Foxtel’s LAMBS OF GODS Scores Record 18 Nominations In This Year’s AACTA Awards

With just six weeks until the 2019 AACTA Award winners are announced. Excitement has increased with the announcement of the nominees in all categories for Australia’s top screen awards.

Honouring Australian screen excellence across feature film, television, documentary, short form and online, the winners will be announced across two events in December.

An industry luncheon will be held on Monday 2 December, while the main categories will be announced in Sydney at the AACTA Awards Ceremony on Wednesday 4 December. The event will be telecast on Seven with encore screenings on Foxtel.

Highlights of this year’s television categories include the ambitious Foxtel drama LAMBS OF GOD making AFI/AACTA history with eighteen nominations, the most ever received by the Australian Academy.

Foxtel’s Executive Director of Television, Brian Walsh, celebrated the result telling TV Blackbox;

“This stellar result is testament to our ongoing commitment to producing a wide range of Australian content for our customers, ensuring the best entertainment all in the one place.

I am particularly delighted to see our Foxtel Original drama series receive such recognition, and must congratulate our partners, producers, creatives and casts on these nominations.”

AACTA Award winner Damon Herriman has also made AFI/AACTA history, earning four individual nominations across the performance categories – the most any performer has received in a single year for his roles in JUDY & PUNCH and THE NIGHTINGALE, and his work in television including MR INBETWEEN and LAMBS OF GOD.

Inciting some of the most passionate audience engagement on Australian screens and among audiences this year, LEGO MASTERS AUSTRALIA and THE MASKED SINGER compete for the AACTA Award for Best Entertainment Program alongside rating heavyweights AUSTRALIA’S GOT TALENT and AUSTRALIAN NINJA WARRIOR.

In an unprecedented year for unscripted Australian television, the nominees for the inaugural AACTA Award for Best Factual Entertainment include AACTA Award winner GRUEN, Todd Sampson’s BODY HACK, AACTA Award nominee GOOGLEBOX AUSTRALIA, WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? and Rose d’Or winning series YOU CAN’T ASK THAT.

The five nominees competing for the AACTA Award for Best Television Drama Series: BLOOM, MR INBETWEEN, SECRET CITY: UNDER THE EAGLE, TOTAL CONTROL and WENTWORTH.

MR INBETWEEN returns as a category nominee for the second consecutive year, joined by multi-AACTA Award-winning WENTWORTH. Both will compete against the Stan Original drama series BLOOM, which boasts notable Australian talent including previous Longford Lyell Award recipients and multi-AFI/AACTA Award winners; Golden Globe nominated Bryan Brown and two-time Oscar-nominee Jacki Weaver, both of whom are nominated for their performances this year.

Adding to his two feature film nominations, Damon Herriman has received an additional two television nominations within the same category – Best Guest or Supporting Actor in a Television Drama for his work in LAMBS OF GOD and MR INBETWEEN – making him the current AFI | AACTA record holder for the most nominations across performance categories.

Also receiving two nominations within the same category is Celia Pacquola for her performances in ROSEHAVEN and UTOPIA. Both roles have seen her take home the AACTA Award for Best Performance in a Television Comedy in previous years, and this marks her sixth consecutive year to be nominated.

Multiple AFI/AACTA award winner Deborah Mailman will vie for her second Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama award, nominated for TOTAL CONTROL in which she stars alongside Oscar-nominee, Golden Globe and AFI/AACTA winner Rachel Griffiths who is also nominated for Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama.

Richard Roxburgh, who currently holds the AFI/AACTA record for the most nominations for Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama, will receive his first nomination for Best Guest or Supporting Actor in a Television Drama for THE HUNTING.

Among those receiving their first ever AACTA Award nominations are: Jenna Coleman (THE CRY); Ann Dowd (LAMBS OF GOD); Sam Reid (LAMBS OF GOD); Brooke Satchwell (MR INBETWEEN); John Stanton (BLOOM); and Miranda Tapsell who has earned her first AACTA Award nominations across both film and television categories for Best Lead Actress (TOP END WEDDING) and Best Performance in a Television Comedy (GET KRACK!N).

Also receiving their first AACTA Award nominations are the nine nominees for the Subscription Television Award for Best New Talent, which this year has expanded from one to two categories to account for the ever- increasing, high-quality pool of emerging male and female Australian talent.

The nominees include: Marco Alosio (FIGHTING SEASON); Asha Boswarva (LAMBS OF GOD); Usha Cornish (BLOOM); Frederick du Rietz (SECRET CITY: UNDER THE EAGLE); Paulene Gibson (WENTWORTH); Fletcher Kennedy (SECRET CITY: UNDER THE EAGLE); Emma Lancaster (LAMBS OF GOD); Yvonne Rae (LAMBS OF GOD) and Diesel La Torraca (LAMBS OF GOD).

