2009 Australian Film Institute Awards

The 51st Annual Australian Film Institute Awards ceremony, honouring the best in film and television acting achievements for 2009 in the cinema of Australia, took place over two nights on 5 December 2009 and 11 December 2009. During the ceremonies, the Australian Film Institute presented Australian Film Institute Awards (AFI awards) in 40 categories, including feature films, television, animation, and documentary. The ceremony was hosted by Julia Zemiro of SBS's RocKwiz. Winners are listed first and highlighted in boldface; with nominees thereafter.

2009 Australian Film Institute Awards
Date	5 December 2009 and Friday, 11 December 2009
Highlights
Best Film	Samson & Delilah
Best Direction	Warwick Thornton Samson & Delilah
Best Actor	Anthony LaPaglia Balibo
Best Actress	Frances O'Connor Blessed
← 2008 AACTA Film Awards 2010 →

AFI Film Awards

Best Film Samson and Delilah – Kath Shelper Balibo – Anthony LaPaglia, Dominic Purcell Beautiful Kate – Bryan Brown, Leah Churchill-Brown Blessed – Al Clark Mao's Last Dancer – Jane Scott Mary and Max – Melanie Coombs	Best Direction Warwick Thornton – Samson and Delilah Bruce Beresford – Mao's Last Dancer Robert Connolly – Balibo Rachel Ward – Beautiful Kate
Best Original Screenplay	Best Adapted Screenplay
Warwick Thornton – Samson and Delilah Sarah Watt – My Year Without Sex Serhat Caradee – Cedar Boys Adam Elliot – Mary and Max	Robert Connolly, David Williamson – Balibo, based on the killing of the Balibo Five Rachel Ward – Beautiful Kate, based on the novel Beautiful Kate by Newton Thornburg Andrew Bovell, Patricia Cornelius, Melissa Reeves, Christos Tsiolkas – Blessed, based on the play Who's Afraid of the Working Class? by Andrew Bovell Jan Sardi – Mao's Last Dancer, based on the autobiographical novel of the same name by Li Cunxin
Best Lead Actor	Best Lead Actress
Anthony LaPaglia as Roger East – Balibo Rowan McNamara as Samson – Samson and Delilah Ben Mendelsohn as Ned Kendall – Beautiful Kate Hugo Weaving as Thomas Kev – Last Ride	Frances O'Connor as Rhonda – Blessed Marissa Gibson as Delilah – Samson and Delilah Sacha Horler as Natalie – My Year Without Sex Sophie Lowe as Kate – Beautiful Kate
Best Supporting Actor	Best Supporting Actress
Oscar Isaac as José Ramos-Horta – Balibo Bryan Brown as Bruce Kendall – Beautiful Kate Damon Gameau as Greg Shackleton – Balibo Brandon Walters as Nullah – Australia	Rachel Griffiths as Sally Kendall – Beautiful Kate Maeve Dermody as Toni – Beautiful Kate Mitjili Napanangka Gibson as Nana – Samson and Delilah Bea Viegas as Juliana – Balibo
Best Cinematography	Best Editing
Warwick Thornton – Samson and Delilah Andrew Commis – Beautiful Kate Greig Fraser – Last Ride Tristan Milani – Balibo	Nick Meyers – Balibo Jill Bilcock – Blessed Mark Warner – Mao's Last Dancer Roland Gallois – Samson and Delilah
Best Original Music Score	Best Sound
Christopher Gordon – Mao's Last Dancer David Hirschfelder – Australia Lisa Gerrard – Balibo Warwick Thornton – 'Samson and Delilah	Liam Egan, Tony Murtagh, Robert Sullivan, Yulia Akerholt, Les Fiddess – Samson and Delilah Wayne Pashley, Guntis Sics – Australia Sam Petty, Emma Bortignon, Phil Heywood, Ann Aucote – Balibo David Lee, Andrew Neil, Yulia Akerholt, Mark Franken, Roger Savage – Mao's Last Dancer
Best Production Design	Best Costume Design
Catherine Martin, Ian Gracie, Karen Murphy, Beverley Dunn – Australia Robert Cousins – Balibo Herbert Pinter – Mao's Last Dancer Adam Elliot – Mary and Max	Catherine Martin, Eliza Godman – Australia Cappi Ireland – Balibo Mariot Kerr – Lucky Country Anna Borghesi – Mao's Last Dancer

