# 2009 Australian Film Institute Awards

The 51st Annual Australian Film Institute Awards ceremony, honouring the best in film and television acting achievements for 2009 in the cinema of Australia, took place over two nights on 5 December 2009 and 11 December 2009 at the Regent Theatre, Melbourne and broadcast on the Nine Network.
During the ceremonies, the Australian Film Institute presented Australian Film Institute Awards (AFI awards) in 40 categories, including feature films, television, animation, and documentary. The ceremony was hosted by Julia Zemiro of SBS's RocKwiz.
Nominations were announced on 28 October 2009, with Balibo receiving the most with 14 in total. A new award introduced in 2009 was for the highest grossing film, recognising box office figures exceeding $65 million in the previous 12 months.
Winners are listed first and highlighted in boldface; with nominees thereafter.

## AFI Film Awards

| Best Film Samson and Delilah – Kath Shelper Balibo – Anthony LaPaglia, Dominic Purcell Beautiful Kate – Bryan Brown, Leah Churchill-Brown Blessed – Al Clark Mao's Last Dancer – Jane Scott Mary and Max – Melanie Coombs | Best Direction Warwick Thornton – Samson and Delilah Bruce Beresford – Mao's Last Dancer Robert Connolly – Balibo Rachel Ward – Beautiful Kate |
| Best Original Screenplay | Best Adapted Screenplay |
| Warwick Thornton – Samson and Delilah Sarah Watt – My Year Without Sex Serhat Caradee – Cedar Boys Adam Elliot – Mary and Max | Robert Connolly, David Williamson – Balibo, based on the killing of the Balibo Five Rachel Ward – Beautiful Kate, based on the novel Beautiful Kate by Newton Thornburg Andrew Bovell, Patricia Cornelius, Melissa Reeves, Christos Tsiolkas – Blessed, based on the play Who's Afraid of the Working Class? by Andrew Bovell Jan Sardi – Mao's Last Dancer, based on the autobiographical novel of the same name by Li Cunxin |
| Best Lead Actor | Best Lead Actress |
| Anthony LaPaglia as Roger East – Balibo Rowan McNamara as Samson – Samson and Delilah Ben Mendelsohn as Ned Kendall – Beautiful Kate Hugo Weaving as Thomas Kev – Last Ride | Frances O'Connor as Rhonda – Blessed Marissa Gibson as Delilah – Samson and Delilah Sacha Horler as Natalie – My Year Without Sex Sophie Lowe as Kate – Beautiful Kate |
| Best Supporting Actor | Best Supporting Actress |
| Oscar Isaac as José Ramos-Horta – Balibo Bryan Brown as Bruce Kendall – Beautiful Kate Damon Gameau as Greg Shackleton – Balibo Brandon Walters as Nullah – Australia | Rachel Griffiths as Sally Kendall – Beautiful Kate Maeve Dermody as Toni – Beautiful Kate Mitjili Napanangka Gibson as Nana – Samson and Delilah Bea Viegas as Juliana – Balibo |
| Best Cinematography | Best Editing |
| Warwick Thornton – Samson and Delilah Andrew Commis – Beautiful Kate Greig Fraser – Last Ride Tristan Milani – Balibo | Nick Meyers – Balibo Jill Bilcock – Blessed Mark Warner – Mao's Last Dancer Roland Gallois – Samson and Delilah |
| Best Original Music Score | Best Sound |
| Christopher Gordon – Mao's Last Dancer David Hirschfelder – Australia Lisa Gerrard – Balibo Warwick Thornton – Samson and Delilah | Liam Egan, Tony Murtagh, Robert Sullivan, Yulia Akerholt, Les Fiddess – Samson and Delilah Wayne Pashley, Guntis Sics – Australia Sam Petty, Emma Bortignon, Phil Heywood, Ann Aucote – Balibo David Lee, Andrew Neil, Yulia Akerholt, Mark Franken, Roger Savage – Mao's Last Dancer |
| Best Production Design | Best Costume Design |
| Catherine Martin, Ian Gracie, Karen Murphy, Beverley Dunn – Australia Robert Cousins – Balibo Herbert Pinter – Mao's Last Dancer Adam Elliot – Mary and Max | Catherine Martin, Eliza Godman – Australia Cappi Ireland – Balibo Mariot Kerr – Lucky Country Anna Borghesi – Mao's Last Dancer |