Productions receiving consecutive category nominations include MR INBETWEEN and WENTWORTH in the Best Drama Series category; and THE LETDOWN and ROSEHAVEN for Best Comedy Series, while Alison Bell (THE LETDOWN), Kate Box (LES NORTON), and Scott Ryan (MR INBETWEEN) who took home the Subscription Television Award for Best New Talent in 2018, are all up for their second consecutive nominations.

Also announced today were the nominees for the AACTA Award for Best Children’s Program which counts International Emmy nominee BLUEY amongst contenders as well as: DROP DEAD WEIRD, HARDBALL, THE INBESTIGATORS and THE UNLISTED.

The full list of nominations in the Television and Subscription Television categories are listed below.

TELEVISION

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST DRAMA SERIES

• BLOOM David Maher, David Taylor, Glen Dolman, Sue Seeary – Playmaker Media (Stan)

• MR INBETWEEN Michele Bennett – Blue-Tongue Films, Jungle Entertainment, Pariah Productions (Foxtel – Showcase)

• SECRET CITY: UNDER THE EAGLE Stephen Corvini, Penny Chapman, Matt Cameron, Penny Win, Carly Heaton – Matchbox Pictures (Foxtel – Showcase)

• TOTAL CONTROL Darren Dale, Miranda Dear, Rachel Griffiths – Blackfella Films (ABC)

• WENTWORTH Jo Porter, Pino Amenta – FremantleMedia Australia (Foxtel – Showcase)

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST TELEFEATURE OR MINI SERIES

• THE CRY Claire Mundell, Brian Kaczynski, Stuart Menzies –Synchronicity Films in association with December Media (ABC)

• FIGHTING SEASON Kylie du Fresne, Blake Ayshford, Elisa Argenzio – Goalpost Pictures (Foxtel Showcase)

• THE HUNTING Sophie Hyde, Lisa Scott, Rebecca Summerton –Closer Productions (SBS)

• LAMBS OF GOD Jason Stephens, Helen Bowden, Sarah Lambert, Elisa Argenzio – Lingo Pictures (Foxtel – Showcase)

• ON THE ROPES Helen Bowden, Courtney Wise, Jason Stephens – Lingo Pictures (SBS)

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST COMEDY PROGRAM

• FRAYED Clelia Mountford, Sharon Horgan, Nicole O’Donohue, Kevin Whyte – Merman Television, Guesswork Television (ABC)

• THE LETDOWN Linda Micsko, Julian Morrow, Sarah Scheller, Alison Bell – Giant Dwarf (ABC)

• ROSEHAVEN Andrew Walker, Kevin Whyte, Celia Pacquola, Luke McGregor – What Horse?, Guesswork Television (ABC)

• SAMMY J Sammy J, Michelle Buxton, Chris McDonald – Buxstock Entertainment (ABC)

• UTOPIA Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner, Rob Sitch, Michael Hirsh – Working Dog Productions (ABC)

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAM

• AUSTRALIAN NINJA WARRIOR Julie Ward, Amelia Fisk, Mark Barlin – Endemol Shine Australia (Nine Network)

• AUSTRALIA’S GOT TALENT Digby Mitchell, David Briegel-Jones, Jonathon Summerhayes – FremantleMedia Australia (Seven Network)

• HARD QUIZ Chris Walker, Kevin Whyte, Tom Gleeson, Charlie Pickering, John Tabbagh – Thinkative Television (ABC)

• LEGO MASTERS AUSTRALIA David McDonald, Eoin Maher, AJ Johnson – Endemol Shine Australia (Nine Network)

• THE MASKED SINGER Sean Kneale, Janine Cooper – Warner Bros (Network Ten)

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST FACTUAL ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAM

• BODY HACK Chris Hilton, David Alrich, Todd Sampson – Essential Media Group (Network Ten)

• GOGGLEBOX AUSTRALIA David McDonald, Kerrie Kerr – Endemol Shine Australia (Network Ten/Foxtel)

• GRUEN Nick Murray, Polly Connolly, Wil Anderson, Sarah Douglas – CJZ (ABC)

• WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE Maxine Gray – Warner Bros (SBS)

• YOU CAN’T ASK THAT Kirk Docker, Aaron Smith, Frances O’Riordan – Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST LIFESTYLE PROGRAM

