:: Spotlight :: 2009 Samsung Mobile AFI AwardsBy: Carmine PascuzziIn a milestone year for Australian film with a record number of 26 features vying for nominations for the 2009 Samsung Mobile AFI Awards, the Australian Film Institute announces an exciting change to two award categories. This year six nominees instead of the traditional four will be announced for the 2009 Samsung Mobile AFI Award for Best Film, and the newly inaugurated AFI Members’ Choice Award. The AFI is excited to be able to make this progressive amendment in order to celebrate this amazing year in Australian film. With news that local releases have just exceeded the $20 million mark, it’s clear that Australian films are connecting with audiences in new and exciting ways. It is a great year for Australian film at the box office, where nine films have exceeded $1 million: Mary & Max, My Year Without Sex, Disgrace, Balibo, Beautiful Kate, and four films have gone further to take over $3 million: Charlie & Boots, Australia, Samson & Delilah and Mao’s Last Dancer which has grossed $3.3 million in its first five days of release. With a number of wide releases still to come, including The Boys Are Back and Bright Star in December, the box office will continue to grow and may well double by the end of the year, making 2009 a very rich year in Australian film. We look forward to major summer releases including Daybreakers and Bran Nue Dae. All these factors combine to indicate a blossoming period for the Australian film industry and a wonderful opportunity for Australian audiences to connect with Australian stories. CEO of the Australian Film Institute, Damian Trewhella explains: “This is a landmark year for Australian feature film and it has yielded intense competition for the 2009 Samsung Mobile AFI Awards. A large number of feature film entrants are distinguished by having either already won major awards, done substantial box office, opened major festivals or received glowing critical appraise. The expansion of the number of nominees, intended for 2009 only, is a direct response to the impressive collection of films vying for a coveted AFI Award nomination this year. The AFI feel that expanding the nominees to six will help ensure that we can truly celebrate what is an exceptional year and field in Australian film. With more exciting films about to release, the future looks very bright.” Official voting is now open for AFI members for the 2009 Samsung Mobile AFI Awards. Voting closes on October 14. The nominees for the 2009 Samsung Mobile AFI Awards will be announced at the 2009 Samsung Mobile AFI Awards Nominations Announcement in Sydney on October 28. *************************************************************** The Australian Film Institute is delighted to confirm that the 2009 Samsung Mobile AFI Awards will take place in Melbourne at the spectacular Regent Theatre on Saturday, December 12. The ceremony will be hosted by Julia Zemiro and broadcast on the Nine Network at 9.30pm that same night. The 2009 Samsung Mobile AFI Awards Ceremony will be preceded by the 2009 Samsung Mobile AFI Industry Awards presented by Digital Pictures on Friday, December 11, which will also be held at the Regent Theatre. This announcement follows on from the news of the unprecedented multimillion dollar three-year partnership with Samsung Mobile as the new title sponsor of the SAMSUNG MOBILE AFI AWARDS. The Australian film industry is witnessing a landmark awards year (October to October) with box office figures surging past $60 million and a record number of 26 feature films vying for nominations for the 2009 Samsung Mobile AFI Awards. AFI Patron Dr. George Miller commented on the ascent of Australian film, “There’s nothing wrong with the Australian film industry that a few good films won’t fix and there’s more than a few good films eligible for this year’s AFI Awards. Our filmmakers are working in every genre, and with a lot more rigour towards storytelling and engagement of audiences. Looking at releases over the past 12 months it’s difficult to remember another time when there was such a range of good films. In the past there was the occasional Australian film that would pop up like a flower among the weeds. Lately there seem to be a lot of flowers. And the last time I had a sense of this happening was in the late 70s and early 80s”. Films in this year’s awards have collectively outperformed the box office reached in many previous cycles. Nine films have exceeded $1 million including Mary & Max, My Year Without Sex, Disgrace, Balibo, and Beautiful Kate. Samson and Delilah took $3 million. Charlie & Boots is on track for $4 million. Mao’s Last Dancer is only three weeks old and sprinting to near $10 million already. And of course Australia, launched late last year but grossed a monstrous $37.5 million into this year, making it the #2 all time Australian film at the domestic box office. This equates to between 5 and 6 million attendances to Australian films in the past 12 months. The nominations for non-feature, feature film and television AFI Awards will be announced at a media and industry event in Sydney at the Chauvel Cinema on Wednesday, October 28, 2009. In an exciting change to celebrate the strength of Australian film, this year six nominees instead of the traditional four will be announced for the 2009 Samsung Mobile AFI Award for Best Film, and the newly inaugurated AFI Members’ Choice