AFI Young Actor Award

• Marissa Gibson, Rowan McNamara. Samson & Delilah
  • Brandon Walters. Australia
  • Sebastian Gregory. Beautiful
  • Toby Wallace. Lucky Country

AFI Highest Grossing Film Award

• Australia. Marc Wooldridge, Baz Luhrmann, G. Mac Brown, Catherine Knapman, Paul Watters, Stuart Beattie, Ronald Harwood, Richard Flanagan
  • Charlie & Boots. Andrew Mackie, Michael Selwyn, David Redman, Dean Murphy, Shana Levine, Stewart Faichney
  • Mao's Last Dancer. Joel Pearlman, Troy Lum, Jane Scott, Bruce Beresford, Jan Sardi

AFI Television Awards

AFI Award for Best Television Drama Series

Winner	Recipient(s)	Network	Other nominees
East West 101 (Season 2)	Kristine Wyld Steve Knapman	SBS TV	Packed to the Rafters – Jo Porter (Seven Network) Satisfaction (Season 2) – Andrew Walker, Roger Simpson (Showcase) Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities – Greg Haddrick, Brenda Pam (Nine Network)

AFI Award for Best Telefeature, Mini-Series or Short-Run Series

Winner	Recipient(s)	Network	Other nominees
False Witness	Greg Haddrick Peter Andrikidis	UKTV	3 Acts of Murder – Sue Taylor (ABC1) The Last Confession of Alexander Pearce – Nial Fulton (ABC1) Saved – Michael McMahon, Tony Ayres (SBS TV)

AFI Award for Best Direction in Television

Winner	Episode	Recipient(s)	Network	Other nominees
East West 101	Season 2 Episode #13 "Atonement"	Peter Andrikidis	SBS TV	False Witness: Episode 1 – Peter Andrikidis (UKTV) Review with Myles Barlow: Episode 1 – Trent O'Donnell (ABC1) Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities: Episode 11, "The Brotherhood" – Grant Brown (Nine Network)

AFI Award for Best Screenplay in Television

Winner	Episode	Recipient(s)	Network	Other nominees
Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities	Episode #11 "The Brotherhood"	Kris Mrksa	Nine Network	30 Seconds: Episode 4, "Invisible Fault Lines" – Tim Bullock, Justin Drape, Scott Nowell (Foxtel) East West 101: Season 2, Episode #13, "Atonement" – Michael Miller, Kristen Dunphy (SBS TV) Review with Myles Barlow: Episode #1 – Trent O’Donnell, Phil Lloyd (ABC1)

AFI Award for Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama

• Roy Billing. Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities. Nine Network
  • Robert Menzies. 3 Acts of Murder. ABC1
  • Don Hany. East West 101 (Season 2). SBS
  • Dougray Scott. False Witness. UKTV

AFI Award for Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama

• Susie Porter. East West 101 (Season 2). SBS
  • Rachael Blake. False Witness. UKTV
  • Rebecca Gibney. Packed to the Rafters. Seven Network
  • Asher Keddie. Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities. Nine Network

AFI Award for Best Guest or Supporting Actor in a Television Drama

• Damian De Montemas. Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities (Episode 11, "The Brotherhood"). Nine Network
  • Bille Brown. 3 Acts of Murder. ABC1
  • Jeremy Lindsay Taylor. False Witness (Episode 2). UKTV
  • Richard Roxburgh. False Witness (Episode 2). UKTV

