AACTA International Awards 2023: winners

Mystery Road: Origin and The White Lotus were the big TV winners at the 12th AACTA International Awards, announced today.

The awards, which span both Australian and international titles in film and television are announced in ‘awards season’ between BAFTAs and Academy Awards.

ABC’s Mystery Road: Origin taking home Best Drama Series and Mark Coles Smith was named Best Lead Actor in a Series. Aaron Pederson and Mark Coles Smith have now both received an International AACTA for portraying Detective Jay Swan.

In film awards James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water took out Best Film, while Elvis saw Baz Luhrmann take out Best Direction and Austin Butler as Best Lead Actor.

AACTA CEO Damian Trewhella said, “Congratulations to this year’s deserving AACTA International Award winners. The Australian Academy is proud to be able to celebrate and acknowledge some of the most compelling productions from this past year and show our appreciation for the talented screen practitioners that inspire and entertain us. It is also wonderful to see Australia’s Mystery Road: Origin and Elvis recognised on the international stage, as well the talented Cate Blanchett and Mark Coles Smith. Australia’s screen industry is booming, and these awards demonstrate that our content is lauded worldwide.”

TV winners in bold:

Best Drama Series
• Heartbreak High
• Mystery Road: Origin
• Severance
• Stranger Things
• The Bear

Best Comedy Series
• Hacks
• Only Murders in The Building
• The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
• The White Lotus: Sicily
• Wednesday

Best Actor in a Series
• Jeremy Allen White (As Carmen ‘Carmy’ Berzatto) – The Bear
• Jason Bateman (As Martin ‘Marty’ Byrde) – Ozark
• Mark Coles Smith (As Jay Swan) – Mystery Road: Origin
• Bob Odenkirk (As Jimmy McGill) – Better Call Saul
• Thomas Weatherall (As Malakai Mitchell) – Heartbreak High

Best Actress in a Series
• Jennifer Coolidge (As Tanya McQuoid-Hunt) – The White Lotus: Sicily
• Elizabeth Debecki (As Princess Diana) – The Crown
• Laura Linney (As Wendy Byrde) – Ozark
• Jean Smart (As Deborah Vance) – Hacks
• Zendaya (As Rue Bennett) – Euphoria