With another year of stellar entertainment wrapping up, the Australian film and TV industry has celebrated one of its biggest nights: The AACTA Awards. Held at the Sydney Opera House on Wednesday, December 8, the 2021 AACTAs celebrated the work of stars including Anna Torv, Essie Davis, Eric Bana, Costa Georgiadis and Rachel Griffiths winning on the night.
WATCH: New Gold Mountain | Official Trailer
In a year where we all spent much more time at home than we would have liked, our favourite films and series became a source of true comfort and joy. But along with watching old standbys came the thrill of discovering something new, with Australian TV shows and movies proving themselves to be better than ever.
Whether you were hooked on Wentworth’s gripping final season, or found something new in SBS drama New Gold Mountain, you’re sure to have a favourite this awards season.
Scroll through to see the full list of nominees and winners for the 2021 AACTA Awards. Winners are in bold.
Television Awards
Best Drama Series
• Clickbait
• Jack Irish
• Mr Inbetween
• The Newsreader
• Total Control
• Wakefield
• Wentworth
Best Miniseries or Telefeature
• A Sunburnt Christmas
• The End
• Fires
• New Gold Mountain
• The Unusual Suspects
Best Lead Actor in a Drama
• Rudi Dharmalingam – Wakefield
• Guy Pearce – Jack Irish
• Sam Reid – The Newsreader
• Richard Roxburgh – Fires
• Scott Ryan – Mr Inbetween
Best Lead Actress in a Drama
• Deborah Mailman – Total Control
• Mandy McElhinney – Wakefield
• Miranda Otto – Fires
• Pamela Rabe – Wentworth
• Anna Torv – The Newsreader
Best Supporting Actor in a Drama
• Harry Greenwood – Wakefield
• William McInnes – The Newsreader
• Matt Nable – Mr Inbetween
• Stephen Peacocke – The Newsreader
• Justin Rosniak – Mr Inbetween
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama
• Michelle Lim Davidson – The Newsreader
• Marg Downey – The Newsreader
• Harriet Dyer – Wakefield
• Rachel Griffiths – Total Control
• Noni Hazlehurst – The End
Best Comedy Entertainment Program
• Dom and Adrian 2020
• Hard Quiz
• The Moth Effect
• Spicks And Specks
• The Weekly
Best Comedy Performer
• Mark Samual Bonanno – Aunty Donna’s Big Ol’ House Of Fun
• Kitty Flanagan – Fisk
• Tom Gleeson – Hard Quiz
• Broden Kelly – Aunty Donna’s Big Ol’ House Of Fun
• Sarah Kendall – Frayed
• Nakkiah Lui – Preppers
• Luke McGregor – Rosehaven
• Celia Pacquola – Rosehaven
Best Documentary
• Girls Can’t Surf
• I’m Wanita
• My Name is Gulpilil
• Playing With Sharks
• Strong Female Lead
• When the Camera Stopped Rolling
Best Entertainment Program
• Australian Ninja Warrior
• Lego Masters Australia
• The Masked Singer
• Mastermind
• Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 2021
• The Voice
Best Factual Entertainment Program
• Australia Talks
• Courtney Act’s One Plus One
• Gogglebox Australia
• Love on the Spectrum
• The Project
• You Can’t Ask That
Best Lifestyle Program
• Adam and Poh’s Malaysia in Australia
• The Cook Up with Adam Liaw
• Gardening Australia
• Grand Designs Australia
• The Living Room
• Love it or List it Australia
Best Reality Program
• The Amazing Race Australia
• Australian Survivor: Brains v Brawn
• The Block
• Luxe Listings Sydney
• MasterChef Australia
• The Real Housewives of Melbourne
Best Screenplay in Television
• Mr Inbetween (Episode 6) – Scott Ryan
