# 7th AACTA Awards

The 7th Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards (generally known as the AACTA Awards) took place on 6 December 2017. Presented by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA), the awards celebrated the best in Australian feature film, television, documentary and short film productions of 2017. A record number of thirty five feature films were submitted for competition. The main ceremony was televised in Australia by the Seven Network.

## Recipients and nominations
### Feature film

| Best Film Lion – Emile Sherman, Iain Canning, Angie Fielder Ali's Wedding – Sheila Jayadev, Helen Panckhurst Berlin Syndrome – Polly Staniford Hounds of Love – Melissa Kelly Jasper Jones – Vincent Sheehan, David Jowsey | Best Direction Garth Davis – Lion Jeffrey Walker – Ali's Wedding Cate Shortland – Berlin Syndrome Ben Young – Hounds of Love |
| Best Original Screenplay Andrew Knight, Osamah Sami – Ali's Wedding Priscilla Cameron – The Butterfly Tree Cris Jones – The Death and Life of Otto Bloom Ben Young – Hounds of Love | Best Adapted Screenplay Luke Davies – Lion, based on the book A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley and Larry Buttrose Shaun Grant – Berlin Syndrome, based on the book Berlin Syndrome by Melanie Joosten James Greville, Ursula Cleary, Anne Brooksbank – Don't Tell Shaun Grant, Craig Silvey – Jasper Jones, based on the book Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey |
| Best Lead Actor Sunny Pawar as Young Saroo Brierley – Lion Stephen Curry as John White – Hounds of Love Ewen Leslie as Al – The Butterfly Tree Osamah Sami as Ali Albasri – Ali's Wedding | Best Lead Actress Emma Booth as Evelyn White – Hounds of Love Teresa Palmer as Clare Havel – Berlin Syndrome Helana Sawires as Dianne Mohsen – Ali's Wedding Sara West as Lyndal – Don't Tell |
| Best Supporting Actor Dev Patel as Saroo Brierley– Lion Don Hany as Sheik Mahdi – Ali's Wedding Jack Thompson as Bob Myers – Don't Tell Hugo Weaving as Mad Jack Lionel – Jasper Jones | Best Supporting Actress Nicole Kidman as Sue Brierley – Lion Frances Duca as Zahra – Ali's Wedding Jacqueline McKenzie as Jean Dalton – Don't Tell Susie Porter as Maggie Maloney – Hounds of Love |
| Best Cinematography Greig Fraser – Lion Michael McDermott – Hounds of Love Stefan Duscio – Jungle Geoffrey Hall – Red Dog: True Blue | Best Editing Alexandre de Franceschi – Lion Nick Meyers – Australia Day Jack Hutchings – Berlin Syndrome Merlin Eden – Hounds of Love |
| Best Original Music Score Volker Bertelmann, Dustin O'Halloran – Lion Nigel Westlake – Ali's Wedding Bryony Marks – Berlin Syndrome Caitlin Yeo – The Butterfly Tree | Best Sound Robert Mackenzie, Glenn Newnham, Nakul Kamte, Andrew Ramage, James Ashton, Mario Vaccaro – Lion Liam Egan, Trevor Hope, Robert Sullivan, Yulia Akerholt, James Andrews, Les Fiddess – Jasper Jones Serge Lacroix, Cate Cahill, Francis Byrne – Killing Ground Wayne Pashley, Rick Lisle, Fabian Sanjurgo, Michael Semanick, Gregg Landaker – The LEGO Batman Movie |
| Best Production Design Chris Kennedy – Lion Melinda Doring – Berlin Syndrome Ben Morieson – The Death and Life of Otto Bloom Herbert Pinter – Jasper Jones | Best Costume Design Cappi Ireland – Lion Maria Pattison – Berlin Syndrome Tess Schofield – Dance Academy: The Movie Margot Wilson – Jasper Jones |

