AACTA Awards 2022: nominees

Nominees have been announced in the 22022 AACTA Awards.

Mystery Road: Origin tops the TV list at 15 nominations including Best Drama Series and five acting nominations for Mark Coles Smith, Tuuli Narkle, Daniel Henshall, Steve Bisley and Hayley McElhinney. Foxtel dramas Love Me and The Twelve  each received 10 nominations.

Heartbreak High landed nine nods including newcomer James Majoos for Best Lead Actor in a Drama.

AACTA CEO, Damian Trewhella said “The Australian Academy proudly celebrates achievements in all screen mediums and craft and it is a privilege to announce the nominees vying for an AACTA Award. These nominees represent the freshest and most captivating works that have entertained us from the past year, as determined by Australia’s largest screen community. The broad range of content that has been nominated reflects the vastness of the Australian screen landscape, and the depth of our talent. We look forward to celebrating at both AACTA Awards events this December, in Sydney.”

Brian Walsh, Executive Director of Drama & Senior Content Consultant for the Foxtel Group said: “The Foxtel Group – through our multi-year sponsorship with AACTA – is committed to supporting the Australian film and television industry and recognize the truly remarkable performances and talent that have graced our screens this year. From established artists and filmmakers to emerging talent, these Awards underpin the strength and capability of the local industry. Foxtel congratulates all nominees and look forward to celebrating the 2022 winners at this year’s Awards.”

Daniel Monaghan, Senior Vice President, Content and Programming at Paramount Australia and New Zealand said, “The Australian screen sector is truly world-class and this list of nominees demonstrates the high-quality content we create locally but are known for around the globe. Not only are the nominees outstanding screen content but many were produced in the shadow of COVID. So the return of the in-person and televised AACTA awards also marks a positive turning point for our industry recognising we’ve made it through incredibly challenging times and continued to create compelling screen stories.”

Winners will be announced at The Hordern on Wednesday, 7 December and screen on 10 repeated on FOX Docos.

Television and related categories:

Best Children’s Program

• Bluey – Charlie Aspinwall, Sam Moor, Daley Pearson – Ludo Studio (ABC)
• First Day – Kirsty Stark, Kate Butler – Epic Films and KOJO Studios (ABC)
• Little J & Big Cuz – Ned Lander, Colin South, David Gurney, Alicia Rackett – Ned Lander Media (ABC, NITV, SBS)
• MaveriX – Rachel Clements, Trisha Morton-Thomas – Brindle Films (ABC, Netflix)
• Rock Island Mysteries– Timothy Powell – Fremantle (Network 10)
• The PM’s Daughter – Tristram Baumber, Willison Alice, Kieran Hoyle – Fremantle (ABC)

Best Cinematography in Television

• Heartbreak High (Episode 1) – Simon Ozolins
• Love Me (Episode 4) – Earle Dresner
• Mystery Road: Origin (Episode 3) – Tyson Perkins
• The Tourist (Episode 1) – Ben Wheeler
• The Tourist (Episode 6) – Geoffrey Hall

Best Comedy Performer

• Wayne Blair– Aftertaste
• Patrick Brammall– Summer Love
• Harriet Dyer– Summer Love
• Tom Gleeson– Hard Quiz
• Charlie Pickering– The Weekly with Charlie Pickering
• Doris Younane– Five Bedrooms

Best Comedy Program

• Aftertaste– Rebecca Summerton, Matthew Bate, Erik Thomson, Julie De Fina – Closer Productions (ABC)
• Five Bedrooms– Nathan Mayfield, Tracey Robertson – Hoodlum Productions (Network 10, Paramount+)
• Hard Quiz– Chris Walker, Kevin Whyte, Tom Gleeson, John Tabbagh – Thinkative Television and ABC (ABC)
• Shaun Micallef’s Mad as Hell– Peter Beck, Beth Hart, Shaun Micallef – ITV Studios Australia (ABC)
• Spicks and Specks– Rachel Millar, Anthony Watt            – Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
• Summer Love– Wayne Hope, Robyn Butler – Gristmill (ABC)

Best Costume Design in Television

• Firebite (Episode 3) – Heather Wallace
• Heartbreak High (Episode 1) – Rita Carmody
• Love Me (Episode 4) – Cappi Ireland
• Mystery Road: Origin (Episode 3) – Terri Lamera
• The Twelve (Episode 10) – Xanthe Huebel
• 