• The Newsreader (Episode 1) – Michael Lucas
• The Newsreader (Episode 5) – Kim Ho & Michael Lucas
• Wakefield (Episode 5) – Kristen Dunphy & Sam Meikle
• Total Control (Episode 1) – Stuart Page
Longford Lyell Award:
David Gulpilil Ridjimiraril Dalaithngu AM
Favourite Awards
Favourite Australian Actor
• Asher Keddie – Nine Perfect Strangers
• Celia Pacquola – Rosehaven
• Deborah Mailman – Total Control
• Eric Bana – The Dry
• Pamela Rabe – Wentworth
Favourite Australian Competition Reality Show
• Australian Survivor
• LEGO Masters Australia
• MasterChef Australia
• The Block
• The Voice
Favourite Australian Entertainment Show
• Anh’s Brush With Fame
• Bondi Rescue
• Gardening Australia
• Gogglebox Australia
• Have You Been Paying Attention
Favourite Australian TV Drama
• Clickbait
• Home and Away
• Jack Irish
• RFDS
• Wentworth
Favourite Australian TV Host
• Adam Hills – Spicks and Specks
• Carrie Bickmore – The Project
• Costa Georgiadis – Gardening Australia
• Hamish Blake – LEGO Masters Australia
• Tom Gleeson – Hard Quiz
Film Awards
Best Film
• The Dry – Bruna Papandrea, Jodi Matterson, Steve Hutensky, Rob Connolly, Eric Bana, The Dry Film Production Pty Ltd
• The Furnace – Timothy White, Tenille Kennedy, Southern Light Films & The Koop
• High Ground – David Jowsey, Maggie Miles, Witiyana Marika, Greer Simpkin, Stephen Maxwell Johnson, Maxo, Bunya Productions & Savage Films
• Nitram – Nick Batzias, Virginia Whitwell, Justin Kurzel, Shaun Grant, GoodThing Productions
• Penguin Bloom – Bruna Papandrea, Steve Hutensky, Emma J Cooper, Naomi Watts, Jodi Matterson, Penguin Bloom Film
• Rams – Janelle Landers, Aidan O’Bryan, WBMC
Best Indie Film
• Disclosure
• Ellie and Abbie (& Ellie’s Dead Aunt)
• Lone Wolf
• Moon Rock For Monday
• My First Summer
• Under My Skin
Best Direction in Film
• The Dry – Rob Connolly
• The Furnace – Roderick MacKay
• High Ground – Stephen Maxwell Johnson
• Nitram – Justin Kurzel
• Penguin Bloom – Glendyn Ivin
While the AACTA Awards will be held on Wednesday, the AACTA Industry Awards were held on Monday. With the winners already being announced before the main ceremony, scroll through to see the list of nominees (with the winner in bold).
Best Children’s Program
• 100% Wolf: Legend of the Moonstone
• Bluey
• The Bureau of Magical Things
• Dive Club
• Hardball
• Kangaroo Beach
Best Cinematography in a Documentary
• After The Night (Episode 1: The End of Innocence) – Jim Frater
• The Beach (Episode 1: Too Mad Too Shy) – Dylan River
• The Bowraville Murders – Nathan Barlow
• Freeman – Bonnie Elliott
• Step into Paradise – Bonnie Elliott
Best Cinematography in Television
• A Sunburnt Christmas – Dylan River
• Bump (Episode 1: Sorpresa!) – Garry Phillips
• Clickbait (Episode 6: Simon) – Marden Dean
• Fires (Episode 2: Everything’s Gone) – Bonnie Elliot
• The Newsreader (Episode 1: Three, Two, One…) – Earle Dresner
Best Cinematography in Film
• The Dry – Stefan Duscio
• High Ground – Andrew Commis
• Mortal Kombat – Germain McMicking
• Nitram – Germain McMicking
• Penguin Bloom – Sam Chiplin
Best Costume Design in Television
• Dancing With The Stars: All Stars (Episode 6) – Tim Chappel
• Fires (Episode 2: Everything’s Gone) – Cappi Ireland
• Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries (Episode 1: Death By Design) – Penny Dickinson
