And we’re off! The 2024 AACTA Awaards – the Australian counterpart of the United States’ Oscars and the UK’s BAFTA Awards – is currently live and with stars including Margot Robbie, Cate Blanchett, Deborah Mailman, Harry Connick Jr, Julia Zemiro, Kate McCartney and Kate McLennan, Marta Dusseldorp, Narelda Jacobs, Ron Howard, Rove McManus, Simon Baker, Teresa Palmer, Tim Minchin and more hitting the red carpet.
On Saturday, February 10, the AACTA Awards – held at HOTA’s Theatre in Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast and hosted by Rebel Wilson – kicked off to celebrate the best Australian films and television series of 2023.
This year’s AACTA Awards also launched the inaugural AACTA Festival – a four-day screen and entertainment festival that consisted of more than 70 events, from meet-and-greets to behind-the-scenes showcases.
There were plenty of tear jerking moments, but a special mention to the incredible win for Cal Wilson for Best Comedy Performance on The Great Australian Bake Off, four months after her tragic passing. Also, Laura Zonfrillo – the wife of late host Jock Zonfrillo – gave a stirring speech upon the win of MasterChef Australia for Best Reality Program.
“Thank you so much for honouring her tonight,” Cal’s husband Chris Woods said on stage with their son Digby, emotionally accepting the award on his wife’s behalf.
“Tomorrow will be four months since I lost my beautiful wife and best friend. Four months since Digby lost his amazing mum, and four months since the world lost a truly amazing talented and gifted woman.
“Cal was kind, generous, and supportive of everything and everyone and we miss her every day.”
Meanwhile Andy Allen threw to Lauren, who talked of Jock’s passion for the show and her gratefulness for producers taking care of her family in the wake of her husband’s unexpected passing.
“Without Jock, the day seemed like they’d been drained of colour, but today is one of pride and celebration for the kids and I.”
Continue reading to find out everything else you need to know about the 2024 AACTA Awards…
What does AACTA Awards stand for?
AACTA stands for Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts, a professional not-for-profit organisation of film and television practitioners in Australia. The organisation annually recognises and rewards achievement in Australian film and television with an awards ceremony.
Are the AACTA Awards televised?
Yes, the 2024 AACTA Award are broadcast live on Channel Ten from 7pm AEST. A director’s cut of the awards ceremony will also be made available the following day – on Sunday, February 11 – on both BINGE and Foxtel On-Demand.
The full list of 2024 AACTA Awards nominations:
Film
Best Film
Of An Age
Shayda
Sweet As
WINNER: Talk To Me
The New Boy
The Royal Hotel
Best Indie Film
A Savage Christmas
WINNER: Limbo
Monolith
Streets of Colour
The Rooster
The Survival of Kindness
Best Direction in Film
Goran Stolevski, Of An Age
Noora Niasari, Shayda
Jub Clerc, Sweet As
WINNER: Danny Philippou and Michael Philippou, Talk to Me
Warwick Thornton, The New Boy
Kitty Green, The Royal Hotel
Best Lead Actor in Film
Elias Anton, Of An Age
Simon Baker, Limbo
Thom Green, Of An Age
Phoenix Raei, The Rooster
WINNER: Aswan Reid, The New Boy
Osamah Sami, Shayda
Best Lead Actress in Film
Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Shayda
Shantae Barnes-Cowan, Sweet As
Cate Blanchett, The New Boy
Julia Garner, The Royal Hotel
Sarah Snook, Run Rabbit Run
WINNER: Sophie Wilde, Talk to Me
Best Supporting Actor in Film
Mojean Aria, Shayda
Eric Bana, Blueback
Wayne Blair, The New Boy
Rob Collins, Limbo
Zoe Terakes, Talk to Me
WINNER: Hugo Weaving, The Rooster
Best Supporting Actress in Film