Best Direction in Drama or Comedy

• Bump (Episode 1) – Geoff Bennett
• Heartbreak High (Episode 1) – Gracie Otto
• Love Me (Episode 4) – Emma Freeman
• Mystery Road: Origin (Episode 3) – Dylan River
• The Twelve (Episode 10) – Daniel Nettheim

Best Direction in Nonfiction Television

• Books That Made Us (Episode 1) – Sally Aitken
• Fearless: The Inside Story Of The AFLW (Episode 1) – Michael Venables
• Miriam Margolyes Australia Unmasked (Episode 1) – Helen Barrow
• Who Do You Think You Are? (Episode 4) – Tinzar Lwyn
• You Can’t Ask That (Episode 1) – Kirk Docker

Best Documentary or Factual Program

• Books That Made Us – Darren Dale, Jacob Hickey – Blackfella Films (ABC)
• Burning – Ben Silverman, Howard T. Owens, Eva Orner, Jonathan Schaerf, Jason Byrne – Propagate Content and Amazon Studios (Amazon Prime Video)
• Fearless: The Inside Story Of The AFLW – Anne-Maree Sparkman, Cos Cardone, Luke Tunnecliffe, Becky Taylor – JAM TV (Disney+)
• Miriam Margolyes Australia Unmasked – Laurie Critchley, Bethan Arwel-Lewis – Southern Pictures (ABC)
• People’s Republic of Mallacoota – Lucy Maclaren, Joe Connor, Ken Connor – Renegade Films  (ABC)
• The Family Court Murders – Madeleine Hetherton-Miau, Rebecca Barry, Mark Morrissey, Debi Marshall – Media Stockade with Said & Done (ABC)

Best Drama Series

• Bump – Dan Edwards, John Edwards, Claudia Karvan, Kelsey Munro – Roadshow Rough Diamond (Stan)                 
• Heartbreak High – Carly Heaton, Sarah Freeman – Fremantle (Netflix)   
• Love Me – Hamish Lewis, Michael Brooks, Angie Fielder, Polly Staniford – Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia (Binge, Foxtel)                 
• Mystery Road: Origin – Greer Simpkin, David Jowsey – Bunya Productions (ABC)   
• The Tourist – Lisa Scott, Harry Williams, Jack Williams, Christopher Aird, Chris Sweeney, – Two Brothers Pictures (Stan)                        
• Wolf Like Me – Steve Hutensky, Jodi Matterson, Bruna Papandrea, Abe Forsythe – Made Up Stories and Endeavour Content (Stan)                 

Best Editing in Television

• Bump (Episode 2) – Ariel Shaw
• Muster Dogs (Episode 1) – John Unwin, Orly Danon, Fiona Strain, Brendon Cain 
• Mystery Road: Origin (Episode 3) – Nicholas Holmes
• Surviving Summer (Episode 7) – Amelia Ford
• The Twelve (Episode 10) – Mark Perry

Best Entertainment Program

• Eurovision – Australia Decides – Gold Coast 2022 – Paul Clarke, Stephanie Werrett, Emily Griggs – Blink TV (SBS)          
• LEGO® Masters Australia – David McDonald, Di Yang, AJ Johnson – Endemol Shine Australia (Nine Network)          
• Mastermind – Lucy De Luca, Anthony Watt – BBC Studios Australia and SBS (SBS)   
• RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under – Fenton Bailey, RuPaul Charles, Cailah Scobie, Amanda Duthie, Nicola Van der Meijden – World of Wonder and Warner Bros. International Television Production New Zealand Limited (Stan)                 
• The Dog House Australia – Sarah Thornton, Ciaran Flannery, Samantha De Alwis, Naomi Elkin – Network 10 (Network 10)                 
• The Voice Australia – Majella Hay, Beth Hart, Chloe Baker – ITV Studios Australia (Seven Network)          

