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2019 AACTA AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED IN SYDNEY
This week, an incredible line-up of Australian film and television talent gathered in Sydney to celebrate the nation’s top screen achievements at the 2019 AACTA Awards Ceremony presented by Foxtel, held at The Star Event Centre.
In another stellar year for the Australian screen industry, THE NIGHTINGALE, TOTAL CONTROL, LEGO® MASTERS AUSTRALIA, Jennifer Kent, Deborah Mailman, Damon Herriman and Rachel Griffiths were among the winners announced at the Ceremony.
Jennifer Kent made AFI AACTA history this evening following the three awards received for her outstanding film, THE NIGHTINGALE. Kent was awarded the AACTA Award for Best Direction, Best Screenplay and Best Film, of which she was a Producer making her the first woman to have received Awards across all three categories, for the same film, in a single year. Although she received the AACTA Awards for Best Direction and Best Screenplay in 2015 for her debut feature THE BABADOOK, this year she is recognised also for her work as a producer on her confronting feature. The film’s vengeful female lead, Aisling Franciosi, received the AACTA Award for Best Lead Actress marking her first AACTA Award nomination and win.
In television, LAMBS OF GOD led the 2019 AACTA Awards season, receiving their eighth Award at this evening’s Ceremony for Best Telefeature or Mini Series. TOTAL CONTROL received the AACTA Award for Best Drama Series and also saw multi AFI | AACTA Award winners’ Deborah Mailman and Rachel Griffiths take home Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama and Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama respectively.
The inaugural AACTA Award for Best Factual Entertainment went to Rose d’Or winning series YOU CAN’T ASK THAT with newcomer, LEGO® MASTERS AUSTRALIA taking home the AACTA Award for Best Entertainment
Program.
The AACTA Award for Best Comedy Program went to THE LETDOWN which also saw Alison Bell receive her first AACTA Award for Best Performance in a Television Comedy, having received nominations in the category three times previously. MR INBETWEEN’s Scott Ryan took home the AACTA Award For Best Lead Actor In A Television Drama, having won the AACTA Subscription Television Award for Best New Talent in 2018, and four time AFI AACTA Award winner and fourteen time nominee Richard Roxburgh won the AACTA Award for Best Guest or Supporting Actor in a Television Drama for his role in THE HUNTING.
Additional television awards went to LOVE IT OR LIST IT AUSTRALIA for Best Lifestyle Program, and AUSTRALIAN SURVIVOR: CHAMPIONS VS CONTENDERS, which won Best Reality Series for the second consecutive year and marked their third consecutive AACTA Award nomination in the category.
Damon Herriman received his first AACTA Award in a feature film category, winning Best Lead Actor for JUDY & PUNCH. The award marks Herriman’s second consecutive AACTA Award, having received Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama last year.
The AACTA Award for Best Documentary went to THE AUSTRALIAN DREAM for their unflinching portrayal of the remarkable story of AFL legend Adam Goodes, while the Award for Best Documentary or Factual Program went to OLD PEOPLE’S HOME FOR 4 YEAR OLDS. Broadening into the online space, the AACTA Award for Best Online Drama or Comedy went to Dylan River’s ROBBIE HOOD.
Sam Neill accepted the Longford Lyell Award, Australia’s highest screen accolade for his remarkable career that spans almost five decades with over 130 film and television performance credits to his name. The Award was presented to Neill by Dr. George Miller, with touching tributes from Meryl Streep, Taika Waititi and Jane Campion, among many others.
P.J. Voeten was announced as the recipient of the Byron Kennedy Award which celebrates outstanding creative enterprise within the screen industry, particularly for his work on MAD MAX: FURY ROAD, AQUAMAN and recent hit series LAMBS OF GOD.
“The AACTA Awards play a leading role in reinforcing NSW’s position as the creative industries capital of Australia and shine a global spotlight on our local screen industry,” said NSW Minister for Tourism Stuart Ayres.
“Through the ongoing support from the NSW Government, we’ve retained our crown as Australia’s premier state for film and television production. The Awards celebrate our very best home grown talent, both in front of and behind the camera and I congratulate all nominees and winners for their collective success.”
