by Travis Cragg
Eliza Scanlen (21) and Toby Wallace (24) won the lead acting trophies for "Babyteeth"
The AACTA (Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts) awards were handed out over two COVID-normal ceremonies in the past week. Kudos to the Film Experience commenter last month who correctly predicted that Babyteeth (streaming on Hulu) would win all the “above the line” awards – it went home with Best Film, Direction, Screenplay and all four acting prizes, as well as Original Score and Casting. The rest of the craft categories were split between The Invisible Man (streaming on HBO Max) and True History Of The Kelly Gang (available to rent online). A full list of cinema winners (and a little commentary) after the jump...
Director Shannon MurphyBest Film: Babyteeth
Best Direction: Shannon Murphy (Babyteeth)
This is the first feature length film from Murphy who has worked extensively in television in the past three years (including a couple of episodes of Killing Eve).
Best Lead Actor: Toby Wallace (Babyteeth)
I first came across this young man last year in a movie called Acute Misfortune, and was immediately impressed (my favourite Australian film of 2019) which is available to rent from various services.
Best Lead Actress: Eliza Scanlen (Babyteeth)
Caps off a great 12 months for the up-and-comer (Little Women, Babyteeth, The Devil All The Time all quickly following her breakout in 2018's miniseries Sharp Objects). She will next be seen next in M Night Shyamalan’s Old which is due in July.
Best Supporting Actor: Ben Mendelsohn (Babyteeth)
Mendelsohn’s third Australian Film award after winning for The Year My Voice Broke (1987) and Animal Kingdom (2010).
Best Supporting Actress: Essie Davis (Babyteeth)
This was Davis’ fourth nomination after Dad and Dave: On Our Selection (1995), Burning Man (2011) and The Babadook (2014) and finally she won!
Best Screenplay: Rita Kalnejais (Babyteeth)
Babyteeth started out its life as a play in the renowned Sydney Belvoir Street Theatre in 2012, and Kalnejais adapted her own script for the screen.
Best Indie Film: Standing Up For Sunny
The only entry in this category with another nomination (Costume Design), this film about comedians and cerebral palsy stars RJ Mitte (Breaking Bad) and Radha Mitchell (Silent Hill, Melinda & Melinda). It is available for streaming on Stan in Australia and on Amazon Prime in the US.
Best Cinematography: The Invisible Man
Best Editing: The Invisible Man
Best Sound: The Invisible Man
Best Production Design: True History Of The Kelly Gang
Best Costume Design: True History Of The Kelly Gang
Best Hair And Makeup: True History Of The Kelly Gang
Best Documentary: Firestarter – The Story Of Bangarra
This feature about Australia’s iconic indigenous performing arts company is getting a cinema release in Australia in February.
Best Editing In A Documentary: Can Art Stop A Bullet: William Kelly’s Big Picture
Best Original Score In A Documentary: Brazen Hussies
Documentary about the start of the Women’s Liberation Movement in Australia (recommended!).
Best Sound In A Documentary: Suzi Q
Best Asian Film: Better Days
As Nathaniel previously discussed, this is Hong Kong’s official submission for the Best International Feature Oscar race. It's available to rent on Amazon.
Best Visual Effects Or Animation: The Eight Hundred
The Byron Kennedy Award: Jennifer Kent
From the AACTA website:...
The Byron Kennedy Award was also presented, recognising the impact of Australian low-budget genre filmmaking and celebrating the outstanding creative enterprise within the screen industry. Jennifer Kent was announced as the recipient for her international success on the AACTA Award-winning film, The Babadook.”