Best Factual Entertainment Program

• Back Roads – Brigid Donovan, Louise Turley – Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)   
• Gogglebox Australia – David McDonald, Danielle Vos – Endemol Shine Australia (Foxtel, Network 10)   
• Muster Dogs – Michael Boughen, Monica O’Brien – Ambience Entertainment (ABC)   
• Old People’s Home for Teenagers – Debbie Cuell, Tony De La Pena, Paulo Vivan, Brooke Hulsman – Endemol Shine Australia (ABC)                 
• Who Do You Think You Are? – Maxine Gray – Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia (SBS)
• You Can’t Ask That – Frances O’Riordan, Kirk Docker, Josh Schmidt – Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)   

Best Lead Actor in a Drama  

• Mark Coles Smith – Mystery Road: Origin
• Jamie Dornan – The Tourist
• James Majoos – Heartbreak High
• Sam Neill – The Twelve
• Hugo Weaving – Love Me

Best Lead Actress in a Drama  

• Isla Fisher – Wolf Like Me
• Claudia Karvan – Bump
• Kate Mulvany – The Twelve
• Tuuli Narkle – Mystery Road: Origin
• Bojana Novakovic – Love Me

Best Lifestyle Program

• Gardening Australia – Gill Lomas – Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
• Grand Designs Australia – Brooke Bayvel, Michael Collett – Fremantle (Foxtel)
• Selling Houses Australia – Nicole Rogers, Caroline Swift, Kam Vurlow, Howard Myers – Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia (Foxtel)  
• The Cook Up with Adam Liaw – Bruce Walters, Samantha De Alwis – SBS (SBS)
• The Great Australian Bake Off – Alenka Henry, Howard Myers, Kylie Washington – BBC Studios Australia (Foxtel)
• The Living Room – Sarah Thornton, Tamara Simoneau, Rachael Brand – Network 10 (Network 10)

Best Miniseries

• Barons – John Molloy, Michael Lawrence, Liz Doran, Justin Davies, Nicholas Cook – 2 Jons, Micanical Media, Fremantle (ABC)                               
• Savage River – Angie Fielder, Polly Staniford – Aquarius Films (ABC)   
• The Twelve – Hamish Lewis, Ian Collie, Ally Henville, Rob Gibson, Michael Brooks – Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia and Easy Tiger Productions (Binge, Foxtel)                        
• True Colours – Penny Smallacombe, Greer Simpkin, David Jowsey – Bunya Productions (SBS)          
• Underbelly: Vanishing Act – Kerrie Mainwaring, Matt Ford – Screentime (Nine Network)   

Best Original Score in Television

• Aftertaste (Episode 3) – Benjamin Speed
• Born To Spy (Episode 4) – Diego Baldenweg, Lionel Baldenweg, Nora Baldenweg        
• Mystery Road: Origin (Episode 3) – Vincent Goodyer
• Savage River (Episode 1) – Bryony Marks
• The PM’s Daughter (Episode 9) – Caitlin Yeo, Basil Hogios   

Best Production Design in Television

• Firebite (Episode 3) – Amy Baker
• Heartbreak High (Episode 1) – Marni Kornhauser
• Love Me (Episode 4) – Josephine Ford
• Mystery Road: Origin (Episode 3) – Herbert Pinter
• The Tourist (Episode 1) – Scott Bird

Best Reality Program

• Amazing Race Australia – Paul Franklin, Rikkie Proost, Chris Culvenor, Sophia Mogford – Eureka Productions (Network 10)                 
• Australian Survivor: Blood V Water – Amelia Fisk, Drina Maruna, Adam Fergusson, Di Yang – Endemol Shine Australia (Network 10)                 
• I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! – Ben Ulm, Riima Daher, Alex Mavroidakis, Beth Hart – ITV Studios Australia (Network 10)                 
• Luxe Listings Sydney – Paul Franklin, Chris Culvenor, Rikkie Proost, Evan Wilkes, Anastassia Gerakis, Jake Hargreaves – Eureka Productions (Amazon Prime Video)                               
• MasterChef Australia – David Forster, Eoin Maher, Simon Child – Endemol Shine Australia (Network 10)          
• The Bridge – Amelia Fisk, Lucy Connors, Toby Trappel – Endemol Shine Australia (Paramount+)  

Best Screenplay in Television

• Heartbreak High (Episode 1) – Hannah Carroll Chapman
• Love Me (Episode 4) – Adele Vuko
• Mystery Road: Origin (Episode 3) – Timothy Lee, Dylan River
• Mystery Road: Origin (Episode 6) – Dylan River, Blake Ayshford
• The Twelve (Episode 10) – Sarah Walker