• DESTINATION FLAVOUR CHINA Olivia Hoopmann, Joshua Martin – SBS (SBS)

• GRAND DESIGNS AUSTRALIA Brooke Bayvel, Michael O’Neill – FremantleMedia Australia (Foxtel – Lifestyle)

• THE GREAT AUSTRALIAN BAKE OFF Nicole Rogers, David Briegel-Jones – FremantleMedia Australia (Foxtel – Lifestyle)

• LOVE IT OR LIST IT AUSTRALIA Karen Warner, Geoff Fitzpatrick, Howard Myers – Beyond Productions (Foxtel – Lifestyle)

• SELLING HOUSES AUSTRALIA Sally Joyce, Sonia Harding, Geoff Fitzpatrick – Beyond Productions (Foxtel – Lifestyle)

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST REALITY SERIES

• AUSTRALIAN SURVIVOR: CHAMPIONS V CONTENDERS Amelia Fisk, Adam Fergusson – Endemol Shine Australia (Network Ten)

• THE BLOCK Julian Cress, David Barbour – Nine Network, Cavalier Television (Nine Network)

• MARRIED AT FIRST SIGHT Tara McWilliams, Emma Lamb, Kate Feely – Endemol Shine Australia (Nine Network)

• MASTERCHEF Marty Benson, Adam Fergusson – Endemol Shine Australia (Network Ten)

• MY KITCHEN RULES Joe Herdman, David Dutton, Nicole Anthony, Therese Hegarty, Angus Ross – Seven Studios (Seven Network)

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST CHILDREN’S PROGRAM

• BLUEY Charlie Aspinwall, Daley Pearson, Sam Moor – Ludo Studio (ABC Kids)

• DROP DEAD WEIRD Sally Browning, Monica O’Brien, Kylie Mascord – Ambience Entertainment, Air Pig Productions, Telegael (7Two)

• HARDBALL Catherine Nebauer, Joe Weatherstone, Bernadette O’Mahony, Jan Stradling – Northern Pictures (ABCME)

• THE INBESTIGATORS Robyn Butler, Wayne Hope – Gristmill (ABCME)

• THE UNLISTED Angie Fielder, Polly Staniford, Justine Flynn – Aquarius Films in association with Buster Productions (ABCME)

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAM

• AFL 360 Tim Hodges, Tom Dullard – Fox Sports Australia (Foxtel – Fox Sports)

• BOUNCE Bill Cannon – Fox Sports Australia (Foxtel – Fox Sports)

• THE FRONT BAR Adrian Brown, Richard Molloy, Mick Molloy, Greg Sitch, Adam Rowe – Front Bar Enterprises (Seven Network)

• ON THE COUCH Ben Roberts – Fox Sports Australia (Foxtel – Fox Sports)

• SUNDAY NIGHT WITH MATTY JOHNS Ben Churchill, Matty Johns, John Singleton – Fox Sports Australia (Foxtel – Fox Sports)

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST SPORTS COVERAGE

• 2018/19 SEVEN’S SUMMER OF CRICKET – Seven Network

• AFL 2019 – Foxtel – Fox Sports

• THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2019 – Nine Network

• STATE OF ORIGIN – Nine Network

• TEST CRICKET LIVE ON FOX – Foxtel – Fox Sports

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A TELEVISION DRAMA

• Patrick Brammall GLITCH – Matchbox Pictures (ABC)

• Bryan Brown BLOOM – Playmaker Media (Stan)

• Ewen Leslie THE CRY – Synchronicity Films in association with December Media (ABC)

• Sam Reid LAMBS OF GOD – Lingo Pictures (Foxtel – Showcase)

• Scott Ryan MR INBETWEEN – Blue-Tongue Films, Jungle Entertainment, Pariah Productions (Foxtel – Showcase)

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST LEAD ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION DRAMA

• Jenna Coleman THE CRY – Synchronicity Films in association with December Media (ABC)

• Essie Davis LAMBS OF GOD – Lingo Pictures (Foxtel – Showcase)

• Ann Dowd LAMBS OF GOD – Lingo Pictures (Foxtel – Showcase)

• Deborah Mailman TOTAL CONTROL – Blackfella Films (ABC)

• Anna Torv SECRET CITY: UNDER THE EAGLE – Matchbox Pictures (Foxtel – Showcase)

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST PERFORMANCE IN A TELEVISION COMEDY

• Alison Bell THE LETDOWN – Giant Dwarf (ABC)

• Celia Pacquola ROSEHAVEN – What Horse?, Guesswork Television (ABC)