See here for the full wrap of recipients.
DENI UTE MUSTER TICKETS NOW ON SALE
Tickets are now on sale for the 2020 Deni Ute Muster, with a number of packages available and selling fast!
A country town in the late nineties was struggling with a crippling drought, and the main form of income for the town was drying up with it, so something had to be done.
In March 1999, a small group of community-minded people came together with the aim to start a rural themed festival to bring visitors to Deniliquin, a beautiful vibrant town on the edge of the outback.
With Deniliquin’s agricultural and farming roots and the magnificent Riverina plains nearby, the humble ute and the plains were chosen as themes for a festival for people of all ages.
The Deni Play on the Plains Festival was conceived in October 1999, a festival to be held on the flattest, natural, open plains on earth, with “Ute culture” being an intrinsic part of Deniliquin, it was unanimous that it would play a major part of the festival and hence the Deni Ute Muster burst into the national psyche.
Deniliquin lay claim to the title of Ute Capital of the World after that first event and erected a Ute on the Pole in celebration of the Festival’s success, the next year a fabulous vintage ute was stunningly mosaicked. Both of these attractions along with the famous Deni Ute Muster Entrance gates are a must for “selfie” loving tourists.
Today, the event annually attracts approx. 20,000 people of all ages to celebrate all things laconically Australian and the icon of the Ute.
To experience this iconic regional event, book your tickets here.
TRAVELLERS REMINDED TO CHECK CONDITIONS WHILE VISITING REGIONAL NSW
Bushfires continue to impact parts of New South Wales this week, however there are also many areas that remain unaffected.
Visitors to New South Wales are encouraged to maintain their travel plans and bookings over the Christmas and Summer period, but should be vigilant and seek the most up to date information prior to departure.
Please follow the online updates from the Rural Fire Service (rfs.nsw.gov.au), National Parks (nationalparks.nsw.gov.au), NSW Police (facebook.com/nswpoliceforce) and Transport Management Centre (livetraffic.com) for the latest news.
Travellers are also encouraged to speak with local tourism operators and the local Visitor Information Centre for advice about local conditions and how visitors can best enjoy their holiday and support local businesses.
FASHION WEEK DEBUTS NEW LOOK IN 2020
The public will be able to enjoy designer runway shows on the same night as media and industry at a new-look Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia in 2020.
The new format will unfold over five days from Monday 11 May 2020 to Friday 15 May and brings consumers and industry closer together than ever before.
MBFWA celebrates 25 years in 2020, and is supported by strategic sponsor Destination NSW, the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the new MBFWA schedule provided fashion lovers with an exclusive opportunity to enjoy the latest Resort styles.
“Sydney is undoubtedly the fashion capital of Australia, with strong track record in globally celebrated design and a $9.42 billion retail industry,” Minister Ayres said.
“Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia is an event the world’s fashion industry looks to as a leader - we have so many great Australian designers who either started or developed their careers through Fashion Week in Sydney. This new direction is exciting because consumers will be an even bigger part of the event and industry picture.”
The move follows a similar model set by London Fashion Week in 2019 where the public could purchase tickets to key designer runway shows at the September event.
For MBFWA 2020 the public may purchase tickets to select designer shows on the official 5-day schedule, attend seminars and special events, and access VIP packages via MBFWA: The Experience.
“The opportunity for Sydney is to host visitors, be they industry or consumers, for a weekend of style and hospitality in the Harbour City before or after their MBFWA shows,” Minister Ayres said.
The 2020 schedule will include runway shows, presentations, trade showrooms, seminars, industry events and more.
For more information go to: mbfashionweek.com
NSW PRO SURF SERIES ANNOUNCED
Three World Surf League Qualifying Series events will be held across NSW beaches in early 2020 for the Vissla NSW Pro Surf Series.
Avoca, Maroubra Beach and Boomerang Beach will each host an event next year for surfers who are looking to qualify for the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour – the sport’s highest level of competition.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the NSW Pro Surf Series was popular among the surfing community and provided a boost for NSW’s coastal towns.