## AFI Television Awards
### AFI Award for Best Television Drama Series

| Winner | Recipient(s) | Network | Other nominees |
| East West 101 (Season 2) | Kristine Wyld Steve Knapman | SBS TV | Packed to the Rafters – Jo Porter (Seven Network) Satisfaction (Season 2) – Andrew Walker, Roger Simpson (Showcase) Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities – Greg Haddrick, Brenda Pam (Nine Network) |

### AFI Award for Best Telefeature, Mini-Series or Short-Run Series

| Winner | Recipient(s) | Network | Other nominees |
| False Witness | Greg Haddrick Peter Andrikidis | UKTV | 3 Acts of Murder – Sue Taylor (ABC1) The Last Confession of Alexander Pearce – Nial Fulton (ABC1) Saved – Michael McMahon, Tony Ayres (SBS TV) |

### AFI Award for Best Direction in Television

| Winner | Episode | Recipient(s) | Network | Other nominees |
| East West 101 | Season 2 Episode #13 "Atonement" | Peter Andrikidis | SBS TV | False Witness: Episode 1 – Peter Andrikidis (UKTV) Review with Myles Barlow: Episode 1 – Trent O'Donnell (ABC1) Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities: Episode 11, "The Brotherhood" – Grant Brown (Nine Network) |

### AFI Award for Best Screenplay in Television

| Winner | Episode | Recipient(s) | Network | Other nominees |
| Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities | Episode #11 "The Brotherhood" | Kris Mrksa | Nine Network | 30 Seconds: Episode 4, "Invisible Fault Lines" – Tim Bullock, Justin Drape, Scott Nowell (Foxtel) East West 101: Season 2, Episode #13, "Atonement" – Michael Miller, Kristen Dunphy (SBS TV) Review with Myles Barlow: Episode #1 – Trent O’Donnell, Phil Lloyd (ABC1) |

### AFI Award for Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama

| Winner | Production | Network | Other nominees |
| Roy Billing | Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities | Nine Network | Robert Menzies – 3 Acts of Murder (ABC1) Don Hany – East West 101: Season 2 (SBS) Dougray Scott – False Witness (UKTV) |

### AFI Award for Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama

| Winner | Production | Network | Other nominees |
| Susie Porter | East West 101 (Season 2) | SBS | Rachael Blake –False Witness (UKTV) Rebecca Gibney – Packed to the Rafters (Seven Network) Asher Keddie – Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities (Nine Network) |

### AFI Award for Best Guest or Supporting Actor in a Television Drama

| Winner | Production | Network | Other nominees |
| Damian De Montemas | Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities (Episode 11, "The Brotherhood") | Nine Network | Bille Brown – 3 Acts of Murder (ABC1) Jeremy Lindsay Taylor – False Witness: Episode 2 (UKTV) Richard Roxburgh – False Witness: Episode 2 (UKTV) |

### AFI Award for Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama

| Winner | Production | Network | Other nominees |
| Anni Finsterer | 3 Acts of Murder | ABC1 | Claire Forlani. False Witness – Episode 1 (UKTV) Kathryn Beck. Scorched (Nine Network) Kate Ritchie. Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities – Episode 4, "Business as Usual" (Nine Network) |

### AFI Award for Best Children's Television Drama

| Winner | Recipient(s) | Network | Other nominees |
| The Elephant Princess | Jonathan M. Shiff & Joanna Werner | Network Ten | Time Trackers – Sue Taylor, Donna Malane, Dave Gibson, Paula Boock (Seven Network) |