Award. The 2009 Samsung Mobile AFI Awards will take place in Melbourne at the spectacular Regent Theatre on Saturday, December 12 and broadcast on the Nine Network at 9.30pm ********************************************************** **Update as at October 28, 2009 - Nominations announced** In a milestone year for Australian film with box office figures exceeding $65 million from October 2008 to current, Peter O’Brien joined fellow actors Rodger Corser, Jessica Marais and Maeve Dermody at the Chauvel Cinema in Paddington to announce the nominations for the 2009 Samsung Mobile AFI Awards. These prestigious awards recognise excellence and success in both the film and television industry. To celebrate the remarkable year in Australian film, this year six nominees instead of the traditional four were announced for the 2009 Samsung Mobile AFI Award for Best Film. The highly anticipated announcement of nominees for the Samsung Mobile AFI Award for Best Film revealed Balibo, Beautiful Kate, Blessed, Mao’s Last Dancer, Mary and Max and Samson & Delilah as the contenders to take out the coveted award this year. Four of the films nominated in the Best Film category also received the honour of a nomination for the AFI Award for Best Direction. Those nominees are Robert Connolly (Balibo), Rachel Ward (Beautiful Kate), Bruce Beresford (Mao’s Last Dancer) and Warwick Thornton (Samson & Delilah). In other exciting news revealed at the Nominations Announcement, The Australian Film Institute is delighted to announce a new award, the AFI Highest Grossing Film Award, acknowledging the tremendous cinema attendances in this stellar period for Australian film. Until now there had only been one change to the TOP 15 highest grossing Australian films in the last eight years which was when Happy Feet entered at #3. This year Australia has ascended into the #2 position with a total box office of $37,555,144. Along with Australia, Mao’s Last Dancer, Charlie and Boots and Samson & Delilah have entered the Top 100 Highest Grossing Australian Films list. Details can be found at www.afi.org.au and the AFI Highest Grossing Film Award will be presented at the AFI Awards Ceremony on December 12. Nominees for all categories will join the host of this year’s ceremony, Julia Zemiro with a cavalcade of Australian film and television stars and industry heavyweights at the 2009 Samsung Mobile AFI Awards. This 51st anniversary celebration will be held at Melbourne’s stunning Regent Theatre on Saturday December 12 and will be broadcast on the Nine Network at 9.30pm that evening. The 2009 Samsung Mobile AFI Awards Ceremony will be preceded by the 2009 Samsung Mobile AFI Industry Awards presented by Digital Pictures on Friday 11 December, which will also be held at the Regent Theatre. 2009 SAMSUNG MOBILE AFI AWARDS NOMINEES AFI INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR BEST ACTOR AFI INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR BEST ACTRESS AFI YOUNG ACTOR AWARD AFI VISUAL EFFECTS AWARD NON-FEATURE FILM NOMINEES AFI AWARD FOR BEST FEATURE LENGTH DOCUMENTARY AFI AWARD FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY UNDER ONE HOUR AFI AWARD FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY SERIES AFI AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTION IN A DOCUMENTARY AFI AWARD FOR BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY IN A DOCUMENTARY AFI AWARD FOR BEST EDITING IN A DOCUMENTARY AFI AWARD FOR BEST SOUND IN A DOCUMENTARY AFI AWARD FOR BEST SHORT ANIMATION AFI AWARD FOR BEST SHORT FICTION FILM AFI AWARD FOR BEST SCREENPLAY IN A SHORT FILM FEATURE FILM NOMINEES AFI MEMBERS’ CHOICE AWARD SAMSUNG MOBILE AFI AWARD FOR BEST FILM AFI AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTION MACQUARIE AFI AWARD FOR BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY MACQUARIE AFI AWARD FOR BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY AFI AWARD FOR BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY AFI AWARD FOR BEST EDITING AFI AWARD FOR BEST SOUND AFI AWARD FOR BEST ORIGINAL MUSIC SCORE AFI AWARD FOR BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN AFI AWARD FOR BEST COSTUME DESIGN AFI AWARD FOR BEST LEAD ACTOR AFI AWARD FOR BEST LEAD ACTRESS AFI AWARD FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR AFI AWARD FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS ************************************************************* **Napoleon Perdis partners with the Samsung Mobile AFI Awards** Napoleon Perdis has partnered with the Australian Film Institute as the official beauty sponsor of the 2009 Samsung Mobile AFI Awards. The awards will be held at the stunning Regent Theatre in Melbourne, on Saturday, December 12, 2009. The Napoleon Perdis brand philosophy “red carpet to reality” comes to life via this high-profile partnership. The Napoleon Perdis senior team of makeup artists’ will be styling high profile celebrities before their grand entrances at the AFI Awards Ceremony. Hosts, nominees, presenters and winners alike will be glowing as the Creative Team work their magic with Napoleon Perdis’ enchanting prestige cosmetics line. The brand will also have presence at the 2009 Samsung Mobile AFI Industry Awards presented by Digital Pictures on Friday, December 11. The Napoleon Perdis brand will have a style suite area, where talent and guests will receive makeup touch ups from our Creative team for the 2 day