AFI Award for Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama

• Anni Finsterer. 3 Acts of Murder. ABC1
  • Claire Forlani. False Witness (Episode 1). UKTV
  • Kathryn Beck. Scorched. Nine Network
  • Kate Ritchie. Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities (Episode 4, "Business as Usual"). Nine Network

AFI Award for Best Children's Television Drama

• The Elephant Princess. Jonathan M. Shiff, Joanna Werner. Network Ten
  • Time Trackers. Sue Taylor, Donna Malane, Dave Gibson, Paula Boock. Seven Network

AFI Award for Best Children's Television Animation

• Figaro Pho. Luke Jurevicius. ABC1
  • The Adventures of Charlotte and Henry. Paige Livingston. Seven Network
  • Classic Tales. Noel Price. ABC
  • Zeke's Pad. Avrill Stark, Delna Bhesania, Liz Scully, Leonard Terhoch. Seven Network

AFI Award for Best Light Entertainment Television Series

• Spicks and Specks. Anthony Watt. ABC
  • The Gruen Transfer (Series 2). Andrew Denton, Anita Jacoby, Jon Casimir, Debbie Cuell. ABC
  • RocKwiz. Brian Nankervis, Ken Connor, Peter Bain-Hogg, Joe Connor. SBS

AFI Award for Best Performance in a Television Comedy

• Phil Lloyd. Review with Myles Barlow. ABC
  • Robyn Butler. The Librarians (Series 2). ABC
  • Kym Gyngell. Very Small Business. ABC1
  • Wayne Hope. Very Small Business. ABC1

AFI Award for Best Television Comedy Series

• Review with Myles Barlow. Dean Bates. ABC
  • Chandon Pictures. Rob Carlton. Movie Network
  • Lawrence Leung's Choose Your Own Adventure. Nathan Earl, Andy Nehl, Craig Melville. ABC1
  • Very Small Business. Wayne Hope, Robyn Butler. ABC1

AFI Award for Outstanding Achievement in Television Screen Craft

• Luke Jurevicius. Figaro Pho. For "Creative Excellence"

AFI Non-Feature Film Awards

AFI Award for Best Feature-Length Documentary

• Glass: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts. Scott Hicks, Susanne Preissler
  • Bastardy. Philippa Campey, Amiel Courtin-Wilson, Lynn-Maree Milburn, Andrew de Groot
  • The Choir. Chris Hilton, Michael Davie
  • Lionel. Lizzette Atkins

AFI Award for Best Direction in a Documentary

• The Choir. Michael Davie
  • Bastardy. Amiel Courtin-Wilson
  • First Australians (Episode 4, "There is No Other Law"). Rachel Perkins. SBS
  • The Love Market. Shalom Almond. National Geographic

AFI Award for Best Cinematography in a Documentary

• Cracking the Colour Code (Episode 2, "Making Colours"). Ian Batt, Vincent Fooy. SBS
  • Beyond Kokoda ("Buying Time"). Stig Schnell, Shaun Gibbons, Brett Murphy, Ben Nunney. Foxtel
  • My Asian Heart. David Bradbury
  • Salt. Murray Fredericks. ABC

AFI Award for Best Editing in a Documentary

• How Kevin Bacon Cured Cancer. Zen Rosenthal. ABC
  • Bastardy. Bill Murphy, Jack Hutchings, Richard Lowenstein
  • Cracking the Colour Code (Episode 2, "Making Colours"). Lawrie Silvestrin. SBS
  • Yes Madam, Sir. Megan Doneman, Annie Collins

AFI Award for Best Sound in a Documentary

• Intangible Asset Number 82. Matthew Ferris, Michael Gissing, Andrew McGrath
  • The Choir. Sam Hayward, Phil Judd, Felicity Fox, Alli Heynes, Phil Vail, David White
  • Glass: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts. Stephen R. Smith, Peter Smith, Tom Heuzenroeder, Adrian Medhurst
  • Lionel. Nick Batterham, Keith Thomas, Cezary Skubiszewski