• New Gold Mountain (Episode 1: Propriety) – Cappi Ireland
• The Newsreader (Episode 1: Three, Two, One…) – Marion Boyce
Best Costume Design in Film
• The Dry – Cappi Ireland
• High Ground – Erin Roche
• Mortal Kombat – Cappi Ireland
• Nitram – Alice Babidge
• Rams – Tess Schofield
Best Direction in Drama or Comedy
• Fires (Episode 2: Everything’s Gone) – Ana Kokkinos
• Mr Inbetween (Episode 6: Ray Who?) – Nash Edgerton
• The Newsreader (Episode 1: Three, Two, One…) – Emma Freeman
• Wakefield (Episode 5) – Kim Mordaunt
• Wakefield (Episode 8) – Jocelyn Moorhouse
Best Direction in Nonfiction Television
• Brazen Hussies – Catherine Dwyer
• Hannah Gadsby – Douglas – Madeleine Parry
• Love on the Spectrum (Episode 4) – Cian O’Clery
• Ms Represented with Annabel Crabb (Episode 1: Getting There) – Stamatia Maroupas
• You Can’t Ask That (Episode 1: Cheaters) – Kirk Docker
Best Editing in a Documentary
• Freeman – Daniel Wieckmann
• My Name is Gulpilil – Tania M. Nehme
• Playing With Sharks – Adrian Rostirolla
• Under The Volcano – Karen Johnson
• When the Camera Stopped Rolling – Ray Thomas
Best Editing in Film
• The Dry – Nick Meyers, Alexandre de Franceschi
• Friends and Strangers – James Vaughan
• High Ground – Jill Bilcock, Karryn de Cinque, Hayley Miro Browne
• Nitram – Nick Fenton
• Peter Rabbit 2 – Matt Villa
Best Documentary or Factual Program
• Brazen Hussies
• Exposed: The Ghost Train Fire
• Life in Colour with David Attenborough
• Ms Represented with Annabel Crabb
• Old People’s Home For 4 Year Olds
• The School That Tried to End Racism
Best Narrative Comedy Series
• Aftertaste
• Aunty Donna’s Big Ol’ House Of Fun
• Fisk
• Frayed
• Preppers
• Rosehaven
Best Original Score in a Documentary
• Freeman– James Henry
• Playing With Sharks – Caitlin Yeo
• Step into Paradise – Amanda Brown & Nick Wales
• The Beach (Episode 1: Too Mad Too Shy) – Megan Washington & Kristin Rule
• When the Camera Stopped Rolling – Kyls Burtland
Best Original Score in Television
• Aunty Donna’s Big Ol’ House Of Fun (Episode 1: Housemates) – Tom Armstrong
• Clickbait (Episode 1: Five Million Hits) – Cornel Wilczek
• Fires (Episode 2: Everything’s Gone) – Cornel Wilczek
• Frayed (Episode 1) – Bryony Marks
• New Gold Mountain (Episode 1: Propriety) – Caitlin Yeo
Best Original Score in Film
• The Dry – Peter Raeburn
• June Again – Christopher Gordon
• Nitram – Jed Kurzel
• Penguin Bloom – Marcelo Zarvos
• Rams – Antony Partos
Best Production Design in Television
• Fires (Episode 2: Everything’s Gone) – Jo Ford
• Jack Irish (Episode 1) – Carrie Kennedy
• Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries (Episode 1: Death By Design) – Ben • Bangay
• New Gold Mountain (Episode 1: Propriety) – Paddy Reardon & Adele Flere
• The Newsreader (Episode 1: Three, Two, One…) – Melinda Doring
Best Production Design in Film
• 2067 – Jacinta Leong
• Mortal Kombat – Naaman Marshall
• Nitram – Alice Babidge
• Penguin Bloom – Annie Beauchamp
• Peter Rabbit 2 – Roger Ford
Best Short Form Comedy
• A Life in Questions: Wisdom School with Aaron Chen
• All My Friends Are Racist
• Celebration Nation
• Hug the Sun
• Jimmy Rees
• Samantha Andrew
Best Short Form Drama
• Beautiful They
• The Bends
• Dwarf Planet
• Grace
• The Tailings
• You and Me, Before and After
Best Short Form Entertainment
• Chopsticks or Fork?
