# AACTA Award for Best Direction in Television

The Australian Film Institute Award for Best Direction in Television is awarded annually by the Australian Film Institute as part of the awards in television for excellence in direction. Prior to 1990, two awards existed and were called Best Direction in a Mini Series and Best Direction in a Telefeature. The awards were merged in 1990 and became Best Direction in a Telefeature or Mini Series which in 1991 was renamed Best Achievement in Direction in a Television Drama. In 2004, this award became Best Direction in Television.

## Best Direction in a Mini Series

| Year | Winner | Recipient(s) | Network |
| 1986 | The Dunera Boys | Ben Lewin | ABC TV |
| 1987 | The Great Bookie Robbery | Marcus Cole, Mark Joffe | |
| 1988 | The True Believers | Peter Fisk | |
| 1989 | Edens Lost | Neil Armfield | |

## Best Direction in a Telefeature

| Year | Winner | Recipient(s) |
| 1986 | Displaced Persons | Geoffrey Nottage |
| 1987 | Two Friends | Jane Campion |
| 1988 | A Matter of Convenience | Ben Lewin |
| 1989 | Rescue | Peter Fisk |

## Best Direction in a Telefeature or Mini Series

| Year | Winner | Recipient(s) | Network | Other nominees |
| 1990 | Come In Spinner | Robert Marchand | ABC TV | |

## Best Achievement in Direction in a Television Drama

| Year | Winner | Episode | Recipient(s) | Network |
| 1991 | Embassy | "A human dimension" | Mark Callan | ABC TV |
| 1992 | Brides of Christ | | Ken Cameron | ABC TV |
| 1993 | Police Rescue | "Whirlwind" | Michael Carson | ABC TV |
| 1994 | Heartland | Episode #7 | Julian Pringle | ABC TV |
| 1995 | Frontline | "The siege" | Rob Sitch, Santo Cilauro, Jane Kennedy, Tom Gleisner | ABC TV |
| 1996 | Blue Murder | | Michael Jenkins | ABC TV |
| 1997 | Good Guys Bad Guys | "1.8 million reasons to change your name (Part 2)" | Brendan Maher | Nine Network |
| 1998 | Wildside | Episode #17 | Peter Andrikidis | ABC TV |
| 1999 | The Day of the Roses | | Peter Fisk | |
| 2000 | Grass Roots | "The whole year" | Peter Andrikidis | ABC TV |
| 2001 | My Husband, My Killer | | Peter Andrikidis | |
| 2002 | The Road from Coorain | | Brendan Maher | |
| 2003 | After the Deluge | | Brendan Maher | |

## Best Direction in Television

| Year | Winner | Episode | Recipient(s) | Network | Other nominees |
| 2004 | Marking Time | | Cherie Nowlan | | |
| 2005 | Love My Way | | Jessica Hobbs | | |
| 2006 | Answered by Fire | | Jessica Hobbs | | |
| 2007 | The King | | Matthew Saville | | |
| 2008 | Underbelly | | Peter Andrikidis | Nine Network | Satisfaction: ?? - Daina Reid - (Showcase) |
| 2009 | East West 101 | "Atonement" | Peter Andrikidis | SBS TV | |
| 2010 | Hawke | | Emma Freeman | Network Ten | Dance Academy: "Week Zero" - Jeffrey Walker (ABCTV) Rush: "Train" - Grant Brown (Network Ten) Tangle: "Lost and Found" - Emma Freeman - (Showcase) |
| 2011 | The Slap | Episode 3: Harry | Matthew Saville | ABC1 | Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo: "Episode 1" - Daina Reid (ABC1) The Slap: "Episode 1" - Jessica Hobbs (ABC1) Small Time Gangster: "Jingle Bells" - Jeffrey Walker - Movie Extra |
| 2012 | Jack Irish: Bad Debts | | Jeffrey Walker | ABC1 | The Amazing Race Australia: "Episode 1" - Michael McKay (Seven Network) Beaconsfield - Glendyn Ivin (Nine Network) Howzat! Kerry Packer's War: "Part 1" - Daina Reid - Nine Network |