• Celia Pacquola UTOPIA – Working Dog Productions (ABC)

• Rob Sitch UTOPIA – Working Dog Productions (ABC)

• Miranda Tapsell GET KRACK!N – A Katering Productions, Guesswork Television (ABC)

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST GUEST OR SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A TELEVISION DRAMA

• Damon Herriman LAMBS OF GOD – Lingo Pictures (Foxtel – Showcase)

• Damon Herriman MR INBETWEEN – Blue-Tongue Films, Jungle Entertainment, Pariah Productions (Foxtel – Showcase)

• Ewen Leslie FIGHTING SEASON – Goalpost Pictures (Foxtel – Showcase)

• Richard Roxburgh THE HUNTING – Closer Productions (SBS)

• John Stanton BLOOM – Playmaker Media (Stan)

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST GUEST OR SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION DRAMA

• Kate Box LES NORTON – Roadshow Rough Diamond (ABC)

• Rachel Griffiths TOTAL CONTROL – Blackfella Films (ABC)

• Asher Keddie THE CRY – Synchronicity Films in association with December Media (ABC)

• Brooke Satchwell MR INBETWEEN – Blue-Tongue Films, Jungle Entertainment, Pariah Productions (Foxtel – Showcase)

• Jacki Weaver BLOOM – Playmaker Media (Stan)

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTION IN A TELEVISION DRAMA OR COMEDY

• LAMBS OF GOD (Episode 1 – The Devil Into Paradise) Jeffrey Walker – Lingo Pictures (Foxtel – Showcase)

• THE LETDOWN (Episode 2 – The Dilemma) Sarah Scheller, Alison Bell – Giant Dwarf (ABC)

• THE HUNTING (Episode 3 – #shittyboys) Ana Kokkinos – Closer Productions (SBS)

• TOTAL CONTROL (Episode 3) Rachel Perkins – Blackfella Films (ABC)

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTION IN NONFICTION TELEVISION

• AUSTRALIAN SURVIVOR: CHAMPIONS V CONTENDERS (Episode 1) Richard Franc – Endemol Shine Australia (Network Ten)

• BODY HACK (Episode 1 – Gaza Frontlines) Jeff Siberry – Essential Media Group (Network Ten)

• DESTINATION FLAVOUR CHINA (Episode 1 – Beijing) Olivia Hoopmann – SBS (SBS)

• EMPLOYABLE ME (Episode 1– Eric, Kathleen & Paul) Cian O’Clery – Northern Pictures (ABC)

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST SCREENPLAY IN TELEVISION

• THE CRY (Episode 2) Jacquelin Perske – Synchronicity Films in association with December Media (ABC)

• THE HUNTING (Episode 3 – #shittyboys) Matthew Cormack, Niki Aken – Closer Productions (SBS)

• LAMBS OF GOD (Episode 1 – The Devil Into Paradise) Sarah Lambert – Lingo Pictures (Foxtel – Showcase)

• UTOPIA (Episode 2 – Working With Children) Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner, Rob Sitch – Working Dog Productions (ABC)

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY IN TELEVISION

• THE CRY (Episode 2) Sam Chiplin – Synchronicity Films in association with December Media (ABC)

• DESTINATION FLAVOUR CHINA (Episode 1 – Beijing) Gilbert Farkas – SBS (SBS)

• LAMBS OF GOD (Episode 1 – The Devil Into Paradise) Don McAlpine – Lingo Pictures (Foxtel – Showcase)

• SECRET CITY: UNDER THE EAGLE (Episode 1 – Run Little Rabbit) Mark Wareham – Matchbox Pictures (Foxtel – Showcase)

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST EDITING IN TELEVISION

• THE CRY (Episode 2) Alastair Reid – Synchronicity Films in association with December Media (ABC)

• LAMBS OF GOD (Episode 1 – The Devil Into Paradise) Deborah Peart – Lingo Pictures (Foxtel – Showcase)

• TOTAL CONTROL (Episode 3) Deborah Peart – Blackfella Films (ABC)

• THE UNLISTED (Episode 1) Mat Evans – Aquarius Films in association with Buster Productions (ABCME)

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST SOUND IN TELEVISION

• BODY HACK (Episode 1 – Gaza Frontlines) Damian Jory – Essential Media Group (Network Ten)

• FRAYED (Episode 1) Mark Cornish, Ralph Ortner – Merman Television, Guesswork Television (ABC)

• LAMBS OF GOD (Episode 1 – The Devil Into Paradise) Nick Emond, Stephen Smith, Paul Devescovi, Mia Stewart – Lingo Pictures (Foxtel – Showcase)

