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AACTA Awards 2014: winners

Winners include Redfern Now, Power Games, Please Like Me, Top of the Lake.

aacta1The 3rd Annual AACTA Awards were held tonight at The Star in Sydney, hosted by Shane Bourne.

Redfern Now won Best Drama Series, while Top of the Lake took out the Telemovie / Miniseries category. Please Like Me was awarded Best Comedy or Light Entertainment and MasterChef: The Professionals won Best Reality.

While the ABC dominated the TV wins, and TEN, Foxtel and Nine scored, both Seven and SBS went home empty-handed tonight. Seven’s Mrs Biggs co-production previously picked up am Editing gong.

Here are the TV winners in bold  (this post updates):

BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A TELEVISION DRAMA:
Ernie Dingo
Redfern Now – Series 2 – Episode 6 ‘Dogs of War’ (ABC1)

Remy Hii
Better Man (SBS)

Lachy Hulme
Power Games: The Packer-Murdoch Story (Nine Network)

Meyne Wyatt
Redfern Now – Series 2 – Episode 3 ‘Babe in Arms’ (ABC1)

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“I didn’t really want to do this project and John (Edwards) spent about a year convincing me I could do it. He was ably assisted by the two assassins, Jodi Patterson the producer and Samantha Winston who wrote Part 1 and shanghaiied me into this,” said Hulme.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD (Raymond Longford Award): Jacki Weaver.

Jacki Weaver received a standing ovation after an introduction by Jack Thompson, John Waters, Claudia Karvan and David Michod.

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“I’ve noted tonight that I’m the first female actor to get one. So I’m just overwhelmed. I’m sure I don’t deserve it but I’m not giving it back and I’m going to sleep with it in my bed tonight,” said Weaver.

“This is actually my fifth, but this it the best.”

BEST GUEST OR SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A TELEVISION DRAMA:
Alexander England
Power Games: The Packer-Murdoch Story – Part 1 (Nine Network)

Luke Ford
Power Games: The Packer-Murdoch Story – Part 2 (Nine Network)

Peter Mullan
Top of the Lake – Episode 5 ‘The Dark Creator’ (FOXTEL – UKTV)

David Wenham
Better Man – Part 2 (SBS)

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“I’d be working on the scenes until 2:00 in the morning and (Lachie Hulme) would come up to me at about 5:00 in the morning and say ‘I re-wrote it!’ And I’d be like ‘You’re kidding me!'” said Ford.

BEST REALITY TELEVISION SERIES:
Australia’s Got Talent – Series 7 (Nine Network)
Greg Beness, Steve Kelly

MasterChef: The Professionals (Network Ten)
Margaret Bashfield, David McDonald, Mark Barlin, Tim Toni

My Kitchen Rules – Series 4 (Seven Network)
Rikkie Proost, Matt Apps, Evan Wilkes, Greg Swanborough

The X Factor – Series 4 (Seven Network)
Jonathon Summerhayes

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“We love this. And as Marco Pierre White would like to say: poo chute!” said Matt Preston.

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A TELEVISION COMEDY:
Lisa McCune
It’s A Date – Episode 1 ‘Abandon’ (ABC1)

Shaun Micallef
Shaun Micallef’s Mad as Hell – Series 2 (ABC1)

Robyn Nevin
Upper Middle Bogan (ABC1)

Josh Thomas
Please Like Me (ABC2)

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“I’ve often thought when I’ve watched Robyn Nevin on TV or stage, gee I reckon I’m much better than you are! To Lisa McCune I thought ‘You’re good, but you’re not as good as me.’ And Josh Thomas I haven’t seen enough of your work to make any sort of judgment,” said Micallef. “In fact this award proves it, I suppose.” 

BEST TELEFEATURE OR MINISERIES
An Accidental Soldier (ABC1)
Kylie du Fresne, Sue Taylor

Mrs Biggs (Seven Network)
Kwadjo Dajan, Tony Wright

Power Games: The Packer-Murdoch Story (Nine Network)
John Edwards, Jodi Matterson

Top of the Lake (FOXTEL – UKTV)
Emile Sherman, Iain Canning, Jane Campion, Philippa Campbell

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“Having won awards at the Emmys and Golden Globes, winning here tonight in our home territory is really special,” said Sherman.

BEST GUEST OR SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION DRAMA:
Kris McQuade
Wentworth – Series One – Episode 10 ‘Checkmate’ (FOXTEL – SoHo)

Heather Mitchell
Power Games: The Packer-Murdoch Story – Part 1 (Nine Network)

Robyn Nevin
Top of the Lake – Episode 4 ‘A Rainbow Above Us’ (FOXTEL – UKTV)

Kat Stewart
Offspring – Season 4 – Episode 9 (Network Ten)

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“Thanks to John Edwards and Imogen Banks for making such terrific productions. I’ve really enjoyed making both Offspring and Tangle. Long may they prosper,” said Stewart.

BEST LEAD ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION DRAMA:
Marie Bunel
An Accidental Soldier (ABC1)

Claudia Karvan
The Time of Our Lives (ABC1)

Asher Keddie
Offspring – Season 4 (Network Ten)

Sheridan Smith
Mrs Biggs (Seven Network)

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“Look I made a contribution to the playing of Caroline but really it was the tip of the iceberg. The beneficiaries of this really should be Amanda Higgs and Judi McCrossin,” said Karvan. “Thank you to the ABC for continuing to make such fine Australian drama.”