AFI Award for Best Documentary Under One Hour

• Solo. Jennifer Peedom. ABC1
  • The Love Market. Shalom Almond. National Geographic
  • Salt. Michael Angus. ABC
  • Tackling Peace. Marc Radomsky. Network Ten

AFI Award for Best Documentary Series

• First Australians. Darren Dale, Rachel Perkins, Helen Panckhurst. SBS
  • Beyond Kokoda. Stig Schnell, Shaun Gibbons. Foxtel
  • Once Bitten. Beth Frey, Janette Howe. SBS
  • Voices from the Cape. David Selvarajah Vadiveloo, Anna Kaplan. ABC1

AFI Award for Best Short Animation

• The Cat Piano. Jessica Brentnall, Eddie White, Ari Gibson
  • Chicken of God. Jodi Satya, Frank Woodley
  • The Not-so-Great Eugene Green. Melanie Brunt, Michael Hill
  • Reach. Luke Randall

AFI Award for Best Short Fiction Film

• Miracle Fish. Drew Bailey, Luke Doolan
  • Burn. Anna Kaplan, David Selvarajah Vadiveloo
  • Liebermans in the Sky. Jessica Redenbach, Richard Vilensky
  • Water. Sarah Shaw, Corrie Jones

AFI Award for Best Screenplay in a Short Film

• Miracle Fish. Luke Doolan
  • Boxer. Michael Latham
  • Liebermans in the Sky. Richard Vilensky
  • Water. Corrie Jones, Sarah Shaw, Ian Meadows

AFI Award for Outstanding Achievement in Short Film Screen Craft

• Andrew McLeod. Water. For "Cinematography"

AFI Special Film Awards

Byron Kennedy Award

• Ray Brown

News Limited Readers' Choice Award

• Mao's Last Dancer. Jane Scott
  • Australia. Baz Luhrmann, G. Mac Brown, Catherine Knapman
  • Charlie & Boots. David Redman, Dean Murphy, Shana Levine
  • Samson & Delilah. Kath Shelper

AFI International Award for Best Actor

• Russell Crowe. State of Play
  • Martin Henderson. House. Network Ten
  • Anthony LaPaglia. Without a Trace. Nine Network
  • Guy Pearce. Bedtime Stories

AFI International Award for Best Actress

• Toni Collette. United States of Tara. ABC1
  • Rose Byrne. Damages. Foxtel
  • Melissa George. In Treatment. Foxtel
  • Mia Wasikowska. In Treatment. Foxtel

AFI Members' Choice Award

• Samson & Delilah. Kath Shelper
  • Australia. Baz Luhrmann, G. Mac Brown, Catherine Knapman
  • Balibo. John Maynard, Rebecca Williamson
  • Beautiful Kate. Leah Churchill-Brown, Bryan Brown
  • Mao's Last Dancer. Jane Scott
  • Mary and Max. Melanie Coombs

AFI Visual Effects Award

• Australia. Chris Godfrey, James E. Price, Andy Brown, Rob Duncan
  • Death of the Megabeasts. Matt Drummond, Mike Dunn
  • Plastic. Sandy Widyanata, Eric So, Mathew Mackereth, Christopher Jackson
  • Scorched. Bertrand Polivka, Soren Jensen. Nine Network

AFI International Award for Excellence in Filmmaking

• Nathan McGuinness. Senior Visual Effects Supervisor. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, Terminator: Salvation, The Unborn, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

AFI Outstanding Achievement Dinner

The following two AFI Awards were presented at the AFI Outstanding Achievement Dinner in August.

AFI Raymond Longford Award

• Geoffrey Rush

AFI Award for Screen Content Innovation

• Gallipoli: The First Day. Sam Doust, Meena Tharmarajah, Astrid Scott
  • Forlorn Gaze. Sarah-Jane Woulahan
  • Scarygirl. Sophie Byrne, Nathan Jurevicius
  • Scorched. Ellenor Cox, Marcus Gillezeau