The AACTA Award for Best Film is an award presented by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) at the annual AACTA Awards, which hand out accolades for achievements in feature film, television, documentaries, and short films. The inaugural award was presented in 1969 by the Australian Film Institute, becoming a competitive award in 1976. Since 2011 it has awarded by the Academy, established by the AFI in 2010.
| Best Film AACTA Award | |
|---|---|
| Awarded for | Best Australian film of the year |
| Country | Australia |
| Presented by | Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) |
| First awarded | 1969 |
| Currently held by | Talk to Me (2023) |
| Website | www |
History
editFrom 1969 to 2010, the category was presented by the Australian Film Institute (AFI), the Academy's parent organisation, at the annual Australian Film Institute Awards (known as the AFI Awards).[1] When the AFI launched the Academy in 2011, it changed the annual ceremony to the AACTA Awards, with the current award being a continuum of the AFI Award for Best Film.[1]
From 1969 to 1975, the award was presented as a gold, silver, bronze or grand prix prize, or in some years, a cash prize.[2][3]
The first winner, Jack and Jill: A Postscript, was nominated in the "general" category of the 1969 awards, and received a silver prize.[4][5] Because non-feature films dominated the Australian film industry at that time, the film was submitted in the general category.[4][5] Despite this, it is considered the first winner by the Academy. From the 1976 Australian Film Awards, the award became competitive, and has been given as such since then.[6]
Eligibility
editTo be eligible, the film must be Australian; consist of a dramatised story of at least 70 minutes duration; and be publicly exhibited in a commercial cinema for a minimum of seven consecutive days, in at least two capital cities (one of which is Sydney or Melbourne).[7] The producer of the film is considered the nominee, and is presented the award upon winning.[8]
Description
editThe AACTA Award for Best film is presented by AACTA, a non-profit organisation whose aim is to "identify, award, promote, and celebrate Australia's greatest achievements in film and television".[9] The award is presented at the annual AACTA Awards, which hand out accolades for achievements in feature film, television, documentaries and short films.[10]
Winners and nominees
editIn the following table, the years listed correspond to the year of film release; the ceremonies are usually held the same year.[A] Films in bold and in dark blue background have received a gold, silver, bronze or grand prix prize, or a cash prize; those in bold and in yellow background have won a regular competitive award. Films that are neither highlighted nor in bold are the nominees. When sorted chronologically, the table always lists the winning film first and then the other nominees.[11][12]
| Contents |
|---|
| AFI Awards (1969–2010) AACTA Awards (2011–present) 1960s • 1970s • 1980s • 1990s • 2000s • 2010s • 2020s |
Winner of a gold, silver or bronze prize (1969–1975)
Winner of a competitive award (1976–present)
Notes
edit- A^ : From 1958–2010, the awards were held during the year of the films release. However, the 1974–75 awards was held in 1975 for films released in 1974 and 1975, and the first AACTA Awards were held in 2012 for films released in 2011.[15][16]
- B^ : Jack and Jill: A Postscript received a silver prize, and was nominated in the "general category" in 1969.[17]
- C^ : Three to Go: Michael received the Grand Prix award for the film in 1970.[18]
- D^ : Homesdale was the winner of the Grand Prix award in 1971, and was the last film to receive this prize.[19]
- E^ : Stork was awarded the Australian Film Development Corporation Award for the Best Fiction Film over 65 minutes, and was given a five-thousand dollar cash prize.[20]
- F1 2 : Libido: The Child and 27A were joint recipients of the gold prize for fiction in 1973.[21]
- G^ : Sunday Too Far Away won the golden reel prize, and an additional A$5000, at the 1974–75 Awards.[22][23]
- H1 2 : Although not considered to be nominees, Petersen and Between Wars won the silver and bronze prizes, respectively.[22][23] They are not highlighted in dark blue, in order not to confuse the reader in regards to who the winner is, and in order of precedence gold was always the highest honour, followed by silver then bronze.[2]
Further reading
edit- Shining a Light: 50 Years of the Australian Film Institute. Australian Teachers of Media. 2009. ISBN 978-1-876467-20-3.
References
edit- ^ a b "AACTA – The Academy – Background". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b French, Lisa; Poole, Mark (2009). Shining a Light: 50 Years of the Australian Film Institute. Australian Teachers of Media. p. 27. ISBN 978-1-876467-20-3.
- ^ "IMDb Australian Film Institute Awards". The Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- ^ a b Staff (3 December 1969). "P.M. Presents Film Awards". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- ^ a b French, Lisa; Poole, Mark (2009). Shining a Light: 50 Years of the Australian Film Institute. Australian Teachers of Media. p. 110. ISBN 978-1-876467-20-3.
