7th AACTA Awards

The 7th Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards (generally known as the AACTA Awards) took place on 6 December 2017. Presented by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA), the awards celebrated the best in Australian feature film, television, documentary and short film productions of 2017. A record number of thirty five feature films were submitted for competition.^[2] The main ceremony was televised in Australia by the Seven Network.

7th AACTA Awards
Date	4 December 2017 (industry luncheon) and 6 December 2017 (main ceremony)
Location	The Star Event Centre Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Highlights
Most awards	Film: Lion (12) TV:
Most nominations	Film: Lion (12) TV: Blue Murder: Killer Cop (11); Top of the Lake: China Girl (11)
Best Film	Lion
Best Drama Series	Top of the Lake: China Girl
Best Comedy Series	Utopia
Television/radio coverage
Network	Seven Network
Viewership	309,000^[1]
← 6th · AACTA Awards · 8th →

Recipients and nominations

^[3][4]

Feature film

Best Film Lion – Emile Sherman, Iain Canning, Angie Fielder Ali's Wedding – Sheila Jayadev, Helen Panckhurst Berlin Syndrome – Polly Staniford Hounds of Love – Melissa Kelly Jasper Jones – Vincent Sheehan, David Jowsey	Best Direction Garth Davis – Lion Jeffrey Walker – Ali's Wedding Cate Shortland – Berlin Syndrome Ben Young – Hounds of Love
Best Original Screenplay Andrew Knight, Osamah Sami – Ali's Wedding Priscilla Cameron – The Butterfly Tree Cris Jones – The Death and Life of Otto Bloom Ben Young – Hounds of Love	Best Adapted Screenplay Luke Davies – Lion, based on the book A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley and Larry Buttrose Shaun Grant – Berlin Syndrome, based on the book Berlin Syndrome by Melanie Joosten James Greville, Ursula Cleary, Anne Brooksbank – Don't Tell Shaun Grant, Craig Silvey – Jasper Jones, based on the book Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey
Best Lead Actor Sunny Pawar as Young Saroo Brierley – Lion Stephen Curry as John White – Hounds of Love Ewen Leslie as Al – The Butterfly Tree Osamah Sami as Ali Albasri – Ali's Wedding	Best Lead Actress Emma Booth as Evelyn White – Hounds of Love Teresa Palmer as Clare Havel – Berlin Syndrome Helana Sawires as Dianne Mohsen – Ali's Wedding Sara West as Lyndal – Don't Tell
Best Supporting Actor Dev Patel as Saroo Brierley– Lion Don Hany as Sheik Mahdi – Ali's Wedding Jack Thompson as Bob Myers – Don't Tell Hugo Weaving as Mad Jack Lionel – Jasper Jones	Best Supporting Actress Nicole Kidman as Sue Brierley – Lion Frances Duca as Zahra – Ali's Wedding Jacqueline McKenzie as Jean Dalton – Don't Tell Susie Porter as Maggie Maloney – Hounds of Love
Best Cinematography Greig Fraser – Lion Michael McDermott – Hounds of Love Stefan Duscio – Jungle Geoffrey Hall – Red Dog: True Blue	Best Editing Alexandre de Franceschi – Lion Nick Meyers – Australia Day Jack Hutchings – Berlin Syndrome Merlin Eden – Hounds of Love
Best Original Music Score Volker Bertelmann, Dustin O'Halloran – Lion Nigel Westlake – Ali's Wedding Bryony Marks – Berlin Syndrome Caitlin Yeo – The Butterfly Tree	Best Sound Robert Mackenzie, Glenn Newnham, Nakul Kamte, Andrew Ramage, James Ashton, Mario Vaccaro – Lion Liam Egan, Trevor Hope, Robert Sullivan, Yulia Akerholt, James Andrews, Les Fiddess – Jasper Jones Serge Lacroix, Cate Cahill, Francis Byrne – Killing Ground Wayne Pashley, Rick Lisle, Fabian Sanjurgo, Michael Semanick, Gregg Landaker – The LEGO Batman Movie
Best Production Design Chris Kennedy – Lion Melinda Doring – Berlin Syndrome Ben Morieson – The Death and Life of Otto Bloom Herbert Pinter – Jasper Jones	Best Costume Design Cappi Ireland – Lion Maria Pattison – Berlin Syndrome Tess Schofield – Dance Academy: The Movie Margot Wilson – Jasper Jones