Alex Jensen, Talk to Me
WINNER: Deborah Mailman, The New Boy
Mia Wasikowska. Blueback
Tasma Walton, Sweet As
Ursula Yovich, The Royal Hotel
Selina Zahednia, Shayda
Best Screenplay in Film
Goran Stolevski, Of An Age
Noora Niasari, Shayda
WINNER: Danny Philippou and Bill Hinzman, Talk to Me
Warwick Thornton, The New Boy
Kitty Green and Oscar Redding, The Royal Hotel
Best Cinematography in Film
Carl Allison, Godless: The Eastfield Exorcism
Sherwin Akbarzadeh, Shayda
Katie Milwright, Sweet As
Aaron McLisky, Talk to Me
WINNER: Warwick Thornton, The New Boy
Best Costume Design in Film
Lien See Leong, Blueback
WINNER: Emily Seresin, Carmen
Tim Chappel, Seriously Red
Heather Wallace, The New Boy
Ellen Stanistreet, The Rooster
Best Editing in Film
Dany Cooper, Carmen
Michele McGilvray, Matt Villa and Courtney Teixera, Scarygirl
Katie Flaxman, Sweet As
WINNER: Geoff Lamb, Talk to Me
Nick Meyers, The New Boy
Best Production Design in Film
Steven Jones-Evans, Carmen
Nathan Jurevicius, Scarygirl
WINNER: Amy Baker, The New Boy
Matthew Putland, The Portable Door
Michelle McGahey, Bill Booth and Gillian Butler, True Spirit
Best Original Score in Film
Nigel Westlake, Blueback
Dmitri Golovko, Godless: The Eastfield Exorcism
Me-Lee Hay, Suka
WINNER: Cornel Wilczek, Talk to Me
Sam Weiss, The Big Dog
Best Sound in Film
Benni Knop, Godless: The Eastfield Exorcism
Stuart Morton, Cameron Grant and Diego Ruiz, Scarygirl
Angus Robertson, Sam Hayward, Guntis Sics and Danielle Wiessner, Seriously Red
WINNER: Emma Bortignon, Pete Smith and Nick Steele, Talk to Me
Anthony Marsh, Three Chords and the Truth
Best Casting in Film
Allison Meadows and Keziah Morgan, Run Rabbit Run
WINNER: Anousha Zarkesh, Shayda
Jane Norris, Sweet As
Anousha Zarkesh, The New Boy
Kirsty McGregor, The Royal Hotel
Best Short Film
An Ostrich Told Me The World Is Fake And I Think I Believe It
Ashes
WINNER: Finding Addison
Jia
Mud Crab
Not Dark Yet
Television
Best Drama Series
Bay of Fires
Black Snow
Bump
Erotic Stories
Love Me
WINNER: The Newsreader
Best Miniseries
Bad Behaviour
In Our Blood
Safe Home
The Clearing
WINNER: The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart
While the Men are Away
Best Narrative Comedy Series
WINNER: Colin from Accounts
Deadloch
Fisk
Gold Diggers
Upright
Utopia
Best Comedy Entertainment Program
Hard Quiz
RocKwiz
Taskmaster Australia
Thank God You’re Here
The Cheap Seats
The Weekly with Charlie Pickering
Best Entertainment Program
Dancing with the Stars
WINNER: Eurovision Song Contest 2023 – Grand Final
Lego Masters: Grand Masters
Mastermind
The 1% Club
The Amazing Race Australia: Celebrity Edition
Best Factual Entertainment Program
Alone Australia
Gogglebox Australia
Kitchen Cabinet
WINNER: Old People’s Home for Teenagers
Take 5 with Zan Rowe
Who the Bloody Hell Are We?
Best Lifestyle Program
Adam and Poh’s Great Australian Bites
WINNER: Gardening Australia
Grand Designs Australia
Love it or List It Australia
Selling Houses Australia
The Great Australian Bake Off
Best Reality Program
Australia Survivor: Heroes V Villains
FBOY Island Australia
Hunted Australia
WINNER: MasterChef Australia
Real Housewives of Sydney
RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under
Best Documentary of Factual Program
Matildas: The World at Our Feet
Ningaloo Nyinggulu
Queerstralia
WINNER: The Australian Wars
War on Waste
Who Do You Think You Are?
Best Children’s Program
Barrumbi Kids
Beep and Mort
WINNER: Bluey
Crazy Fun Park
The PM’s Daughter
Turn Up the Volume
Best Stand-Up Special
Aaron Chen: If Weren’t Filmed, Nobody Would Believe
Celeste Barber: Fine, thanks
WINNER: Hannah Gadsby: Something Special
Jim Jefferies: High & Dry
Lizzy Hoo: Hoo Cares!?