duration. **************************************************************************** **Update as at December 2, 2009 - Presenters announced** On Friday December 11 and Saturday December 12 Australia’s film and television industry will descend upon Melbourne to celebrate the 2009 Samsung Mobile AFI Awards. This 51st celebration will be held at Melbourne’s stunning Regent Theatre and broadcast on the Nine Network at 9.30pm on Saturday, December 12. Guest presenters across the two nights include: Toni Collette (Sat), Frances O’Connor (Fri & Sat), Anthony LaPaglia (Sat), Catherine Martin (Fri), Bryan Brown (Sat), Rachel Ward (Fri), Adam Elliot (Fri & Sat), Kate Ritchie (Sat), Marissa Gibson (Fri), Warwick Thornton (Fri), Damian Walshe-Howling (Fri) and Asher Keddie (Fri) with more presenters to be announced soon! Hosted by RocKwiz’s Julia Zemiro, this year’s Samsung Mobile AFI Awards promise to be a dazzling celebration of Australian film and television. The telecast will feature a very special performance from Australian multi-platinum selling songstress Vanessa Amorosi. In addition to the presenters, guests confirmed to attend include: Li Cunxin, Sophie Lowe, Toby Wallace, Susie Porter, Sebastian Gregory, Elissa Down, Adam Zwar, Roy Billing, Jan Sardi, Fred Schepisi, Frank Woodley, Bea Viegas, Gyton Grantley, Erik Thomson, Nathan Phillips, Julian Morrow, Kim Gyngell, Damian de Montemas, Mitjili Gibson, Gia Carides, Don Hany, Sacha Horler, Brian Nankervis, Tom Russell, Rachael Blake, Catherine Martin, The Hon Tim Holding, The Hon Peter Garrett, The Hon Gavin Jennings, Robert Menzies, Billie Brown, Russel Howcroft, Jeremy Lindsay Taylor, Kathryn Beck, Phil Lloyd and more. Over the two nights, 48 awards will be handed out in the Feature Film, Non Feature and Television categories. The 2009 Samsung Mobile AFI Awards recognise excellence and success in both the film and television industry. The nominees announced in October to take out the coveted Samsung Mobile AFI Award for Best Film are Balibo, Beautiful Kate, Blessed, Mao’s Last Dancer, Mary and Max and Samson & Delilah **************************************************************************** **Winners announced** The full list of 2009 Samsung Mobile AFI Award winners are: SAMSUNG MOBILE AFI AWARD FOR BEST FILM AFI AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTION MACQUARIE AFI AWARD FOR BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY MACQUARIE AFI AWARD FOR BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY AFI AWARD FOR BEST ORIGINAL MUSIC SCORE AFI AWARD FOR BEST LEAD ACTOR AFI AWARD FOR BEST LEAD ACTRESS AFI AWARD FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR AFI AWARD FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS AFI AWARD FOR BEST TELEVISION DRAMA SERIES AFI AWARD FOR BEST TELEFEATURE, MINI SERIES OR SHORT RUN SERIES AFI AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTION IN TELEVISION AFI AWARD FOR BEST SCREENPLAY IN TELEVISION AFI AWARD FOR BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A TELEVISION DRAMA AFI AWARD FOR BEST LEAD ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION DRAMA AFI AWARD FOR BEST GUEST OR SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A TELEVISION DRAMA AFI AWARD FOR BEST GUEST OR SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION DRAMA AFI AWARD FOR BEST FEATURE LENGTH DOCUMENTARY AFI YOUNG ACTOR AWARD BYRON KENNEDY AWARD NEWS LIMITED READERS’ CHOICE AWARD AFI INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR BEST ACTOR AFI INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR BEST ACTRESS AFI HIGHEST GROSSING FILM AWARD The full list of winners from the 2009 Samsung Mobile AFI Industry Awards presented by Digital Pictures are: AFI AWARD FOR BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY AFI AWARD FOR BEST EDITING AFI AWARD FOR BEST SOUND AFI AWARD FOR BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN AFI AWARD FOR BEST COSTUME DESIGN AFI MEMBERS’ CHOICE AWARD AFI AWARD FOR BEST CHILDREN’S TELEVISION DRAMA AFI AWARD FOR BEST CHILDREN’S TELEVISION ANIMATION AFI AWARD FOR BEST LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION SERIES AFI AWARD FOR BEST PERFORMANCE IN A TELEVISION COMEDY AFI AWARD FOR BEST TELEVISION COMEDY SERIES AFI AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN TELEVISION SCREEN CRAFT AFI AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTION IN A DOCUMENTARY AFI AWARD FOR BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY IN A DOCUMENTARY AFI AWARD FOR BEST EDITING IN A DOCUMENTARY AFI AWARD FOR BEST SOUND IN A DOCUMENTARY AFI AWARD FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY UNDER ONE HOUR AFI AWARD FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY SERIES AFI AWARD FOR BEST SHORT ANIMATION AFI AWARD FOR BEST SHORT FICTION FILM AFI AWARD FOR BEST SCREENPLAY IN A SHORT FILM AFI AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN SHORT FILM SCREEN CRAFT AFI VISUAL EFFECTS AWARD AFI INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN FILMMAKING The AFI Awards presented at the AFI OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT DINNER, held on Saturday August 1, 2009 were: AFI RAYMOND LONGFORD AWARD AFI AWARD FOR SCREEN CONTENT INNOVATION ****************************************************************** **Pictures from the event by Matt Deller**
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