• TOTAL CONTROL (Episode 3) Nick Emond, Dane Cody, Luke Mynott, Wes Chew – Blackfella Films (ABC)

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST ORIGINAL SCORE IN TELEVISION

• THE CRY (Episode 2) Lorne Balfe – Synchronicity Films in association with December Media (ABC)

• FRAYED (Episode 1) Bryony Marks – Merman Television, Guesswork Television (ABC)

• LAMBS OF GOD (Episode 1 – The Devil Into Paradise) Bryony Marks – Lingo Pictures (Foxtel – Showcase)

• THE UNLISTED (Episode 1) Diego Baldenweg, Nora Baldenweg, Lionel Vincent Baldenweg – Aquarius Films in association with Buster Productions (ABCME)

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN IN TELEVISION

• FRAYED (Episode 1) Fiona Donovan – Merman Television, Guesswork Television (ABC)

• LAMBS OF GOD (Episode 1 – The Devil Into Paradise) Chris Kennedy – Lingo Pictures (Foxtel – Showcase)

• THE LETDOWN (Episode 2 – The Dilemma) Roslyn Durnford – Giant Dwarf (ABC)

• SECRET CITY: UNDER THE EAGLE (Episode 1 – Run Little Rabbit) Elizabeth Mary Moore – Matchbox Pictures (Foxtel – Showcase)

AACTA AWARD FOR BEST COSTUME DESIGN IN TELEVISION

• FRAYED (Episode 1) Nina Edwards – Merman Television, Guesswork Television (ABC)

• LAMBS OF GOD (Episode 1 – The Devil Into Paradise) Xanthe Heubel – Lingo Pictures (Foxtel – Showcase)

• LES NORTON (Episode 1 – You Wouldn’t Be Dead For Quids) Jenny Miles – Roadshow Rough Diamond (ABC)

• THE MASKED SINGER (Episode 1 – Face Off 1) Tim Chappel – Warner Bros (Network Ten)

SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION

AACTA SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION AWARD FOR BEST FEMALE PRESENTER

• Maggie Beer THE GREAT AUSTRALIAN BAKE OFF – FremantleMedia Australia (Foxtel – Lifestyle)

• Shaynna Blaze SELLING HOUSES AUSTRALIA – Beyond Productions (Foxtel – Lifestyle)

• Claire Hooper THE GREAT AUSTRALIAN BAKE OFF – FremantleMedia Australia (Foxtel – Lifestyle)

• Margaret Pomeranz SCREEN – Foxtel (Foxtel – Arts)

• Yvonne Sampson – LEAGUE LIFE, FOX LEAGUE GAME DAY HOSTING – Fox Sports Australia (Foxtel – Fox Sports)

AACTA SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION AWARD FOR BEST MALE PRESENTER

• Graeme Blundell SCREEN – Foxtel (Foxtel – Arts)

• Ron Iddles RON IDDLES: THE GOOD COP – CJZ (Foxtel – Crime + Investigation)

• Matty Johns SUNDAY NIGHT WITH MATTY JOHNS, THE MATTY JOHNS PODCAST – Fox Sports Australia (Foxtel – Fox Sports)

• Peter Maddison GRAND DESIGNS AUSTRALIA – FremantleMedia Australia (Foxtel – Lifestyle)

• Andrew Winter SELLING HOUSES AUSTRALIA & LOVE IT OR LIST IT AUSTRALIA – Beyond Productions (Foxtel – Lifestyle)

AACTA SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION AWARD FOR BEST FEMALE NEW TALENT

• Asha Boswarva LAMBS OF GOD – Lingo Pictures (Foxtel – Showcase)

• Usha Cornish BLOOM – Playmaker Media (Stan)

• Paulene Gibson WENTWORTH – FremantleMedia Australia (Foxtel – Showcase)

• Emma Lancaster LAMBS OF GOD – Lingo Pictures (Foxtel – Showcase)

• Yvonne Rae LAMBS OF GOD – Lingo Pictures (Foxtel – Showcase)

AACTA SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION AWARD FOR BEST MALE NEW TALENT

• Marco Alosio FIGHTING SEASON – Goalpost Pictures (Foxtel – Showcase)

• Frederick du Rietz SECRET CITY: UNDER THE EAGLE – Matchbox Pictures (Foxtel – Showcase)

• Fletcher Kennedy SECRET CITY: UNDER THE EAGLE – Matchbox Pictures (Foxtel – Showcase)

• Diesel La Torraca LAMBS OF GOD – Lingo Pictures (Foxtel – Showcase)