• Gourmet Lazy
• Nat’s What I Reckon
• Ozzy Man Reviews
• Strong Women
• Woven Threads – Stories from Within
Best Sound in a Documentary
• The Bowraville Murders – Richard Boxhall
• Freeman– Byron Scullin
• Life in Colour with David Attenborough (Episode 1: Seeing in Colour) – Wayne Pashley
• My Name is Gulpilil – Tom Heuzenroeder
• When the Camera Stopped Rolling – Sam Petty
Best Sound in Television
• Clickbait (Episode 1: Five Million Hits) – Emma Bortignon, Stephen Witherow, Nigel Croyden & John Wilkinson
• Fires (Episode 2: Everything’s Gone) – Emma Bortignon, Paul Pirola & Roger Van Wensveen
• Frayed (Episode 1) – Paul Finlay, Robert Sullivan, James Andrews & Dino Giacomin
• The Newsreader (Episode 1: Three, Two, One…) – Nick Godkin
• Total Control (Episode 1: Aftermath) – Phil Keros, Stuart Waller, Andy Wright & Diego Ruiz
Best Sound in Film
• Ascendant – Angus Robertson, Peter Purcell, Phil Heywood, Scott Mulready
• The Dry – Chris Goodes, Ann Aucote, Glenn Newnham
• Mortal Kombat – Robert McKenzie, James Ashton, Des Kenneally, Adrian Medhurst, Jed Dodge, Phil Heywood
• Nitram – Steve Single, Dean Ryan, James Ashton
• Peter Rabbit 2 – Kevin O’Connell, Robert Mackenzie, Andy Wright, Ben Osmo
Best Stand-Up Special
• Anne Edmonds and Lloyd Langford – Business with Pleasure
• Celia Pacquola – Let Me Know How It All Works Out
• Hannah Gadsby – Douglas
• Lano and Woodley in Lano and Woodley
• Rhys Nicholson Live at the Athenaeum
• Tom Gleeson – Lighten Up
Best Visual Effects or Animation
• Jungle Cruise – Jim Berney, Jake Morrison, J.D. Schwalm, Jamie Macdougall, Marla Henshaw, Malte Sarnes – Rising Sun Pictures
• Mortal Kombat– Chris Godfrey, Prue Fletcher, Avi Goodman, Nick Tripodi – Method Studios
• Mortal Kombat – Dennis Jones, Dan Bethell, Chris Godfrey, Prue Fletcher, Peter Stubbs – Rising Sun Pictures
• Peter Rabbit 2 – Will Reichelt, Simon Pickard, Simon Whiteley, Fiona Chilton, Jason Bath, Matt Middleton – Animal Logic
• Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings – Nathan Ortiz, Damien Carr, Christopher Townsend, Josh Simmonds – Method Studios
Best Hair And Make-Up
• Australian Gangster – Sheldon Wade, Helen Magelaki, Mariel McClorey, Donna Kennedy
• Mortal Kombat – Nikki Gooley
• Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries – Lynn Wheeler
• New Gold Mountain – Helen Magelaki, Cheryl Williams, Ian Loughnan
• Nitram – Fiona Rees-Jones
• The Dry – Jane Norris
• High Ground – Anousha Zarkesh
• The Newsreader – Nathan Lloyd
• Wakefield – Marianne Jade
The 2021 AACTA Awards will be encored in the days following on Fox Arena on Foxtel and BINGE. If you haven’t signed up to BINGE yet, you’re going to want to click here for a free 14-day trial.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
