The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) has announced the nominees for the 2025 AACTA Awards, sponsored by Foxtel Group. Back on the Gold Coast, the awards will celebrate the best in Australian film, television, documentary and online content as part of the five-day AACTA Festival from 5 to 9 February 2025.
Topping the film category are film industry stalwarts “A Better Man,” “How to Make Gravy,” “Furiosa: The Mad Max Saga,” “Midnight with the Devil,” and “Snail Memoirs.” The Robbie Williams-inspired “Better Man” led the race, earning a record-breaking 16 nominations in the film category overall. George Miller’s “Furiosa: The Mad Max Saga” and streaming giant Binge’s feature film debut “How to Make Gravy” each secured 15 nominations. Horror favorite “Late Night with the Devil” received 14 nominations, while animated masterpiece “Memoirs of a Snail” received 11 nominations. Rounding out the best film category is “Runt,” which earned four nominations.
For the first time in AACTA’s history, motion capture performance and voice acting have been added to the acting category. Jonno Davies received acclaim for his portrayal of a motion-capture monkey in Better Man, and the performances of Jacki Weaver, Kodi Smit-McPhee and Sarah Snook in The Snail’s Tale showcase the skills and art form of voice acting. It stands out.
Comedy and horror continue to be Australia’s global calling card. “Late Night with the Devil” continues the path blazed by last year’s winner “Talk to Me,” with 14 nominations to its name. Meanwhile, comedy hits such as Colin From Accounts, Fisk and The Office Australia highlight the international appeal of Australian wit and humour.
When it comes to television, the critically acclaimed Boy Swallows Universe earned the most nominations in AACTA history with 22 nominations, including eight for Best Miniseries and Best Acting. Dylan River’s “Thou Shalt Not Steal” received nine nominations, followed by “Colin From Accounts” and “The Artful Dodger” with eight nominations each. Other standouts include Exposure, Fake, Total Control, Fisk and Territory, which showcase the diversity of Australian small screen storytelling.
Alison Hurbert-Burns, Commissioner and Executive Director of Entertainment Content, Foxtel Group, said: We are proud to help AACTA recognize these achievements and look forward to coming together as an industry to celebrate our successes in February. ”
AACTA also announced two new award categories for the 2025 AACTA Awards: Best Original Song and Best Soundtrack. The AACTA Award for Best Original Song recognizes talented songwriters and performers who create songs that enrich the impact of their productions, and the AACTA Award for Best Soundtrack honors talented songwriters and performers who create songs that enrich the impact of their productions, while the AACTA Award for Best Soundtrack shapes unforgettable moments on screen. It celebrates the important role of the music director. A jury of experts will select nominees for these awards, and the winners will be determined by AACTA members in a second round of voting.
AACTA is excited to shine a spotlight on the resurgence of music in film storytelling and will be hosting select events at the AACTA Festival alongside the awards featuring world-class composers, songwriters and music supervisors. I plan to program it. It’s not just about celebrating the artistry of the soundtrack and score. But it also provides aspiring creators with valuable development opportunities to learn, network and advance their careers.
These events will allow festival goers to hear the sounds of Binge’s original film “How to Make Gravy,” based on Paul Kelly’s iconic song, performed live by Meg Washington and others. You will have the opportunity to experience music together. You can also dive into the globally-appealing Heartbreak High soundtrack with music supervisor Gemma Barnes. Additionally, multiple Oscar-nominated filmmaker Scott Hicks (“Shine”) shares his considerable expertise adding depth to the festival’s musical flow. Learn about movement and dance from one of the world’s best choreographers, Kate Wormald, and explore Dami Im’s remarkable Eurovision journey. End each night with a lively karaoke bar where the music turns into a shared and interactive celebration. Also, don’t miss the amazing drag bingo night hosted by Ivy Monroe and Kathy Pacific. Enjoy an unforgettable night of fun and games.
For more information on the AACTA Awards and the complete list of nominees, please visit the official website here. For more information on the program that will take place throughout the AACTA festival, please visit the official website.