Rhys Nicholson’s Big Queer Comedy Concert
Best Lead Actress in a Drama
Kate Box, Erotic Stories
Aisha Dee, Safe Home
Bojana Novakovic, Love Me
Teresa Palmer, The Clearing
WINNER: Anna Torv, The Newsreader
Sigourney Weaver, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart
Best Lead Actor in a Drama
Tim Draxl, In Our Blood
Travis Fimmel, Black Snow
Joel Lago, Erotic Stories
Sam Reid, The Newsreader
Richard Roxburgh, Bali 2002
WINNER: Hugo Weaving, Love Me
Best Comedy Performer
Tom Gleeson, Hard Quiz
Jim Jefferies, The 1% Club
Luke McGregor, Taskmaster Australia
Rhys Nicholson, RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under
Nina Oyama, Taskmaster Australia
Charlie Pickering, The Weekly with Charlie Pickering
Natalie Tran, The Great Australian Bake Off
WINNER: Cal Wilson, The Great Australian Bake Off
Best Acting in a Comedy
Celeste Barber, Wellmania
WINNER: Kate Box, Deadloch
Patrick Brammall, Colin from Accounts
Harriet Dyer, Colin from Accounts
Kitty Flanagan, Fisk
Nina Oyama, Deadloch
Helen Thomson, Colin from Accounts
Julia Zemiro, Fisk
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama
Alycia Debnam-Carey, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart
Marg Downey, The Newsreader
Michelle Lim Davidson, The Newsreader
WINNER: Heather Mitchell, Love Me
Leah Purcell, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart
Brooke Satchwell, Black Snow
Best Supporting Actor in a Drama
Tim Draxl, Erotic Stories
Alexander England, Black Snow
William McInnes, The Newsreader
Bob Morley, Love Me
WINNER: Hunter Page-Lochard, The Newsreader
Guy Pearce, The Clearing
Best Direction in Drama or Comedy
Trent O-Donnell, Colin from Accounts (Episode 3)
Matthew Moore, Colin from Accounts (Episode 6)
Ben Chessell, Deadloch (Episode 1)
Glendyn Ivin, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart (Episode 1)
WINNER: Emma Freeman, The Newsreader (Episode 4)
Best Screenplay in Television
Lucas Taylor, Black Snow (Episode 1)
Harriet Dyer, Colin from Accounts (Episode 3)
Patrick Brammall, Colin from Accounts (Episode 6)
WINNER: Kate McCartney and Kate McLennan, Deadloch (Episode 1)
Adrian Russell Wills, The Newsreader (Episode 4)
Best Direction in Nonfiction Television
Henry Stone, Aaron Chen: If Weren’t Filmed, Nobody Would Believe
Josh Martin, Adam and Poh’s Great Australian Bites (Episode 1)
Katie Bender Wynn, Matildas: The World At Our Feet (Episode 2)
Stamatia Maroupas, Queerstralia (Episode 1)
WINNER: Rachel Perkins, Dylan River and Tov Belling, The Australian Wars (Episode 1)
Best Cinematography in Television
Aaron Farrugia, Aunty Donna’s Coffee Cafe (Episode 1)
Katie Milwright, Deadloch (Episode 1)
Tania Lambert, Erotic Stories (Episode 2)
WINNER: Sam Chiplin, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart (Episode 1)
Earle Dresner, The Newsreader (Episode 4)
Best Costume Design in Television
Xanthe Heubel, Ten Pound Poms (Episode 1)
Lisa Galea Gunning, The Claremont Murders (Episode 1)
Erin Roche, The Clearing (Episode 1)
WINNER: Zed Dragojlovich, The Newsreader (Episode 4)
Nina Edwards, While The Men Are Away (Episode 2)
Best Editing in Television
Peter Bennett, Aunty Donna’s Coffee Cafe (Episode 1)
Danielle Boesenberg, Colin from Accounts (Episode 3)
WINNER: Angie Higgins, Deadloch (Episode 1)
Deborah Peart, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart (Episode 1)
Dany Cooper and Deborah Peart, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart (Episode 6)
Angie Higgins, The Newsreader (Episode 4)
Best Production Design in Television
Jonathon Oxlade, Beep and Mort (Episode 2)
Helen O’Loan, Black Snow (Episode 1)
Emma Fletcher, Deadloch (Episode 1)
Simon McCutcheon, Gold Diggers (Episode 3)
WINNER: Melinda Doring, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart (Episode 1)
Paddy Reardon, The Newsreader (Episode 4)
Best Original Score in Television
Caitlin Yeo, Bad Behaviour (Episode 1)
WINNER: Amanda Brown, Deadloch (Episode 1)
Megan Washington and Daniel O’Brien, Fisk (Episode 4)
Matteo Zingales, In Limbo (Episode 1)
Amanda Brown and Damien Lane, RFDS (Episode 5)
Best Sound in Television
Mark Cornish, Tom Heuzenroeder, Justin Spasevski and Robert Mackenzie, Black Snow (Episode 6)
Grant Shepherd, Joel McLean, Stephen Smith, Jared Dwyer, Nigel Christensen and Ryan Hodkinson, Last King of the Cross (Episode 4)