Television

Best Drama Series Top of the Lake: China Girl (Foxtel/BBC First) – Emile Sherman, Iain Canning, Jane Campion, Philippa Campbell, Libby Sharpe Cleverman (ABC) – Rosemary Blight, Sharon Lark, Ryan Griffen, Jane Allen Glitch (ABC) – Louise Fox, Tony Ayres, Julie Eckersley, Chris Oliver-Taylor Janet King – Playing Advantage (ABC) – Lisa Scott, Karl Zwicky, Greg Haddrick Wentworth (Foxtel/Showcase) – Jo Porter, Pino Amenta	Best Telefeature or Mini Series Sunshine (SBS) – Ian Collie, Anna McLeish, Sarah Shaw Blue Murder: Killer Cop (Seven Network) – Carol Hughes, Michael Jenkins Seven Types of Ambiguity (ABC) – Amanda Higgs, Tony Ayres, Jacquelin Perske Wake in Fright (Network Ten) – Helen Bowden, Kristian Moliere
Best Comedy Series Utopia (ABC) – Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner, Rob Sitch, Michael Hirsh No Activity (Stan) – Chloe Rickard Rosehaven (ABC) – Andrew Walker, Kevin Whyte, Celia Pacquola, Luke McGregor True Story with Hamish & Andy (Nine Network) – Tim Bartley, Andy Lee, Ryan Shelton, Andrew Walker	Best Children's Series Little Lunch – The Specials (ABC) – Robyn Butler, Wayne Hope Mustangs FC (ABC Me) – Amanda Higgs, Rachel Davis Nowhere Boys – Two Moons Rising (ABC Me) – Beth Frey, Tony Ayres, Michael McMahon The Wild Adventures of Blinky Bill (7Two) – Barbara Stephen, Alexia Gates-Foale, Tracy Lenon
Best Light Entertainment Series Australian Ninja Warrior (Nine Network) – Julie Ward, Mark Barlin, Sophia Mogford Gruen (ABC) – Wil Anderson, Nick Murray, Richard Huddleston, Polly Connolly Hard Quiz (ABC) – Chris Walker, Kevin Whyte, Charlie Pickering, Tom Gleeson Julia Zemiro's Home Delivery (ABC) – Damian Davis, Nick Murray, Polly Connolly, Nick Price	Best Reality Series MasterChef Australia (Network Ten) – Marty Benson, Adam Fergusson, Tim Toni Australian Survivor (Network Ten) – Peter Newman, Amelia Fisk, Tim Toni, Mark Barlin Little Big Shots (Seven Network) – Shaun Murphy, Sophia Mogford, Nick Davies My Kitchen Rules (Seven Network) – Joe Herdman, Matt Apps
Best Direction in a Drama or Comedy Glendyn Ivin – Seven Types of Ambiguity (ABC) for Episode 2: "Alex" Jane Campion – Top of the Lake: China Girl (Foxtel/BBC First) for Episode 5: "Who's Your Daddy?" Leah Purcell – Cleverman (ABC) for Episode 4: "Muya" Matthew Saville – Please Like Me (ABC) for Episode 4: "Degustation"	Best Direction in a Light Entertainment, Lifestyle or Reality Series Richard Franc – Australian Survivor (Network Ten) for "Episode 1" Gary Deans – Australian Ninja Warrior (Nine Network) for "Episode 1" Damian Davis – Julia Zemiro's Home Delivery (ABC) for Episode 1: "Sam Neill" Richard Franc – MasterChef Australia (Network Ten) for "Episode 1"
Best Lead Actor – Drama Hugo Weaving – Seven Types of Ambiguity (ABC) David Dencik – Top of the Lake: China Girl (Foxtel/BBC First) Sean Keenan – Wake in Fright (Network Ten) Richard Roxburgh – Blue Murder: Killer Cop (Seven Network)	Best Lead Actress – Drama Elisabeth Moss – Top of the Lake: China Girl (Foxtel/BBC First) Toni Collette – Blue Murder: Killer Cop (Seven Network) Marta Dusseldorp – Janet King – Playing Advantage (ABC) Pamela Rabe – Wentworth (Foxtel/Showcase)
