Nominations near for inaugural AACTA Awards

Nominations for the revamped AFI Awards, now known as the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards will be announced on November 30th at the National Institute of Dramatic Art.

The inaugural AACTA Awards will be held on Tuesday January 31st at the Sydney Opera House and broadcast on Nine. In the lead up to the start of 2012 ratings (February 12) it should serve as a good platform for Nine to promote its key shows.

The revamped awards will include Best Film, Best Television Drama Series, Best Direction, Best Lead Actor, Best Lead Actress and The Byron Kennedy Award.

It will be preceded by an AACTA Awards Luncheon on January 15, including the the special presentation of the AACTA Raymond Longford Award, and timed to cross to the G’Day USA LA Black Tie Gala.

AACTA is partnering with the G’Day USA and will announce nominees for the AACTA International Awards at the LA Gala.

AFI Chair, Alan Finney, says, “AACTA celebrates Australian stories told on screen and our talented people who tell them. The Australian public has thrown its support behind some great Australian stories this year, with Red Dog catapulting its way into the top 10 highest grossing Australian films, and the popular documentary, Mrs Carey’s Concert, making box office history as just two examples.

“In addition to the high caliber of Australian films in competition for an AACTA Award, we are delighted that this marks the 25th anniversary of recognising excellence in television through the AFI Awards and now through AACTA. We look forward to celebrating Australian television productions both longstanding and new to the screen in our inaugural Samsung AACTA Awards.”