BEST TELEVISION DRAMA SERIES:
Offspring – Season 4 (Network Ten)
John Edwards, Imogen Banks

Redfern Now – Series 2 (ABC1)
Darren Dale, Miranda Dear

Serangoon Road (ABC1)
Paul Barron, Nick North

Wentworth – Series 1 (FOXTEL – SoHo)
Jo Porter, Amanda Crittenden

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“This is an incredible honour. 2 days ago I was sure Wentworth would win it, such a great show. And today I thought Offspring, another great show would win. Television drama is in such great hands,” said Darren Dale.

BEST TELEVISION COMEDY OR LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT SERIES:
The Agony of Life (ABC1)
Adam Zwar, Nicole Minchin, Amanda Brotchie

Gruen Nation – Series 2 (ABC1)
Sophia Zachariou, Jo Wathen, Wil Anderson, Jon Casimir

Please Like Me (ABC2)
Todd Abbott

Shaun Micallef’s MAD AS HELL – Series 2 (ABC1)
Peter Beck, Shaun Micallef

Upper Middle Bogan (ABC1)
Robyn Butler, Wayne Hope

“I personally want to thank my mum and dad about 5 years ago and say ‘Hey I want to take some of the very sad, very real, personal things and put them in a comedy show for the nation,” said Josh Thomas.

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BEST SCREENPLAY IN TELEVISION:
Offspring -Season 4- Episode 13 (Network Ten)
Debra Oswald

Power Games: The Packer-Murdoch Story – Part 1 (Nine Network)
Samantha Winston

Redfern Now – Series 2 – Episode 3 ‘Babe in Arms’ (ABC1)
Steven McGregor

Upper Middle Bogan – Episode 5 ‘No Angel’ (ABC1)
Robyn Butler, Wayne Hope, Gary McCaffrie
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“I’m especially blessed to work with my two writing colleagues, Jonathan Gavin and Mike Lucas,” said Oswald.

AWARDED EARLIER:

BEST CHILDREN’S TELEVISION SERIES
Nowhere Boys Tony Ayres and Beth Frey – ABC3

BEST DIRECTION IN A TELEVISION LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT OR REALITY SERIES
Hamish & Andy’s Gap Year Asia Episode 1: Week 1; Tim Bartley and Jo Siddiqui – Nine Network

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY IN TELEVISION
Top Of The Lake Episode 5: The Dark Creator; Adam Arkapaw – FOXTEL – UKTV

BEST EDITING IN TELEVISION
Mrs Biggs Episode 3; Ben Lester and Mark Atkin ASE – Seven Network

BEST SOUND IN TELEVISION
Top Of The Lake Episode 5: The Dark Creator; Richard Flynn, Tony Vaccher, John Dennison, Craig Butters, Danny Longhurst and Blair Slater – FOXTEL – UKTV

BEST ORIGINAL MUSIC SCORE IN TELEVISION
Redfern Now – Series 2 Episode 3: Babe in Arms; Antony Partos – ABC1

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN IN TELEVISION
Peleda Episode 3: The Amber Shard; Nathan Jurevicius – ABC3

BEST COSTUME DESIGN IN TELEVISION
Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries – Series 2 Episode 1: Murder Most Scandalous; Marion Boyce – ABC1

BEST DOCUMENTARY TELEVISION PROGRAM
Redesign My Brain Paul Scott and Isabel Perez – ABC1

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY IN A DOCUMENTARY
Kakadu Episode 4 Nick Robinson and Luke Peterson – ABC1

BEST EDITING IN A DOCUMENTARY
Desert War Episode 1: Tobruk Lawrie Silvestrin ASE – ABC1

BEST SOUND IN A DOCUMENTARY
Desert War Episode 1: Tobruk Ash Gibson Greig, Ric Curtin, Glenn Martin, Ash Charlton and Chris Bollard – ABC1

12 Responses

  1. The Great Gatsby, award winning “Australian film”. Our industry has reached a low ebb when an American classic novel is deemed Australian. $40 million in taxpayer subsidy paid to Warner Bros. The film is a world hit, the taxpayer sees none of the returns and none of the profits. If I was a worker at SPC Ardmona I’d be pretty pissed off. Has it come to this?

  2. ‘Hey I want to take some of the very sad, very real, personal things and put them in a comedy show for the nation,” said Josh Thomas.

    It’s a pity the nation didn’t actually want to watch those self-indulgent personal things.

  3. loved Shaun Micallef’s speech.

    A shame that Ten had to cut out so much from the awards – including best actor and actress in a film. Sure, the winners of these 2 awards weren’t here, but nonetheless they are 2 big awards (and Baz Lurhman made a great speech on behalf of DiCaprio (the winner).

  4. Was this show celebrating film or tv? Ridiculous how the film prizes were relegated either to another ceremony days earlier and then the plum acting prizes were squashed in a package indicating the winners only , while Reality TV gets a spot in the main telecast. Where is the celebration of Aussie film? Nomination packages were ten seconds long. No sense of the other movies made this year other than Gatsby. Hosted by Shane Bourne? No bookended by Shane Bourne. Thumbs down big time.

  5. Sam Worthington on the red carpet: “We’re here to support the Australian Film and Television Industry, not my private life.”
    When all him and Lara ever do is shove their private lives on us and ooze over each other and post half-naked instagram pics.
    Never had a problem with him before, but the way he spoke to Natasha was incredibly rude. She asked a perfectly innocent question and didn’t deserve to be spoken to like that. What a douche.
    At least we know they deserve each other.

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