Best Guest or Supporting Actor – Drama Ewen Leslie – Top of the Lake: China Girl (Foxtel/BBC First) Anthony LaPaglia – Sunshine (SBS) Matt Nable – Blue Murder: Killer Cop (Seven Network) David Wenham – Wake in Fright (Network Ten)	Best Guest or Supporting Actress – Drama Nicole Kidman – Top of the Lake: China Girl (Foxtel/BBC First) Emma Booth – Blue Murder: Killer Cop (Seven Network) Tina Bursill – Doctor Doctor (Nine Network) Andrea Demetriades – Seven Types of Ambiguity (ABC)
Best Comedy Performance Celia Pacquola – Rosehaven (ABC) Darren Gilshenan – No Activity (Stan) Debra Lawrance – Please Like Me (ABC) Rob Sitch – Utopia (ABC)	Best Screenplay in Television Jacquelin Perske – Seven Types of Ambiguity (ABC) for Episode 2: "Alex" Trent O'Donnell – No Activity (Stan) for Episode 3: "Silent Night" Celia Pacquola and Luke McGregor – Rosehaven (ABC) for "Episode 4" Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner and Rob Sitch – Utopia (ABC) for Episode 5: "Start Up"
Best Cinematography in Television Bonnie Elliott – Seven Types of Ambiguity (ABC) for Episode 2: "Joe" Bruce Young – Blue Murder: Killer Cop (Seven Network) for Episode 1: "Part One" Germain McMicking – Top of the Lake: China Girl (Foxtel/BBC First) for Episode 5: "Who's Your Daddy?" Geoffrey Hall – Wake In Fright (Network Ten) for Episode 1: "Part 1"	Best Editing in Television Rodrigo Balart – Seven Types of Ambiguity (ABC) for Episode 1: "Joe" Bill Russo – Blue Murder: Killer Cop (Seven Network) for Episode 1: "Part One" Toby Trappel and Karen Crespo – MasterChef Australia (Network Ten) for "Episode 1" Phil Simon and Santo Cilauro – Utopia (ABC) for Episode 5: "Start Up"
Best Sound in Television Stephen Smith, Liam Price, Paul Brincat, Shanti Burn and Tony Murtagh – Wake in Fright (Network Ten) for Episode 1: "Part 1" Tim Chaproniere, Emile De La Ray, Matt Stutter, Paul Brincat, Nigel Scott and Chris Sinclair – Cleverman (ABC) for Episode 3: "Dark Clouds" Luke Mynott, David Lee and Tony Vaccher – Top of the Lake: China Girl (Foxtel/BBC First) for Episode 4: "Birthday" Stephen Witherow, Justin Lloyd, Ian MacWilliams, Dan Young, Nigel Croyden and Stefan Kluka – Seven Types of Ambiguity (ABC) for Episode 1: "Joe"	Best Original Music Score in Television Antony Partos and Matteo Zingales – Wake in Fright (Network Ten) for Episode 1: "Part 1" Mark Bradshaw – Top of the Lake: China Girl (Foxtel/BBC First) for Episode 4: "Birthday" John Gray – Blue Murder: Killer Cop (Seven Network) for Episode 1: "Part One" Samuel Scott, Conrad Wedde, Lukasz Buda and Daniel Rankine – Cleverman (ABC) for Episode 3: "Dark Clouds"
Best Production Design in Television Fiona Donovan – A Place To Call Home (Foxtel/Showcase) for Episode 2: "Fallout" Annie Beauchamp – Top of the Lake: China Girl (Foxtel/BBC First) for Episode 4: "Birthday" Jo Ford – Seven Types of Ambiguity (ABC) for Episode 1: "Joe" Murray Picknett – Blue Murder: Killer Cop (Seven Network) for Episode 1: "Part One"	Best Costume Design in Television Damir Peranovic – Blue Murder: Killer Cop (Seven Network) for Episode 1: "Part One" Lisa Meagher – A Place To Call Home (Foxtel/Showcase) for Episode 2: "Own Worst Enemy" Emily Seresin – Top of the Lake: China Girl (Foxtel/BBC First) for Episode 4: "Birthday" Mariot Kerr – Wake in Fright (Network Ten) for Episode 1: "Part 1"

