Nominees Announced for the 2021 AACTA International Awards

BELFAST and THE POWER OF THE DOG lead the nominees announced today at the 2021 AACTA International Awards. 

Australia’s premier film and television organisation – the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) – today announced the nominations for their annual AACTA International Awards. Now in its 11th year the Awards honour and celebrate the most outstanding film and television productions made this year, and are determined by many of Australia’s leading filmmakers and content creators. 

Fourteen feature films compete in the seven film categories, with Belfast leading the race with seven nominations followed by The Power of the Dog with six. Succession and The White Lotus share the most nominations in the Series categories with three a piece. Succession was recognised for Best Drama Series and for its Australian lead Sarah Snook and Jeremy Strong, The White Lotus for Best Comedy Series and Australian lead Murray Bartlett and Jennifer Coolidge.

Other Australians recognised include Nicole Kidman with two nominations, for Best Actress in Film for her portrayal of Lucille Ball in Being the Ricardos, and Best Actress in a Series for her work in Nine Perfect Strangers. Kodi Smit-McPhee received a nomination for his stand out performance in The Power of the Dog, as did Cate Blanchett for her work on Don’t Look Up. Shaun Grant and Justin Kurzel were recognised for their work on Nitram, as were the Australian producers of Nine Perfect Strangers for Best Drama Series, Nitram and The Power of the Dog for Best Film.

Other Best Film nominees were Dune, Belfast, Being the Ricardos, and Licorice Pizza.

Other nominees for Best Drama Series include the South Korean sensation Squid Game, Mare of Easttown, The Handmaid’s Tale and Maid, and joining The White Lotus in Best Comedy Series are The Great, Sex Education, Ted Lasso, The Kominsky Method and Hacks.

AACTA CEO Damian Trewhella said: “It’s hugely encouraging to see so many Australians nominated, and feature on the international stage. We wish them the very best of luck along with all the nominees, and look forward to seeing the results early in the new year.”

FULL LIST OF NOMINEES

For a full list of AACTA Award Winners and Nominees, click here.

The 2021AACTA International Awards will be presented virtually at 7am AEDT Thursday January 27 (12pm PST Wednesday January 26).

See the full list of 2021 AACTA International Award Nominees below

FILM

In film 14 productions compete for 7 awards, with 6 nominees competing for Best Film.

Best Film

• BEING THE RICARDOS
• BELFAST
• DUNE
• LICORICE PIZZA
• NITRAM
• THE POWER OF THE DOG

Best Lead Actor

• Benedict Cumberbatch – THE POWER OF THE DOG
• Caleb Landry Jones – NITRAM
• Andrew Garfield – TICK, TICK … BOOM!
• Will Smith – KING RICHARD
• Denzel Washington – THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH 

Best Lead Actress

• Penélope Cruz – PARALLEL MOTHERS
• Lady Gaga – HOUSE OF GUCCI
• Jennifer Hudson – RESPECT
• Nicole Kidman – BEING THE RICARDOS
• Kristen Stewart – SPENCER

Best Supporting Actress

• Caitríona Balfe – BELFAST
• Cate Blanchett – DON'T LOOK UP
• Judi Dench – BELFAST
• Kirsten Dunst – THE POWER OF THE DOG
• Sally Hawkins – SPENCER

Best Supporting Actor

• Bradley Cooper – LICORICE PIZZA
• Jamie Dornan – BELFAST
• Ciarán Hinds – BELFAST
• Al Pacino – HOUSE OF GUCCI
• Kodi Smit-McPhee – THE POWER OF THE DOG

Best Direction

• BELFAST – Kenneth Branagh
• DUNE – Denis Villeneuve
• LICORICE PIZZA – Paul Thomas Anderson
• NITRAM – Justin Kurzel
• THE POWER OF THE DOG – Jane Campion

Best Screenplay

• BEING THE RICARDOS – Aaron Sorkin
• BELFAST – Kenneth Branagh
• LICORICE PIZZA – Paul Thomas Anderson
• NITRAM – Shaun Grant
• THE POWER OF THE DOG – Jane Campion

TELEVISION

In film 13 productions compete for 4 awards, with 6 nominees competing for Best Drama series.

Best Drama

• MAID
• MARE OF EASTTOWN
• NINE PERFECT STRANGERS
• SQUID GAME
• SUCCESSION
• THE HANDMAID’S TALE

Best Comedy

• HACKS
• SEX EDUCATION
• TED LASSO
• THE GREAT
• THE KOMINSKY METHOD
• THE WHITE LOTUS

Best Actor in a Series

• Murray Bartlett – THE WHITE LOTUS
• Lee Jung-jae – SQUID GAME
• Ewan McGregor – HALSTON
• Jeremy Strong – SUCCESSION
• Jason Sudeikis – TED LASSO

Best Actress in a Series

• Jennifer Coolidge – THE WHITE LOTUS
• Nicole Kidman – NINE PERFECT STRANGERS
• Jean Smart – HACKS
• Sarah Snook – SUCCESSION
• Kate Winslet – MARE OF EASTTOWN