### AFI Award for Best Children's Television Animation

| Winner | Recipient(s) | Network | Other nominees |
| Figaro Pho | Luke Jurevicius | ABC1 | The Adventures of Charlotte and Henry – Paige Livingston (Seven Network) Classic Tales – Noel Price (ABC) Zeke's Pad – Avrill Stark, Delna Bhesania, Liz Scully, Leonard Terhoch (Seven Network) |

### AFI Award for Best Light Entertainment Television Series

| Winner | Recipient(s) | Network | Other nominees |
| Spicks and Specks | Anthony Watt | ABC | The Gruen Transfer (Series 2) – Andrew Denton, Anita Jacoby, Jon Casimir, Debbie Cuell (ABC) RocKwiz – Brian Nankervis, Ken Connor, Peter Bain-Hogg, Joe Connor (SBS) |

### AFI Award for Best Performance in a Television Comedy

| Winner | Production | Network | Other nominees |
| Phil Lloyd | Review with Myles Barlow | ABC | Robyn Butler – The Librarians: Series 2 (ABC) Kym Gyngell – Very Small Business (ABC1) Wayne Hope – Very Small Business (ABC1) |

### AFI Award for Best Television Comedy Series

| Winner | Recipient(s) | Network | Other nominees |
| Review with Myles Barlow | Dean Bates | ABC | Chandon Pictures – Rob Carlton (Movie Network) Lawrence Leung's Choose Your Own Adventure – Nathan Earl, Andy Nehl, Craig Melville (ABC1) Very Small Business – Wayne Hope, Robyn Butler (ABC1) |

### AFI Award for Outstanding Achievement in Television Screen Craft

* Luke Jurevicius. Figaro Pho. For "Creative Excellence"

## AFI Non-Feature Film Awards

| Best Feature Length Documentary | Best Documentary Under One Hour |
| Glass: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts – Scott Hicks, Susanne Preissler Bastardy – Philippa Campey, Amiel Courtin-Wilson, Lynn-Maree Milburn, Andrew de Groot The Choir – Chris Hilton, Michael Davie Lionel – Lizzette Atkins | Solo – Jennifer Peedom The Love Market – Shalom Almond Salt – Michael Angus Tackling Peace – Marc Radomsky |
| Best Documentary Series | Best Direction in a Documentary |
| First Australians – Darren Dale, Rachel Perkins, Helen Panckhurst Beyond Kokoda – Stig Schnell, Shaun Gibbons Once Bitten – Beth Frey, Janette Howe Voices from the Cape – David Selvarajah Vadiveloo, Anna Kaplan | The Choir – Michael Davie Bastardy – Amiel Courtin-Wilson First Australians (Episode 4: "There is No Other Law") – Rachel Perkins The Love Market – Shalom Almond |
| Best Cinematography in a Documentary | Best Editing in a Documentary |
| Cracking the Colour Code (Episode 2: "Making Colours") – Ian Batt, Vincent Fooy Beyond Kokoda ("Buying Time") – Stig Schnell, Shaun Gibbons, Brett Murphy, Ben Nunney My Asian Heart – David Bradbury Salt – Murray Fredericks | How Kevin Bacon Cured Cancer – Zen Rosenthal Bastardy – Bill Murphy, Jack Hutchings, Richard Lowenstein Cracking the Colour Code (Episode 2: "Making Colours") – Lawrie Silvestrin Yes Madam, Sir – Megan Doneman, Annie Collins |
| Best Sound in a Documentary | Best Short Fiction Film |
| Intangible Asset Number 82 – Matthew Ferris, Michael Gissing, Andrew McGrath The Choir – Sam Hayward, Phil Judd, Felicity Fox, Alli Heynes, Phil Vail, David White Glass: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts – Stephen R. Smith, Peter Smith, Tom Heuzenroeder, Adrian Medhurst Lionel – Nick Batterham, Keith Thomas, Cezary Skubiszewski | Miracle Fish – Drew Bailey, Luke Doolan Burn – Anna Kaplan, David Selvarajah Vadiveloo Liebermans in the Sky – Jessica Redenbach, Richard Vilensky Water – Sarah Shaw, Corrie Jones |
| Best Short Animation | Best Screenplay in a Short Film |
| The Cat Piano – Jessica Brentnall, Eddie White, Ari Gibson Chicken of God – Jodi Satya, Frank Woodley The Not-so-Great Eugene Green – Melanie Brunt, Michael Hill Reach – Luke Randall | Miracle Fish – Luke Doolan Boxer – Michael Latham Liebermans in the Sky – Richard Vilensky Water – Corrie Jones, Sarah Shaw, Ian Meadows |

