Overview

The 6th AACTA International Awards were held at The Avalon Hollywood in Los Angeles on 6 January 2017. The Ceremony was telecast in Australia on Foxtel's Foxtel Arts and Arena channels.

The Awards were a star-studded affair, with guests and nominees attending including Mel Gibson, Nicole Kidman, Emma Stone, Kenneth Lonergan, Harvey Weinstein, Luke Hemsworth, Garth Davis, Sacha Baron Cohen, Sunny Pawar and Dev Patel.

Ocean Park Standoff (featuring Samantha Ronson, Ethan Thompson and Pete Nappi) opened the Ceremony, which was hosted by Daniel MacPherson. Joining Daniel on stage were presenters Simon Baker, Isla Fisher, Julian McMahon, Alan Dale, Radha Mitchell, Damon Herriman, and Luke Bracey.

Four films were awarded across the seven categories - LA LA LAND, MANCHESTER BY THE SEA, LION and HACKSAW RIDGE.

LA LA LAND added another two Awards to its long list of accolades, receiving the AACTA International Awards for Best Film and Best Lead Actress for Emma Stone. Stone went on to sweep the international Awards circuit, winner Oscar®, BAFTA, Golden Globe and SAG Awards for her performance in the musical.

Mel Gibson won the AACTA International Award for Best Direction for HACKSAW RIDGE. The win followed an incredible run at the 6th AACTA Awards in Sydney in December 2016, where the film received nine Awards, including Best Direction.

MANCHESTER BY THE SEA took home two Awards, with director and writer Kenneth Longergan receiving the AACTA International Award for Best Screenplay, and Casey Affleck taking out the Best Lead Actor category. The film went on to win Best Original Screenplay and Best Lead Actor at the Oscars® and BAFTAs.

The Best Supporting Actress and Best Supporting Actor Awards went to Nicole Kidman and Dev Patel for their performances in Australian film LION. Their performances also earned them Oscar®, BAFTA, Golden Globe and SAG nominations, with Dev Patel winning his first BAFTA for his portrayal of Saroo Brierley.