- ^ "AACTA – Past Winners: 1969". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- ^ "Part2: Rule 5 – Special Conditions for Feature Film" (PDF). 2013 AACTA Awards Rule Book. Australian Film Institute. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 October 2012. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- ^ "Part2: Rule 5.4 – Special Rules for Best Film" (PDF). 2013 AACTA Awards Rule Book. Australian Film Institute. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 October 2012. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- ^ "AACTA – The Academy". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Archived from the original on 24 June 2012. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- ^ "Overview". AACTA. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ Winners and nominees by year:
- 1969: "AACTA – Past Winners – 1960–1969–1969". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.[permanent dead link]
- 1970: "AACTA – Past Winners – 1970–1979–1970". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- 1971: "AACTA – Past Winners – 1970–1979–1971". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- 1972: "AACTA – Past Winners – 1970–1979–1972". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- 1973: "AACTA – Past Winners – 1970–1979–1973". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- 1974–75: "AACTA – Past Winners – 1970–1979–1974–1975". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- 1976: "AACTA – Past Winners – 1970–1979–1976". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- 1977: "AACTA – Past Winners – 1970–1979–1977". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- 1978: "AACTA – Past Winners – 1970–1979–1978". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- 1979: "AACTA – Past Winners – 1970–1979–1979". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- 1980: "AACTA – Past Winners – 1980–1989–1980". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- 1981: "AACTA – Past Winners – 1980–1989–1981". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- 1982: "AACTA – Past Winners – 1980–1989–1982". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- 1983: "AACTA – Past Winners – 1980–1989–1983". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- 1984: "AACTA – Past Winners – 1980–1989–1984". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- 1985: "AACTA – Past Winners – 1980–1989–1985". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- 1986: "AACTA – Past Winners – 1980–1989–1986". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- 1987: "AACTA – Past Winners – 1980–1989–1987". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- 1988: "AACTA – Past Winners – 1980–1989–1988". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- 1989: "AACTA – Past Winners – 1980–1989–1989". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- 1990: "AACTA – Past Winners – 1990–1999–1990". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- 1991: "AACTA – Past Winners – 1990–1999–1991". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- 1992: "AACTA – Past Winners – 1990–1999–1992". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- 1993: "AACTA – Past Winners – 1990–1999–1993". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Archived from the original on 27 October 2015. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- 1994: "AACTA – Past Winners – 1990–1999–1994". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- 1995: "AACTA – Past Winners – 1990–1999–1995". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- 1996: "AACTA – Past Winners – 1990–1999–1996". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- 1997: "AACTA – Past Winners – 1990–1999–1997". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Archived from the original on 4 January 2015. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- 1998: "AACTA – Past Winners – 1990–1999–1998". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- 1999: "AACTA – Past Winners – 1990–1999–1999". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- 2000: "AACTA – Past Winners – 2000–2010–2000". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- 2001: "AACTA – Past Winners – 2000–2010–2001". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- 2002: "AACTA – Past Winners – 2000–2010–2002". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- 2003: "AACTA – Past Winners – 2000–2010–2003". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- 2004: "AACTA – Past Winners – 2000–2010–2004". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- 2005: "AACTA – Past Winners – 2000–2010–2005". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- 2006: "AACTA – Past Winners – 2000–2010–2006". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- 2007: "AACTA – Past Winners – 2000–2010–2007". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- 2008: "AACTA – Past Winners – 2000–2010–2008". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- 2009: "AACTA – Past Winners – 2000–2010–2009". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- 2010: "AACTA – Past Winners – 2000–2010–2010". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- 2011: "AACTA – Winners and Nominees – 2011". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Archived from the original on 11 March 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- 2012: "AACTA – Winners and Nominees – 2012". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 8 December 2014.
- 2013: "AACTA – Winners and Nominees – 2013". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 8 December 2014.
- 2014: "AACTA – Winners and Nominees – 2014". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 8 December 2014.
- ^ Additional winners and nominees references:
- French, Lisa; Poole, Mark (2009). Shining a Light: 50 Years of the Australian Film Institute. Australian Teachers of Media. p. 165. ISBN 978-1-876467-20-3.
- French, Lisa; Poole, Mark (2009). Shining a Light: 50 Years of the Australian Film Institute. Australian Teachers of Media. p. 166. ISBN 978-1-876467-20-3.
- French, Lisa; Poole, Mark (2009). Shining a Light: 50 Years of the Australian Film Institute. Australian Teachers of Media. p. 167. ISBN 978-1-876467-20-3.
- French, Lisa; Poole, Mark (2009). Shining a Light: 50 Years of the Australian Film Institute. Australian Teachers of Media. p. 168. ISBN 978-1-876467-20-3.
- ^ "A Cry in the Dark (1988) – Release dates". IMDb.com. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
- ^ Winners & Nominees | AACTA
- ^ "AACTA – Past Winners – 1970–1979–1974–1975". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- ^ Bodey, Michael (8 November 2011). "Industry academy announces new awards". The Australian. News Limited (News Corporation). Retrieved 5 June 2012.
- ^ Staff (3 December 1969). "Film award for life of bullocky". The Age. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- ^ "MILESAGO – Awards". Milesago. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- ^ "AACTA – Past Winners – 1970–1979–1971". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- ^ "AACTA – Past Winners – 1970–1979–1972". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- ^ "AACTA – Past Winners – 1970–1979–1973". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- ^ a b Staff (24 March 1975). "Shearer feature gets good clip of 'Oscars'". The Age. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- ^ a b Staff (24 March 1975). "Shearers' strike film wins top Aust award". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 June 2012.