### AFI Award for Outstanding Achievement in Short Film Screen Craft

* Andrew McLeod. Water. For "Cinematography"

## Additional awards

| AFI Members' Choice Award | News Limited Readers' Choice Award |
| Samson & Delilah – Kath Shelper Australia – Baz Luhrmann, G. Mac Brown, Catherine Knapman Balibo – John Maynard, Rebecca Williamson Beautiful Kate – Leah Churchill-Brown, Bryan Brown Mao's Last Dancer – Jane Scott Mary and Max – Melanie Coombs | Mao's Last Dancer – Jane Scott Australia – Baz Luhrmann, G. Mac Brown, Catherine Knapman Charlie & Boots – David Redman, Dean Murphy, Shana Levine Samson & Delilah – Kath Shelper |
| Best Young Actor | Best Visual Effects |
| Marissa Gibson & Rowan McNamara – Samson & Delilah Brandon Walters – Australia Sebastian Gregory – Beautiful Toby Wallace – Lucky Country | Australia – Chris Godfrey, James E. Price, Andy Brown, Rob Duncan Death of the Megabeasts – Matt Drummond, Mike Dunn Plastic – Sandy Widyanata, Eric So, Mathew Mackereth, Christopher Jackson Scorched – Bertrand Polivka, Soren Jensen |
| International Award for Best Actor | International Award for Best Actress |
| Russell Crowe – State of Play Martin Henderson – House Anthony LaPaglia – Without a Trace Guy Pearce – Bedtime Stories | Toni Collette – United States of Tara (Season 1) Rose Byrne – Damages Melissa George – In Treatment Mia Wasikowska – In Treatment |
| Highest Grossing Film Award | Best Screen Content Innovation |
| Australia – Marc Wooldridge, Baz Luhrmann, G. Mac Brown, Catherine Knapman, Paul Watters, Stuart Beattie, Ronald Harwood, Richard Flanagan Charlie & Boots – Andrew Mackie, Michael Selwyn, David Redman, Dean Murphy, Shana Levine, Stewart Faichney Mao's Last Dancer – Joel Pearlman, Troy Lum, Jane Scott, Bruce Beresford, Jan Sardi | Gallipoli: The First Day – Sam Doust, Meena Tharmarajah, Astrid Scott* Forlorn Gaze – Sarah-Jane Woulahan Scarygirl – Sophie Byrne, Nathan Jurevicius Scorched – Ellenor Cox, Marcus Gillezeau |

### AFI International Award for Excellence in Filmmaking

* Nathan McGuinness. Senior Visual Effects Supervisor
*presented at the AFI Outstanding Achievement Dinner in August.

## Individual awards
### AFI Raymond Longford Award*

* Geoffrey Rush

### Byron Kennedy Award

* Ray Brown
*presented at the AFI Outstanding Achievement Dinner in August.

## Multiple nominations

* Fourteen: Balibo
* Thirteen: Samson and Delilah
* Ten: Beautiful Kate
* Nine: Mao's Last Dancer
* Eight: Australia