### Television

| Best Drama Series Top of the Lake: China Girl (Foxtel/BBC First) – Emile Sherman, Iain Canning, Jane Campion, Philippa Campbell, Libby Sharpe Cleverman (ABC) – Rosemary Blight, Sharon Lark, Ryan Griffen, Jane Allen Glitch (ABC) – Louise Fox, Tony Ayres, Julie Eckersley, Chris Oliver-Taylor Janet King – Playing Advantage (ABC) – Lisa Scott, Karl Zwicky, Greg Haddrick Wentworth (Foxtel/Showcase) – Jo Porter, Pino Amenta | Best Telefeature or Mini Series Sunshine (SBS) – Ian Collie, Anna McLeish, Sarah Shaw Blue Murder: Killer Cop (Seven Network) – Carol Hughes, Michael Jenkins Seven Types of Ambiguity (ABC) – Amanda Higgs, Tony Ayres, Jacquelin Perske Wake in Fright (Network Ten) – Helen Bowden, Kristian Moliere |
| Best Comedy Series Utopia (ABC) – Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner, Rob Sitch, Michael Hirsh No Activity (Stan) – Chloe Rickard Rosehaven (ABC) – Andrew Walker, Kevin Whyte, Celia Pacquola, Luke McGregor True Story with Hamish & Andy (Nine Network) – Tim Bartley, Andy Lee, Ryan Shelton, Andrew Walker | Best Children's Series Little Lunch – The Specials (ABC) – Robyn Butler, Wayne Hope Mustangs FC (ABC Me) – Amanda Higgs, Rachel Davis Nowhere Boys – Two Moons Rising (ABC Me) – Beth Frey, Tony Ayres, Michael McMahon The Wild Adventures of Blinky Bill (7Two) – Barbara Stephen, Alexia Gates-Foale, Tracy Lenon |
| Best Light Entertainment Series Australian Ninja Warrior (Nine Network) – Julie Ward, Mark Barlin, Sophia Mogford Gruen (ABC) – Wil Anderson, Nick Murray, Richard Huddleston, Polly Connolly Hard Quiz (ABC) – Chris Walker, Kevin Whyte, Charlie Pickering, Tom Gleeson Julia Zemiro's Home Delivery (ABC) – Damian Davis, Nick Murray, Polly Connolly, Nick Price | Best Reality Series MasterChef Australia (Network Ten) – Marty Benson, Adam Fergusson, Tim Toni Australian Survivor (Network Ten) – Peter Newman, Amelia Fisk, Tim Toni, Mark Barlin Little Big Shots (Seven Network) – Shaun Murphy, Sophia Mogford, Nick Davies My Kitchen Rules (Seven Network) – Joe Herdman, Matt Apps |
| Best Direction in a Drama or Comedy Glendyn Ivin – Seven Types of Ambiguity (ABC) for Episode 2: "Alex" Jane Campion – Top of the Lake: China Girl (Foxtel/BBC First) for Episode 5: "Who's Your Daddy?" Leah Purcell – Cleverman (ABC) for Episode 4: "Muya" Matthew Saville – Please Like Me (ABC) for Episode 4: "Degustation" | Best Direction in a Light Entertainment, Lifestyle or Reality Series Richard Franc – Australian Survivor (Network Ten) for "Episode 1" Gary Deans – Australian Ninja Warrior (Nine Network) for "Episode 1" Damian Davis – Julia Zemiro's Home Delivery (ABC) for Episode 1: "Sam Neill" Richard Franc – MasterChef Australia (Network Ten) for "Episode 1" |
| Best Lead Actor – Drama Hugo Weaving – Seven Types of Ambiguity (ABC) David Dencik – Top of the Lake: China Girl (Foxtel/BBC First) Sean Keenan – Wake in Fright (Network Ten) Richard Roxburgh – Blue Murder: Killer Cop (Seven Network) | Best Lead Actress – Drama Elisabeth Moss – Top of the Lake: China Girl (Foxtel/BBC First) Toni Collette – Blue Murder: Killer Cop (Seven Network) Marta Dusseldorp – Janet King – Playing Advantage (ABC) Pamela Rabe – Wentworth (Foxtel/Showcase) |
| Best Guest or Supporting Actor – Drama Ewen Leslie – Top of the Lake: China Girl (Foxtel/BBC First) Anthony LaPaglia – Sunshine (SBS) Matt Nable – Blue Murder: Killer Cop (Seven Network) David Wenham – Wake in Fright (Network Ten) | Best Guest or Supporting Actress – Drama Nicole Kidman – Top of the Lake: China Girl (Foxtel/BBC First) Emma Booth – Blue Murder: Killer Cop (Seven Network) Tina Bursill – Doctor Doctor (Nine Network) Andrea Demetriades – Seven Types of Ambiguity (ABC) |
| Best Comedy Performance Celia Pacquola – Rosehaven (ABC) Darren Gilshenan – No Activity (Stan) Debra Lawrance – Please Like Me (ABC) Rob Sitch – Utopia (ABC) | Best Screenplay in Television Jacquelin Perske – Seven Types of Ambiguity (ABC) for Episode 2: "Alex" Trent O'Donnell – No Activity (Stan) for Episode 3: "Silent Night" Celia Pacquola and Luke McGregor – Rosehaven (ABC) for "Episode 4" Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner and Rob Sitch – Utopia (ABC) for Episode 5: "Start Up" |
| Best Cinematography in Television Bonnie Elliott – Seven Types of Ambiguity (ABC) for Episode 2: "Joe" Bruce Young – Blue Murder: Killer Cop (Seven Network) for Episode 1: "Part One" Germain McMicking – Top of the Lake: China Girl (Foxtel/BBC First) for Episode 5: "Who's Your Daddy?" Geoffrey Hall – Wake In Fright (Network Ten) for Episode 1: "Part 1" | Best Editing in Television Rodrigo Balart – Seven Types of Ambiguity (ABC) for Episode 1: "Joe" Bill Russo – Blue Murder: Killer Cop (Seven Network) for Episode 1: "Part One" Toby Trappel and Karen Crespo – MasterChef Australia (Network Ten) for "Episode 1" Phil Simon and Santo Cilauro – Utopia (ABC) for Episode 5: "Start Up" |
| Best Sound in Television Stephen Smith, Liam Price, Paul Brincat, Shanti Burn and Tony Murtagh – Wake in Fright (Network Ten) for Episode 1: "Part 1" Tim Chaproniere, Emile De La Ray, Matt Stutter, Paul Brincat, Nigel Scott and Chris Sinclair – Cleverman (ABC) for Episode 3: "Dark Clouds" Luke Mynott, David Lee and Tony Vaccher – Top of the Lake: China Girl (Foxtel/BBC First) for Episode 4: "Birthday" Stephen Witherow, Justin Lloyd, Ian MacWilliams, Dan Young, Nigel Croyden and Stefan Kluka – Seven Types of Ambiguity (ABC) for Episode 1: "Joe" | Best Original Music Score in Television Antony Partos and Matteo Zingales – Wake in Fright (Network Ten) for Episode 1: "Part 1" Mark Bradshaw – Top of the Lake: China Girl (Foxtel/BBC First) for Episode 4: "Birthday" John Gray – Blue Murder: Killer Cop (Seven Network) for Episode 1: "Part One" Samuel Scott, Conrad Wedde, Lukasz Buda and Daniel Rankine – Cleverman (ABC) for Episode 3: "Dark Clouds" |
| Best Production Design in Television Fiona Donovan – A Place To Call Home (Foxtel/Showcase) for Episode 2: "Fallout" Annie Beauchamp – Top of the Lake: China Girl (Foxtel/BBC First) for Episode 4: "Birthday" Jo Ford – Seven Types of Ambiguity (ABC) for Episode 1: "Joe" Murray Picknett – Blue Murder: Killer Cop (Seven Network) for Episode 1: "Part One" | Best Costume Design in Television Damir Peranovic – Blue Murder: Killer Cop (Seven Network) for Episode 1: "Part One" Lisa Meagher – A Place To Call Home (Foxtel/Showcase) for Episode 2: "Own Worst Enemy" Emily Seresin – Top of the Lake: China Girl (Foxtel/BBC First) for Episode 4: "Birthday" Mariot Kerr – Wake in Fright (Network Ten) for Episode 1: "Part 1" |

