0/5

Doco categories reinstated by AACTA Awards

AACTA Awards responds to industry complaints by reinstating four doco craft awards.

2013-07-04_0048The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts has reinstated four documentary awards following concerns from OzDox, Australia’s organisation for documentary professionals.

The restored categories are for direction, cinematography, editing and sound in feature-length documentaries and TV docos.

The TV directing awards will no longer encompass docos, which also follows complaints after The Amazing Race Australia was nominated for a directing award alongside traditional drama.

The best direction in television (drama) award will be renamed best direction in a TV drama or comedy.

The best direction in television (non-drama) category will be renamed best direction in a TV light entertainment or reality series.

A total of 43 awards will be presented at the 3rd annual AACTA Awards in Sydney next January, two more than this year.

Australian Film Institute / AACTA CEO Damian Trewhella told IF “AFI | AACTA has always considered documentary an important genre; it is responsive, creative and critical in capturing real Australian stories, and we are pleased to reinstate these awards with the industry’s support, ” he said.

“A total of 187 documentary projects were undertaken in the last year in Australia, with a total budget of $145 million. It is therefore vital that we have a peer-assessed measure in place via the AACTA Awards in order to assess the health of this industry, and to provide a platform for further collaboration by bringing together our nation’s best documentary makers.”

TEN is keen to telecast the Awards again but host broadcasters have not contributed financially to the awards for five years.

One Response

  1. I don’t like awards. Someone has to get them. That doesn’t mean they deserved it. ‘Every Year Awards’ are just a cheap solution to create alleged virtuous artists so the media market gets it’s rushed crap sold. In addition, productions are under pressure as we expect more from the award winners, which can result in ‘Under the Dome’ instead of something similar to or better than ‘Lost’. Greedy shareholders destroy creativity through forcing shorter production periods. Professionals and junior creatives get frustrated over the inflexible and non-supportive media market which pushes them out of the business. This also puts more pressure on the current productions. Unfortunately, it takes a very long time to re-establish a real media market.

    Bottom line: Let people grow into their creativity, don’t push them through awards

Leave a Reply