Best Sound in Television

• Aftertaste (Episode 3) – Michael Darren, Pete Smith, Josh Williams, Leah McKeown               
• Mystery Road: Origin (Episode 3) – Luke Mynott, Wes Chew, Trevor Hope          
• Savage River (Episode 1) – Manel Lopez, Stuart Morton, Diego Ruiz          
• Summer Love (Episode 1) – Scott Findlay
• Troppo (Episode 8) – Joel McLean

Best Stand-Up Special

• Geraldine Hickey: What A Surprise – Geraldine Hickey, Frank Bruzzese, Kathleen McCarthy, Lauren Moore – Guesswork Television (Paramount+)                    
• Ronny Chieng: Speakeasy – Ronny Chieng – All Things Comedy and Netflix (Netflix)
• The Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2022 Gala Supported by Oxfam – Various Performers,  Rachel Millar, Kellie Williams, Susan Provan, Claire Hammond – Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)                            
• The Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2022 Opening Night Comedy AllStars Show – Various Performers,  Rachel Millar, Kellie Williams, Susan Provan, Claire Hammond – Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)                            
• Tom Ballard: Enough – Tom Ballard, Frank Bruzzese, Kathleen McCarthy, Lauren Moore – Guesswork Television (Paramount+)                    
• Tommy Little: I’ll See Myself Out – Tommy Little, Kevin Whyte, Kathleen McCarthy, Nikita Agzarian – Guesswork Television (Amazon Prime Video)                                

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama

• Steve Bisley – Mystery Road: Origin
• Brendan Cowell – The Twelve
• Daniel Henshall – Mystery Road: Origin
• Damon Herriman – The Tourist
• Thomas Weatherall – Heartbreak High

 

• 

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama

• Hayley McElhinney – Mystery Road: Origin
• Jacqueline McKenzie – Savage River
• Heather Mitchell – Love Me
• Brooke Satchwell – The Twelve
• Magda Szubanski – After the Verdict

Best Digital Series or Channel

• A Beginner’s Guide to Grief – Renee Mao, Julie Byrne, Kate Butler, Linda Ujuk, Anna Lindner
• Black As – Joseph Smith, Dino Wanybarrngu, Chico Wanybarrnga, Jerome Lilypiyana, David Batty
• Iggy & Ace – A.B Morrison, Monica Zanetti, Melissa Kelly, Hannah Ngo
• It’s Fine I’m Fine – Clare Delaney, Iain Crittenden, Florence Tourbier, Stef Smith
• Jimmy Rees POV – Jimmy Rees
• Ozzy Man Reviews – Ethan Marrell

Best Casting Presented by Casting Networks

• Elvis – Nikki Barrett, Denise Chamian
• Heartbreak High – Amanda Mitchell
• Love Me – Nathan Lloyd
• The Stranger – Anousha Zarkesh
• The Twelve – Kirsty McGregor

Best Hair and Makeup presented by HASK

• Elvis – Jason Baird, Mark Coulier, Louise Coulston, Shane Thomas
• Gold – Jennifer Lamphee
• The Drover’s Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson – Beth Halsted, Simon Joseph, Jennifer Lamphee
• Three Thousand Years of Longing – Lesley Vanderwalt
• Wyrmwood: Apocalypse – Rachel Scane, Helen Magelaki, Mariel McClorey

Best Visual Effects or Animation

• DC League of Super-Pets – Sharna Hackett, Feargal Stewart, Christian So, Miles Green, Etienne Marc – Animal Logic
• Elvis – Tom Wood, Fiona Crawford, Julian Hutchens, Joshua Simmonds, Adam Hammond –  Warner Bros. Pictures
• Spider-Man: No Way Home – Kelly Port, Julia Neighly, Brendan Seals, Kilou Picard – Luma Pictures
• Thor: Love and Thunder – Jake Morrison, Lisa Marra, Dan Oliver, Dan Bethell, Ian Cope –      Rising Sun Pictures
• Three Thousand Years of Longing – Jason Bath, Paul Butterworth, Chris Spry, Alastair Stephen, Roy Malhi, Chris Davies – Fin Design + Effects