### Subscription television

| Subscription Television Award for Best Female Presenter Margaret Pomeranz – Stage & Screen (Foxtel Arts) Shaynna Blaze – Selling Houses Australia (Foxtel/Lifestyle) Yvonne Sampson – Fox Sports (Foxtel/Fox Sports) Jess Yates – Fox Sports (Foxtel/Fox Sports) | Subscription Television Award for Best Male Presenter David Speers – PM Agenda and Speers Tonight (Foxtel/Sky News) Paul Murray – Paul Murray Live (Foxtel/Sky News) Neil Oliver – Coast Australia (Foxtel/History) Andrew Winter – Selling Houses Australia (Foxtel/Lifestyle) |
| Subscription Television Award for Best Live Event Production Manny Pacquiao vs. Jeff Horn (Foxtel/Fox Sports) – Steve Crawley, Matt Weiss and Joe Bromham The 7th Annual CMC Music Awards (Foxtel/CMC) – Duane Hatherly AFLW (Foxtel/Fox Sports) – Michael Neill and Leigh Carlson Paul Murray Live On The Road (Foxtel/Sky News) – Paul Murray | Subscription Television Award for Best New Talent Zahra Newman – Wentworth (Foxtel/Showcase) Madeleine Clunies-Ross – A Place to Call Home (Foxtel/Showcase) Matt Okine – The Other Guy (Stan) George Pullar – A Place to Call Home (Foxtel/Showcase) Susie Youssef – No Activity (Stan) |

