Overview
Rebel Wilson, Sarah Snook and Russell Crowe among the stars at the 2021 AACTA Awards presented by Foxtel Group. Watch highlights from the Ceremony on FOX ARENA on FOXTEL, BINGE, and AACTA TV.
Nitram and The Newsreader have dominated the 2021 AACTA Awards presented by Foxtel Group; collecting 13 top honours between them at the star-studded ceremony held at Sydney Opera House.
The Newsreader led the pack for television with five AACTAs, including acting wins for Anna Torv and William McInnes. Nitram took out all the major categories for film, including Best Director and Best Film and wins for all four of its scene-stealing cast of Caleb Landry Jones, Anthony LaPaglia, Judy Davis and Essie Davis.
The new ABC series Fisk had a stellar debut at the Awards with a win for Best Narrative Comedy and its star, Kitty Flanagan, named as best comedy performer.
Eric Bana, Gardening Australia host Costa Georgiadis, Sooshi Mango and Wentworth were among those recognised by viewers in the AACTA Audience Choice Awards. Now in its second year, the awards are determined by online voting and recognise performers from film, TV and digital platforms.
Presenting at the ceremony, AACTA President Russell Crowe paid homage to his close friend and The Sum of Us co-star Jack Thompson for his impressive 50-year career.
In a rousing speech, Crowe captured some of Thompson’s iconic performances in films such as Wake in Fright, The Man From Snowy River, Mystery Road and Breaker Morant.
In a bittersweet moment of the ceremony, the late, influential actor David Gulpilil Ridjimiraril Dalaithngu AM was awarded the Academy’s highest honour, the Longford Lyell Award, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the Australian screen Industry.
The accolade came just over a week after the Yolngu actor’s death, and on the 50th anniversary of his ground-breaking film debut in Walkabout (1971). Gulpilil’s performance in that film has been credited as a cultural turning point for global cinema.
Over his illustrious career, Gulpilil starred in many Australian classics including Storm Boy, Crocodile Dundee, Ten Canoes and Charlie’s Country.
Other highlights of the ceremony include Lime Cordiale’s performance of their latest single Apple Crumble featuring a special guest appearance by Idris Elba. Rapper, dancer, artist and actor Danzal Baker --aka Baker Boy—introduced the Longford Lyell Award. In Memoriam featured a touching performance by Steve Kilbey of The Church, who performed Under the Milky Way whilst paying tribute to the late great figures within the industry.
