L'Oréal Paris 2006 AFI Awards Revealed!
07 December 2006 | 9:20 am, EST (US)
08 December 2006 | 12:20 am, Melbourne, AU
Source: Australian Film Institute



The L’Oréal Paris 2006 AFI Awards were announced over two gala nights at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre on Wednesday 6th December and Thursday 7th December.

The International Award for Best Actor went to Heath Ledger for his portrayal of a gay cowboy in the film Brokeback Mountain, whilst the International Award for Best Actress went to Rachel Griffiths for her role in the long running series Six Feet Under. Dion Beebe received the International Award for Excellence in Filmmaking for his work on Memoirs of a Geisha.

In television, RAN was the recipient of three AFI’s, Best Telefeature or Mini Series, Penny Chapman, Best Lead Actress in Television Drama, Susie Porter, and Best Screenplay in Television, Sue Smith. Best Lead Actor went to David Wenham for his role in Answered by Fire, which also won Jessica Hobbs the Best Direction in Television Award. Best Supporting Actor and Actress Award’s went to Marcus Graham and Saskia Burmeister, respectively, for their roles in Blue Heelers.

The Chaser’s War on Everything picked up Best Television Comedy Series with Mark Fitzgerald, Julian Morrow and Andy Nehl, and Andrew Hansen receiving the award for Best Performance in Television Comedy. Best Light Entertainment Television Series went to Enough Rope with Andrew Denton and Mortified won Best Children’s Television Drama. Love My Way won Best Television Drama for the second year in a row.

Joseph H. Pickering received the award for Outstanding Achievement in Television Screen Craft for his work on The Forest.

Hunt Angels received three AFI awards, Best Documentary, Sue Maslin, Best Cinematography in a Documentary, Jackie Farkas and the Visual Effects Award, Rose Draper and Mike Seymour. Raul the Terrible was awarded Best Direction in a Documentary, David Bradbury and Best Editing in a Documentary, Stewart Young.

Stranded was the stand-out winner in the short film category, receiving Best Short Fiction Film, Stuart McDonald, Best Screenplay in a Short Film, Kathleen O’Brien and Outstanding Achievement in Short Film Screen Craft, Emma Lung. Michael Cusack won Best Short Animation for his film Gargoyle, and Livia Ruzic, Mark Tarpey, Keith Thomas and John Willsteed were the winners of Best Sound in a Documentary for their work on Vietnam Nurses.

In feature films there was one clear winner on the night, the indigenous language film Ten Canoes. The film received six awards, L'Oréal Paris AFI Award for Best Film, Julie Ryan and Rolf de Heer, Best Direction, Rolf de Heer and Peter Djigirr, Best Original Screenplay, Rolf de Heer, Best Cinematography, Ian Jones, Best Editing, Tania Nehme and Best Sound, James Currie, Tom Heuzenroeder, Michael Bakaloff and Rory McGregor. In addition Rolf de Heer was the recipient of the Byron Kennedy Award, an award that is given in respect of a filmmaker’s relentless pursuit of excellence in filmmaking and Ian Jones was honoured with the Longford Life Time Achievement Award, the highest accolade the AFI bestows on a filmmaker in recognition of their enduring contribution to Australian screen culture.

Luke Davies and Neil Armfield won Best Adapted Screenplay for Candy, whilst Best Production Design went to David McKay for Macbeth which also won the award for Best Costume Design, Jane Johnston.

The Suburban Mayhem cast were the recipient of two AFI Awards, Best Lead Actress Emily Barclay and Best Supporting Actor Anthony Hayes, and Mick Harvey made it three with his win for Best Original Music Score.

Susie Porter won Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film The Caterpillar Wish, and Best Lead Actor went to Shane Jacobson for the comedy Kenny.

The inaugural L’Oréal Paris AFI Young Actor Award went to Marny Kennedy for her role in Mortified.

The News Limited Readers’ Choice Award went to Heath Ledger.

AFI CEO, James Hewison, was delighted with the success of both nights and said, “This year’s awards are testament not only to the depth of talent and imagination, but indeed the dynamism and optimism of TV & film in Australia. Cheers to the winners & nominees - bring on 2007!”


Source: afi.org.au