Subscription television

Subscription Television Award for Best Female Presenter Margaret Pomeranz – Stage & Screen (Foxtel Arts) Shaynna Blaze – Selling Houses Australia (Foxtel/Lifestyle) Yvonne Sampson – Fox Sports (Foxtel/Fox Sports) Jess Yates – Fox Sports (Foxtel/Fox Sports)	Subscription Television Award for Best Male Presenter David Speers – PM Agenda and Speers Tonight (Foxtel/Sky News) Paul Murray – Paul Murray Live (Foxtel/Sky News) Neil Oliver – Coast Australia (Foxtel/History) Andrew Winter – Selling Houses Australia (Foxtel/Lifestyle)
Subscription Television Award for Best Live Event Production Manny Pacquiao vs. Jeff Horn (Foxtel/Fox Sports) – Steve Crawley, Matt Weiss and Joe Bromham The 7th Annual CMC Music Awards (Foxtel/CMC) – Duane Hatherly AFLW (Foxtel/Fox Sports) – Michael Neill and Leigh Carlson Paul Murray Live On The Road (Foxtel/Sky News) – Paul Murray	Subscription Television Award for Best New Talent Zahra Newman – Wentworth (Foxtel/Showcase) Madeleine Clunies-Ross – A Place to Call Home (Foxtel/Showcase) Matt Okine – The Other Guy (Stan) George Pullar – A Place to Call Home (Foxtel/Showcase) Susie Youssef – No Activity (Stan)

Documentary and short film

Best Feature Length Documentary Casting JonBenet – Kitty Green, Scott Macaulay, James Schamus David Stratton: A Cinematic Life – Jo-anne McGowan Deep Water: The Real Story – Darren Dale Whiteley – Sue Clothier, James Bogle, Peta Ayers Zach's Ceremony – Sarah Linton, Alec Doomadgee	Best Documentary Television Program War on Waste (ABC) – Jodi Boylan In My Own Words (NITV) – Darren Dale Man Up (ABC) – Jennifer Cummins, Danielle Brigham and Jackie Turnure Servant Or Slave (NITV) – Mitchell Stanley, Michaela Perske and Hetti Perkins
Best Short Fiction Film The Eleven O'Clock – Derin Seale, Josh Lawson, Karen Bryson Miro – Victoria Wharfe McIntyre, Fran Dobbie, Amadeo Marquez-Perez Mrs McCutcheon – John Sheedy, Andre Lima, Jenny Vila Slapper – Luci Schroder, Jason Byrne, Michael Latham, Stephanie Westwood	Best Short Animation Lost Property Office – Daniel Agdag, Liz Kearney After All – Michael Cusack, Richard Chataway Barbara – Larissa Behrendt, Marieka Walsh, Kiki Dillon, Michaela Perske The Wall – Nick Baker, Tristan Klein
Best Direction in a Documentary James Bogle – Whiteley Bentley Dean, Martin Butler and Liz Jackson – A Sense of Self (ABC) Kitty Green – Casting JonBenet Amanda Blue – Deep Water: The Real Story	Best Cinematography in a Documentary Jody Muston and Jon Shaw – Blue Simon Morris – Deep Water: The Real Story Simon Chapman – Servant or Slave (NITV) Abraham Joffe – Tales by Light (Foxtel/National Geographic) for Episode 3: "Life and Death"
Best Editing in a Documentary Lawrie Silvestrin – Whiteley Vanessa Milton – Blue Terry Carlyon – Conviction (ABC) Orly Danon – The Surgery Ship (Foxtel/Nat Geo People) for Episode 1: "The Power of Yes & No"	Best Sound in a Documentary Ric Curtin, John Simpson and Lawrie Silvestrin – Whitely David White, Cate Cahill, Dan Miau and Sarah Henty – Blue Ben Banks and Keith Thomas – Conviction (ABC) Keith Thomas, Livia Ruzic and Mark Tarpey – The Family
Best Original Music Score in a Documentary Ash Gibson Greig – Whiteley Ash Gibson Greig – Blue Amanda Brown – The Family George Papanicolaou – Servant or Slave (NITV)

