The 2026 AACTA Awards are over! The Australian take on the Oscars are the highest honour in Australian film and television.
This years’s awards were a fantastic watch. From Sarah Snook’s Trailblazer Award win to newcomer filmmakers Michael Philippou and Danny Philippou taking out the most awards for Australian horror flick, Bring Her Back and Australian drama adaptation of an Australian novel, The Narrow Road to the Deep North, usurping Netflix behemoth Apple Cider Vinegar.
Here are the best moments of the night:
Celeste Barber makes her debut as host of the AACTA Awards
Celeste Barber gives a google-filled monologue and praises Sarah Snook (remember you’re ours) and even makes a subtle plea to Baz Luhrmann for a role in a future project.
“It’s not the night to give out headshots,” and then behind her is a massive head shot!
Later on, Celeste delights the crowd with a cheerleading routine – and also takes the opportunity to showcase her dance skills to Baz!
When she see her again, Celeste is actually sitting next to Baz and presents him with a bouquet of flowers and her measurements to Catherine, saying, “same size as Cindy Crawford.”
The bit ends with the end of the awards show, after Baz presents the best film AACTA Award to Bring Her Back. Celeste comes on stage, barefoot with a glass of champagne to close the show and Baz gives her a peck on the cheek…and takes her wine.
Sarah Snook wins Trailblazer Award
Brian Cox came onto the stage to the title song of Succession to present the Trailblazer Award to Sarah Snook
“She is the real deal; the absolute real deal. She’s extraordinary,” Brian said of his former on-screen daughter. “She’s one of the best screen partners’ I’ve ever had, if not the best. A natural talent of stage and screen.”
A video appearance from Ethan Hawke was included, he says “She’s always been a trailblazer.” Her castmates from Succession also made an appearance to share their impression of Sarah.
“This is an incredible honour.” Sarah starts her acceptance speech. “I do sometimes feel like I’m living two lives.” One of those is someone at home in “tracky dacks” and the other one “puts on makeup” and goes to these events.
She also said that although trailblazers are so-named because they blaze a trail, she’s benefitted from numerous Australians who went before her.
As Sarah raced through all the people she wished to that, she paused and asked the crowd to “give an actual round of applause” to her husband David.
“Dave, the man who’s been able to withstand…uber reality hyper reality and still be able to stand there and love me.” She said that he and their family are her “reason for being”
“You’re a wonderful pair of gumboots,” sturdy and safe.
Miranda Tapsell wins first AACTA Award
This is such an honour,” Miranda said via a video. “I made this show because I care about my mob… All we’ve got is our stories so that’s what I’m going to continue to do.”
Reg Grundy award fumble
This award provides a $50,000 prize to the individual or team with the “best pitch for a new unscripted television format: However, there was a fumble with the announcement.
Channel 10’s Angela Bishop was announcing the winner…but no one told her who won.
“I don’t have an envelope,” Angela said with a nervous laugh to the bemused audience. She instead calls out the name on the trophy.
The winners Kate Armon and Craig Smith were humbled by the win.
“The beauty about starting later is that you bring everything with you,” Craig said and to all the late starters, “The clock isn’t your enemy it’s just been teaching you.”
Bryan Brown presents Longford Lyell Award to Bruce Beresford
The twos most recent project together was The Travellers and Bryan shares that Bruce asked him if he was interested in the part: “No one else is old enough.”
Their first film project was forty years ago and Bruce says in his acceptance speech that they plan to collaborate on a future project in another forty years!
Morgan Freeman, who starred in the award-winning Driving Miss Daisy adds a congratulatory message as did Ladies in Black star Angourie Rice, Tommy Lee Jones, Susie Porter, and more.
“I’m quite stunned. I can’t remember making all those films,” Bruce says in his speech.
He makes a special mention to Tommy Lee Jones. Sharing a story that Tommy Lee once said on the set of Double Jeopardy, “You’re very lucky I’m in this film Bruce…who else could make this ghastly dialogue sound good.”
Margaret Pomeranz announces the In Memoriam
In 2025, David Stratton, Margaret’s longtime collaborator passed away, it was only fitting that she be the one to present the In Memoriam for the friends and collaborators the industry has lost.
Julian McMahon also post-humously won Best Supporting Actor in a Film for his performance in The Surfer, his last role.
His win was dedicated to all Australians by his wife, Kelly McMahon.