Roger van Wensveen, David Williams and Ralph Ortner, The Clearing (Episode 1)
WINNER: David Lee, Robert MacKenzie, Leah Katz and James Ashton, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart (Episode 6)
Nick Godkin, Ralph Ortner, Lee Yee and Liesl Pieterse, The Newsreader (Episode 6)
Best Casting in Television
Kirsty McGregor and Stevie Ray, Colin from Accounts
WINNER: Alison Telford and Kate Leonard, Deadloch
Nathan Lloyd, Safe Home
Jane Norris, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart
Nathan Lloyd, The Newsreader
Best Online Drama or Comedy
Appetite
WINNER: Latecomers
Me & Her(pes)
Monologue
The Disposables
The Future of Everything
Documentary
Best Documentary
Ego: The Michael Gudinski Story
Harley & Katya
John Farnham: Finding the Voice
The Dark Emu Story
The Giants
The Last Daughter
This Is Going to be Big
To Never Forget
Best Cinematography in a Documentary
Nick Robinson, Jack Riley, Ashley Gibb and Caspar Mazzotti, Australia’s Wild Odyssey (Episode 1)
Caspar Mazzotti, Cam Batten, Nick Robinson and Miles Rowland, Shackleton: The Greatest Story of Survival
Simon Morris, The Dark Emu Story
WINNER: Sherwin Akbarzadeh, The Giants
Alex Serafini, This Is Going to be Big
Best Editing in a Documentary
Patrick McCabe, Because We Have Each Other
Peter Crombie and Lawrie Silvestrin, Folau (Episode 1)
Simon Njoo, Harley & Katya
Aleck Morton and Lydia Springhall, Queerstralia (Episode 1)
WINNER: Andrea Lang, Mark Atkin and Hilary Balmond, The Australian Wars (Episode 1)
Best Original Score in a Documentary
David Hirschfelder, John Farnham: Finding The Voice
Caitlin Yeo and Damien Lane, Kindred
Brett Aplin and Burkhard Dallwitz, Splice Here: A Projected Odyssey
WINNER: Caitlin Yeo, Damien Lane and The Dark Emu Story
Mark D’Angelo, Under Cover
Best Sound in a Documentary
WINNER: David Williams, Ego: The Michael Gudinski Story
Wayne Pashley, John Farnham: Finding The Voice
Andrew Belletty, Kindred
Tristan Meredith, Memory Film – A Filmmaker’s Diary
Eren Sener, Andy Wright, Will Carroll and Megan Howieson, The Dark Emu Story
Additional Awards
Best Hair and Makeup
Jennifer Lamphee, Last King of The Cross
WINNER: Rebecca Buratto, Paul Katte and Nick Nicolaou, Talk to Me
Lara Jade Birch and Georgia Lockhart-Adams, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart
Jennifer Lamphee and Steve Boyle, The Portable Door
Sheldon Wade, Adam Johansen and Damian Martin, Wolf Like Me
Best Visual Effects or Animation
Jesse James Chisholm, Fiona Campbell Westgate, Jamie Macdougall, Rachel Copp and Paul Corbould, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
Kirsten Lepore, Brad Winderbaum, Raphael de Almeida Pimentel and Adam Goins, I Am Groot: Season 2
WINNER: Andrew Whitehurst, Kathy Siegel, Alistair Williams, Julian Hutchens and Ian Cope, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Sophie Byrne, Tania Vincent, Ricard Cussó and Nathan Jurevicius, Scarygirl
Jason Hawkins, Mark Millar, Martina Joison, Flavia Riley and Matthew Chance, Wolf Like Me
Audience Choice Award for Favourite TV Show
Ginny & Georgia
My Life with the Walter Boys
Outer Banks
The Kardashians
The Summer I Turned Pretty
Young Sheldon
Audience Choice Award for Favourite Film
Barbie
Mean Girls
Saltburn
Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
Wonka
Audience Choice Award for Favourite Actress
Jenna Ortega
Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer Lawrence
Margot Robbie
Millie Bobby Brown
Sydney Sweeney
Audience Choice Award for Favourite Actor
Adam Sandler
Chris Hemsworth
Jacob Elordi
Ryan Gosling
Timothėe Chalamet
Vin Diesel
Audience Choice Award for Favourite Australian Media Personality
Abbie Chatfield
Chloe Hayden
Em Rusciano
Jimmy Rees
Shameless Podcast
Sophie Monk
Audience Choice Award for Favourite Australian Digital Creator
Anna Paul
Bridey Drake
Georgia Productions
Indy Clinton
Kat Clark and family
Luke and Sassy Scott
Maddy MacRae
Sofia Ligeros
Audience Choice Award for Favourite Australian Sporting Moment
AFL: Carlton reach the finals
AFL: Grand Final Collingwood vs Brisbane
F1: Daniel Ricciardo returns to F1
Netball: Australian Diamonds win Netball World Cup
NRL: Grand Final Panthers vs Broncos
Soccer: Matilda’s World Cup run
The Trailblazer Award
WINNER: Margot Robbie
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