The Sydney Morning Herald: SAMSON & DELILAH triumphed at the Australian Film Industry Awards in Melbourne last night, winning best film, best direction and best original screenplay for writer-director Warwick Thornton. The $1.6 million film explores the problems facing remote Aboriginal communities. Its stars, Rowan McNamara and Marissa Gibson, both 14 at the time of filming, won the AFI young actor award.
Balibo took out best actor for Anthony LaPaglia, best supporting actor for Oscar Isaac and best adapted screenplay for David Williamson and Robert Connolly. Frances O’Connor won the best actress award for her role in Blessed while Rachel Griffiths was named best supporting actress for her performance in Beautiful Kate. Bruce Beresford’s $25 million adaptation of Li Cunxin’s memoir Mao’s Last Dancer took out best original music score.
Baz Luhrmann’s Australia won the inaugural award for the highest grossing film and awards for visual effects, production design and costume design.
The AFI international awards went to Russell Crowe for State of Play and Toni Collette for The United States of Tara. Crime dramas Underbelly and East West 101 dominated the TV categories. East West 101, on SBS, took out best television drama series, best direction in television and best lead actress in a television drama series for Susie Porter.
Underbelly won for best screenplay in television, best lead actor in a television drama for Roy Billing’s portrayal of Robert Trimbole and best supporting actor in a television drama for Damian de Montema as crooked lawyer Brian Alexander.