Additional awards

Best Asian Film Dangal (India) – Aamir Khan, Kiran Rao and Siddharth Roy Kapur Birdshot (Philippines) – Pamela L. Reyes I Am Not Madame Bovary (China) – Wang Zhonglei, Zhou Maofei and Hu Xiaofeng Kaasav: Turtle (India) – Mohan Agashe, Sunil Sukthankar and Sumitra Bhave Our Time Will Come (China) – Roger Lee, Stephen Lam and Ann Hui Pink (India) – Shoojit Sircar, Rashmi Sharma, Ronnie Lahiri and Sheel Kumar Train to Busan (South Korea) – Lee Dong-ha Wolf Warrior II (China) – Zhang Miao and Guang Hailong Your Name (Japan) – Genki Kawamura, Katsuhiro Takei, Kouichurou Itou and Yoshihiro Furusawa

Best Online Video or Series RackaRacka – Danny Philippou, Michael Philippou, Judd Wild and Timani Seve Doodles – Charlie Aspinwall, Daley Pearson, Meg O'Connell and Benjamin Zaugg High Life – Luke Eve and Adam Dolman Superwog – Paul Walton, Theodore Saidden and Nathan Saidden The Katering Show Tamasin Simpkin, Kate McCartney, Kate McLennan and Kevin Whyte

Best Visual Effects or Animation Joe Bauer, Steve Kullback, Glenn Melenhorst, Ineke Majoor, Josh Simmonds – Game of Thrones (Season 7), episode 4: "The Spoils of War" (Showcase) Jason Billington, James Whitlam, Linda Luong – Deepwater Horizon Brendan Seals, Steven Swanson, Raphael A. Pimentel, Andrew Zink – Doctor Strange Rob Coleman, Amber Naismith, Miles Green, Damien Gray, Craig Welsh – The Lego Batman Movie

Best Hair and Makeup Katherine Brown, Troy Follington, Simon Joseph – Cleverman (ABC) Nikki Gooley, Sheldon Wade – Blue Murder: Killer Cop (Seven Network) Hayley Atherton, Kate Anderson – Hounds of Love Jen Lamphee, Anna Gray, Melissa Chew – Science Fiction Volume One: The Osiris Child

Special awards

• Longford Lyell Award – Phillip Noyce (director)
• Trailblazer Award – Simon Baker (actor)
• Byron Kennedy Award – Martin Butler and Bentley Dean (filmmakers)

References

1. Tutty, Josie (7 December 2017). "Struggle Street beats Seven's AACTA Awards on Wednesday night". Mumbrella. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
2. Keast, Jackie (17 August 2017). "AACTA Awards 2017: feature films in competition and doco nominees unveiled". IF Magazine. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
3. Convery, Stephanie (4 December 2017). "Aacta awards 2017: Lion and Ali's Wedding sweep early categories". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
4. Maddox, Garry (6 December 2017). "AACTA Awards 2017 winners: Lion roared with clean sweep and youngest best actor". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 6 December 2017.

External links

• The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts official website