“NSW has been the proud home of the Pro Surf Series since 2016, and the program continues to showcase our state’s spectacular beaches from the North Coast to Sydney,” Minister Ayres said.
“These events are expected to generate almost $3 million in visitor spend for NSW across the 2019-2021 events, which is a welcome injection to the State’s economy.
“The NSW Government is proud to partner with Surfing NSW to deliver these WSL qualifying series events that attract domestic and international surfers to our beloved coast to demonstrate their athletic ability and determination to rise through the WSL ranks.”
The Vissla NSW Pro Surf Series kicks off on January 29 to February 1 with the Carve Pro in Maroubra, followed by Mothernest Great Lakes Pro at Boomerang Beach from February 19 to 23, finishing with the Vissla Central Coast Pro at Avoca from February 25 to March 1.
Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch said the NSW Pro Surf Series was an important event for the Central Coast.
“This will be the fifth consecutive year our region has played host to the NSW Pro Surf Series, and over this time the event has advanced from strength to strength,” Mr Crouch said.
“Major events have an enormous role to play in boosting local tourism through the accommodation, retail and hospitality sectors.”
THE CATCH OPENS IN THE ROCKS
Campbell’s Stores prepares to add the next player in a line-up of exciting restaurant openings with the announcement of a premium, sustainably focused seafood restaurant, The Catch.
Launching early December, The Catch joins the premium steakhouse 6Head, continuing to underpin the high level of dining at the heritage seaside dining precinct.
Leading this new addition is Michelin star chef Damien Brassel, bringing with him a 20-year track record of international cooking to The Catch. Chef Brassel lists The Fat Duck, The Marco Pierre White Restaurant and Michelin-starred mentors such as Gordon Ramsay and Marc Veyrat on his international resume and brings this high level of execution and expertise to this new menu.
Inspired by simplicity and great Australian seafood, Brassel aims to source all produce locally and encourage the most sustainable fishing practices as a guiding principle of the vision.
The Catch is slated to open early December 2019.
PAY A VISIT TO THE BLUE MOUNTAINS GLOW WORMS
These holidays, join a small, personal tour group and embark on a nocturnal adventure into a fascinating world of bio-luminescent discovery and wonder.
The Blue Mountains Glow Worm Tours will explore all the interesting facts and stories about glow worms, including how and why they glow, their life-cycle, predators and recounts of the first sightings of glow worms by Europeans in the Blue Mountains.
Positioned underneath a densely populated glow worm overhang, their custom-built viewing platform allows you and your friends to climb up for a very personal experience with the glow worm colony!
As close as it gets, leaning in only inches away, you'll be given the opportunity to watch the intricate and sticky glow worm webs dangling down from the rocks.
If you're lucky you might see a glow worm wriggling back and forth in its web!
To book in your tour, see here.
SMALL BUSINESS AND TOURISM IMPACT SURVEY
The NSW Small Business Commission on behalf of the NSW Government’s Bushfire Recovery Business and Tourism Sub Committees is seeking feedback from NSW small business and tourism operators on the impacts of NSW bushfires.
The survey will inform business and tourism recovery plans. All NSW small business and tourism operators who have been impacted by the NSW bushfires are encouraged to partake. Take a moment to fill in the survey here.
APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN FOR DNSW UNITED KINGDOM & EUROPE ROADSHOW 2020
Destination NSW is pleased to offer NSW tourism suppliers and destinations the opportunity to attend the Destination NSW United Kingdom & Europe Roadshow from Sunday 22 March to Wednesday 1 April 2020 with applications now open.
The United Kingdom, Germany and France are key markets for NSW, with the latest result from the International Visitor Survey for the year ending June 2019 showing that NSW welcomed 358,200 visitors from the United Kingdom, 127,000 visitors from Germany and 86,900 from France. For more information and to register, click here.
START PLANNING YOUR NEW YEAR'S EVE
Sydney is ready for the best New Year’s Eve celebrations in the world. Make your night even better with some planning for the big event!
It’s recommended that you travel to your vantage point with public transport, with thousands of extra services on the day.
With a number of major road closures will be in place from the early afternoon, be sure to plan ahead for another memorable Sydney New Year celebration - visit the official website for everything you need to know.
