We celebrated our 10th year today with the 2020 AACTA Awards Ceremony presented by Foxtel at The Star Sydney. In a year that looked a little different, the celebrations were as significant as ever for screen entertainment in Australia with a special message from the newly appointed AACTA President, Russell Crowe.
Stateless, Babyteeth, Bluey, Masterchef Australia, Mystery Road, Cate Blanchett, Rebel Wilson, Ben Mendelsohn, Shaun Micallef, Yvonne Strahovski and Essie Davis were among the winners announced at the star-studded ceremony.
Leading the 2020 AACTA Awards season with a total of 13 Awards was Stateless, including Best Telefeature or Miniseries, Best Screenplay in Television and all four acting Awards across television drama. In film, Babyteeth received nine Awards including Best Film presented by Foxtel and Best Direction for Shannon Murphy, marking her impressive directional debut.
The full list of AACTA Awards presented are as follows:
- Best Telefeature or Mini Series: StatelessÂ
- Best Reality Program: Masterchef AustraliaÂ
- Best Entertainment Program: Have You Been Paying Attention?Â
- Best Lifestyle Program:The Living RoomÂ
- Best Online Entertainment: The Norris NutsÂ
- Best Online Drama or Comedy: Love In LockdownÂ
- Best Children’s Program: BlueyÂ
- Best Comedy Entertainment Program: Shaun Micallef’s Mad As HellÂ
- Best Drama Series: Mystery RoadÂ
- Best Comedy Series: UprightÂ
- Best Factual Entertainment Program: Gogglebox AustraliaÂ
- Best Documentary or Factual Program: Murder in The Outback: The Falconio And Less MysteryÂ
- Subscription Television Award for Best Presenter: Rebel Wilson (LOL: Last One Laughing Australia)
- Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama: Fayssal Bazzi (Stateless)
- Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama: Yvonne Strahovski (Stateless)
- Best Guest or Supporting Actor in a Television Drama: Darren Gilshenan (Stateless)
- Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama: Cate Blanchett (Stateless)
- Best Screenplay in Television: Elise McCredie(Stateless)Â
- Best Direction in a TV Drama or Comedy: Emma Freeman (Stateless)Â
- Best Comedy Performer: Tim Minchin (Upright)
- Best Film presented by Foxtel: BabyteethÂ
- Best Indie Film: Standing Up For SunnyÂ
- Best Asian Film: Better DaysÂ
- Best Documentary: Firestarter – The Story of BangarraÂ
- Best Screenplay in Film: Rita Kalnejais (Babyteeth)
- Best Direction in Film: Shannon Murphy (Babyteeth)
- Best Lead Actor in Film: Toby Wallace (Babyteeth)
- Best Lead Actress in Film: Eliza Scanlen (Babyteeth)
- Best Supporting Actor in Film: Ben Mendelsohn (Babyteeth)Â
- Best Supporting Actress in Film: Essie Davis (Babyteeth)
- Best Short Film: The MirrorÂ
- Best VFX or Animation: The Eight HundredÂ
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.
Steve Bedwell, Bryan Cockerill and Geraldine Coy were the proud recipients of the inaugural AACTA Reg Grundy Award, established to support new voices in screen entertainment and fast track original productions. The trio received a $50,000 prize comprised of cash and development funds to create their winning television entertainment concept, Seven Pups.
Highlights from the 2020 AACTA Awards presented by Foxtel Ceremony will be included in AACTA’s Best of the Decade: Australia Decides – a reimagined broadcast celebrating a decade of Australian screen on Channel Seven, Wednesday 2 December at 8.30pm AEDT and encore on Foxtel Arts, Sunday 6 December at 9.30pm AEDT.