### Documentary and short film

| Best Feature Length Documentary Casting JonBenet – Kitty Green, Scott Macaulay, James Schamus David Stratton: A Cinematic Life – Jo-anne McGowan Deep Water: The Real Story – Darren Dale Whiteley – Sue Clothier, James Bogle, Peta Ayers Zach's Ceremony – Sarah Linton, Alec Doomadgee | Best Documentary Television Program War on Waste (ABC) – Jodi Boylan In My Own Words (NITV) – Darren Dale Man Up (ABC) – Jennifer Cummins, Danielle Brigham, and Jackie Turnure Servant Or Slave (NITV) – Mitchell Stanley, Michaela Perske, and Hetti Perkins |
| Best Short Fiction Film The Eleven O'Clock – Derin Seale, Josh Lawson, Karen Bryson Miro – Victoria Wharfe McIntyre, Fran Dobbie, Amadeo Marquez-Perez Mrs McCutcheon – John Sheedy, Andre Lima, Jenny Vila Slapper – Luci Schroder, Jason Byrne, Michael Latham, Stephanie Westwood | Best Short Animation Lost Property Office – Daniel Agdag, Liz Kearney After All – Michael Cusack, Richard Chataway Barbara – Larissa Behrendt, Marieka Walsh, Kiki Dillon, Michaela Perske The Wall – Nick Baker, Tristan Klein |
| Best Direction in a Documentary James Bogle – Whiteley Bentley Dean, Martin Butler and Liz Jackson – A Sense of Self (ABC) Kitty Green – Casting JonBenet Amanda Blue – Deep Water: The Real Story | Best Cinematography in a Documentary Jody Muston and Jon Shaw – Blue Simon Morris – Deep Water: The Real Story Simon Chapman – Servant or Slave (NITV) Abraham Joffe – Tales by Light (Foxtel/National Geographic) for Episode 3: "Life and Death" |
| Best Editing in a Documentary Lawrie Silvestrin – Whiteley Vanessa Milton – Blue Terry Carlyon – Conviction (ABC) Orly Danon – The Surgery Ship (Foxtel/Nat Geo People) for Episode 1: "The Power of Yes & No" | Best Sound in a Documentary Ric Curtin, John Simpson and Lawrie Silvestrin – Whitely David White, Cate Cahill, Dan Miau and Sarah Henty – Blue Ben Banks and Keith Thomas – Conviction (ABC) Keith Thomas, Livia Ruzic and Mark Tarpey – The Family |
| Best Original Music Score in a Documentary Ash Gibson Greig – Whiteley Ash Gibson Greig – Blue Amanda Brown – The Family George Papanicolaou – Servant or Slave (NITV) ||

### Additional awards

| Best Asian Film Dangal (India) – Aamir Khan, Kiran Rao and Siddharth Roy Kapur Birdshot (Philippines) – Pamela L. Reyes I Am Not Madame Bovary (China) – Wang Zhonglei, Zhou Maofei and Hu Xiaofeng Kaasav: Turtle (India) – Mohan Agashe, Sunil Sukthankar and Sumitra Bhave Our Time Will Come (China) – Roger Lee, Stephen Lam and Ann Hui Pink (India) – Shoojit Sircar, Rashmi Sharma, Ronnie Lahiri and Sheel Kumar Train to Busan (South Korea) – Lee Dong-ha Wolf Warrior II (China) – Zhang Miao and Guang Hailong Your Name (Japan) – Genki Kawamura, Katsuhiro Takei, Kouichurou Itou and Yoshihiro Furusawa | Best Online Video or Series RackaRacka – Danny Philippou, Michael Philippou, Judd Wild and Timani Seve Doodles – Charlie Aspinwall, Daley Pearson, Meg O'Connell and Benjamin Zaugg High Life – Luke Eve and Adam Dolman Superwog – Paul Walton, Theodore Saidden and Nathan Saidden The Katering Show Tamasin Simpkin, Kate McCartney, Kate McLennan and Kevin Whyte |
| Best Visual Effects or Animation Joe Bauer, Steve Kullback, Glenn Melenhorst, Ineke Majoor, Josh Simmonds – Game of Thrones (Season 7), episode 4: "The Spoils of War" (Showcase) Jason Billington, James Whitlam, Linda Luong – Deepwater Horizon Brendan Seals, Steven Swanson, Raphael A. Pimentel, Andrew Zink – Doctor Strange Rob Coleman, Amber Naismith, Miles Green, Damien Gray, Craig Welsh – The Lego Batman Movie | Best Hair and Makeup Katherine Brown, Troy Follington, Simon Joseph – Cleverman (ABC) Nikki Gooley, Sheldon Wade – Blue Murder: Killer Cop (Seven Network) Hayley Atherton, Kate Anderson – Hounds of Love Jen Lamphee, Anna Gray, Melissa Chew – Science Fiction Volume One: The Osiris Child |

### Special awards

* Longford Lyell Award – Phillip Noyce (director)
* Trailblazer Award – Simon Baker (actor)
* Byron Kennedy Award – Martin Butler and Bentley Dean (filmmakers)