Working Dog to receive AACTA Longford Lyell Award

Revered production company Working Dog is to receive the AACTA Longford Lyell Award, honouring three decades of film and television successes.

Ed Kavalee and Sam Pang will present the AACTA Longford Lyell Award to Working Dog (Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner, Jane Kennedy, Michael Hirsh, and Rob Sitch) at the AACTA Awards held at HOTA on the Gold Coast on February 7.

Over the last 30 years they have created, produced, cast and directed The Castle, Thank God You’re Here, Russell Coight’s All Aussie Adventures, Utopia, Frontline, and The Dish, to name a few.

Past recipients of this award include Catherine Martin, Paul Hogan, Andrew Knight, Cate Blanchett, Jacki Weaver and Peter Weir.

The announcement was made today on the Gold Coast as the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) launcheds its AACTA Festival program which returns to HOTA, Home of the Arts, from February 5 – 9 2025.

The festival for fans, emerging filmmakers and seasoned industry professionals will include a rare In Conversation
event with the Working Dog team with Ed Kavalee in their session Working Dog… It’s the Vibe. The discussion will cover where it all began, how they have remained friends, and how they have managed to turn a passion for comedy into a thriving creative production entity. Next year will also commemorate the 25th anniversary of The Dish and AACTA Festival will celebrate with a special outdoor screening.

The Art Of Storytelling
Revered voices including bestselling authors Trent Dalton, Holly Ringland, Benjamin Stevenson, and Shankari Chandran, to legendary screenwriters John Collee (Boy Swallows Universe) and Andrew Knight (Hacksaw Ridge), will reveal the art of crafting powerful narratives and transforming ideas into cinematic stories. Shane & Clayton Jacobson (Kenny), alongside a team of industry experts, will detail exactly what it takes to create and release a hit film. Get an insider’s look at storytelling with Inside the Writers’ Room, featuring acclaimed writers as they dive into the creative process. Then, in the Industry Showrunners panel, learn about the vision and challenges of running a hit TV series. Australia’s top documentarians, in a special Screen Australia presentation, offer insights into the art of documentary filmmaking. Forefront: Queer and Proud brings together trailblazing voices like Spankie Jackzon and Nina Oyama to explore boundary-breaking work in queer storytelling. First Nations filmmakers share their unique perspectives on preserving culture through film, while the Audition Masterclass provides essential casting tips from industry pros.

Australians Behind Hollywood Mega Hits
An opportunity to understand the technical mastery that brings scripts to life with Oscar-winning Australian cinematographers Greig Fraser (The Batman, Dune, Dune 2) and John Seale (The English Patient, Mad Max Fury Road) who will break down their work on seminal Hollywood blockbusters. A VFX deconstruction with Paul Butterworth, revealing the magic behind iconic Marvel scenes, will also form part of the Festival.

Fear On Film
Australia is a prolific and influential contributor to the Horror genre and 2025’s AACTA Festival will include a range of sessions on its growing popularity with masters of the genre, as well as sneak peeks of upcoming horrors Site Unseen, Beast of War, Primitive War, and the horror/comedy Zombie Plane – with stars Sophie Monk and Dan Ewing attending.

The Power Of Sound: How A Musical Score Shapes The Heartbeat Of Film
Experience the sounds of How To Make Gravy, a Binge Original film based on the iconic song by Paul Kelly, with original music performed live by Meg Washington and others. Dive into the globally captivating soundtrack of Heartbreak High with its music supervisor Jemma Burns, while multi-Oscar-nominated filmmaker Scott Hicks (Shine) shares his considerable expertise adding depth to the festival’s music strand. Learn about movement and dance from one of the world’s best choreographers, Kate Wormald, and explore Dami Im’s remarkable Eurovision journey. Conclude each night at the vibrant Karaoke Bar, where music transforms into a shared, interactive celebration. And don’t miss the fabulous Drag Bingo night hosted by Ivyy Monroe and Kathy Pacific for an unforgettable evening of fun and games.

AACTA is also thrilled to announce two new award categories for the 2025 AACTA Awards: Best Original Song and Best Soundtrack. The AACTA Award for Best Original Song will honour the talented songwriters and performers who create songs that enrich a production’s impact, while the AACTA Award for Best Soundtrack will celebrate the vital role of music supervisors in shaping unforgettable moments on screen. An expert jury will select nominees for these awards, with the winners determined by AACTA members in Round 2 voting.

AACTA Festival 2025 promises a unique, immersive celebration of the power of music in screen storytelling. Don’t miss this celebration of music, creativity, and culture in the heart of the Australian screen industry.

Clicks, Likes, And Cut Through: The Formula For Digital Success
From cut through to clicks, the Digital Creators sessions will uncover the secrets to building global audiences and monetising content. Learn more about the “it” factor with Millie Ford and join “Creator on Creator” sessions with influencers Mackenzie Macintyre and Emily Grosser, as they share how to turn passion into profit. Plus, a masterclass on Monetising Your Passion provides essential tips for aspiring creators.

AACTA Festival will also include a live recording of the First Things First podcast with hosts Matty Mills and Brooke Blurton with an unfiltered conversation about culture, relationships, and life’s big questions. This engaging, behind-the-scenes event brings diverse perspectives as proud First Nations voices.

Netflix & Chill Meets Fan Frenzy: Exclusive Screening Events You Can’t Miss
AACTA Festival will hold the Queensland Premiere of Spit, the highly anticipated follow-up to Gettin’ Square, with David Wenham returning as both star and producer. Wenham will share insights into the film’s creative journey and its deep Queensland roots.

Other screenings include an exclusive behind the scenes with the cast of the new Queensland action film Homeward, featuring actors Nathan Phillips (Wolf Creek) and Jake Ryan (Underbelly), a Q&A of The Aegean with star Costas Mandylor, the Australian premiere of Looney Tunes: The Day The Earth Blew Up at Movie World with a Q&A with Daffy Duck and Porky Pig, a Taylor Swift symposium, a Marvel vs. DC universe, and Supanova and guest cosplayers join our Beyond The Stars and Realms session with practical costume and makeup tips.

Lights, Camera, Action: Building Your Screen Career
Find out everything you need to know about building a career in the exciting screen industry at the 2025 AACTA Screen Careers Expo, presented by Essential Screen Skills on Saturday the 8th of February. An invaluable opportunity for students and career changers alike, attendees will learn about all aspects of the screen industry, the many incredible career pathways on offer, and the education and training available to get them there. With representation for some of Australia’s leading education institutes and employers as well as informative panel discussions throughout the day.

aactafestival.com

AACTA also made other announcements for 2025 this morning including:

AACTA Festival Ambassadors
AACTA’s 2025 Festival Ambassadors are Australian comedians and actors Stephen Curry (The Castle), Nina Oyama (Deadloch) and Shane Jacobson (Kenny) and Talijah Blackman-Corowa (Plum). AACTA also welcomed back the dynamic filmmaking duo, Lachlan and Austin Macfarlane alongside musicians Dami Im and Meg Washington.

Show Me The Money
The dream of a creative career can be financially challenging. The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts is thrilled to announce additional support and development funding over a handful of exciting initiatives. The AACTA Reg Grundy Award returns for a fifth year offering $50,000 in prize money to the best original idea for the nation’s next favourite production. The Award is open to all Australians with details to be announced at the 2025 AACTA Award Ceremony.

The AACTA Brian Walsh Award for Emerging Talent will return for a second year. Sponsored by actress Nicole Kidman, this prestigious award is aimed at discovering and nurturing the next generation of Australian actors with the recipient receiving $50,000 towards their career development. Entries are now open, head to aacta.org for more information.