions were just as bizarre as the exclusions – but from memory only the pilot two hour movie was entered into last year’s AFI – which is why Deb and John Waters were nommed. Both featured much more than in later eps of that first series. But why Asher was not stumped me. And Logies weren’t exempt from oddness either. Offspring should have been up for Outstanding Drama Series, but was not. And Asher was far and away the outstanding actress. Because of the bizarre time of year that AFI entrants are closed, you get some strange shows and performers included. Even with the late Logies date, the cutoff’s for the peer prizes seem much more reliable. Swings and roundabouts. But i welcome a new and improved AFI awards and if it gets delayed to Jan/Feb all the better. Our industry deserves an across the board representation of its achievements. I too, lament the comedy/entertainmentt melange that Logies
reduces the genre to.
Most importantly, can Karl Stefanovic still take out the top TV prize of the night again????
I still shudder when I even consider that actually happened, and in doing so, knocked the Logies down a considerable number of pegs in the process.
Excellent. It’s what the tv industry in this country needs. Real recognition cos the Logies are a disgrace and a mockery of tv in this country. Film and television awards together on one night.
This is very good, but all the sheep will still follow TV Week.
Excellent news. I don’t think anyone outside of Australia takes the Logies seriously, nor many inside. I would really like to see the AFI TV awards positioned as the premier awards for TV.
About time. The statuette could do with some improving though.
Good it’s ridiculous that there’s not a logie specifically for comedy.
Excellent news for Australian TV !
This is great news for me… When I watch the AFI awards, I mostly want to see the TV categories!!!
Though to be honest, I still favour the “Outstanding” awards at the Logies to the AFIs. I usually “agree” more with the “peer-voted” Logies categories, than some of the choices I see at the AFI awards (e.g. Deborah Mailman did not deserve that supporting win for Offspring [she’s very underused on the show – how much acting did it take?] There were many others who weren’t even nominated and I’d rather see them get awarded instead)