2006 Australian Film Institute Awards

Ten Canoes, the most critically acclaimed Australian film of the year, swept the Australian Film Institute awards last week. The film depicts the cautionary tale of lust and loyalty that an Aboriginal tribe recounts to a young member. Incredibly it is first feature from Australia made in a language indigenous.

The film, directed by the experienced Rolf de Heer and newcomer Peter Djigirr, has been generating award buzz since it was selected, and won a Special Jury Prize, at Cannes earlier this year. On Thursday the film won, Best Direction, the much deserved Best Cinematography for Ian Jones, Best Editing, Best Sound and Best Original Screenplay.

Unsurprisingly Ten Canoes also managed to secure the L’Oreal Paris AFI Award for Best Film. De Heer was further honoured with the Brian Kennedy Award, an award that is given in respect of a filmmaker’s relentless pursuit of excellence in filmmaking.

In the biggest surprise of the evening, Shane Jacobson beat out Heath Ledger and Gabriel Byrne to win Best Lead Actor for his performance as a porta-loo plumber in the hit mockumentary Kenny. Emily Barclay won Best Lead Actress for Suburban Mayhem while her co-star Anthony Hayes won for Best Supporting Actor. Susie Porter won Best Supporting Actress for The Caterpillar Wish.

The remaining awards were split between two equally mediocre films. Neil Armfield’s tale of love and heroin that is Candy won Best Adapted Screenplay. The Melbourne-underworld set adaptation of Macbeth won Best Production Design and Best Costume Design.

Here is the total resume of the L’Oréal Paris 2006 AFI Awards Winners:

FEATURE FILM

L’Oréal Paris AFI Award for Best Film
• Ten Canoes – Julie Ryan & Rolf de Heer

AFI Award for Best Direction

• Ten Canoes – Rolf de Heer & Peter Djigirr

AFI Award for Best Original Screenplay

• Ten Canoes – Rolf de Heer

AFI Award for Best Adapted Screenplay

• Candy – Luke Davies & Neil Armfield

AFI Award for Best Cinematography

• Ten Canoes – Ian Jones ACS

AFI Award for Best Editing

• Ten Canoes – Tania Nehme

AFI Award for Best Sound

• Ten Canoes – James Currie, Tom Heuzenroeder, Michael Bakaloff & Rory McGregor

AFI Award for Best Original Music Score

• Suburban Mayhem – Mick Harvey

AFI Award for Best Production Design

• Macbeth – David McKay

AFI Award for Best Costume Design

• Macbeth – Jane Johnston

AFI Award for Best Lead Actor

• Shane Jacobson – Kenny

AFI Award for Best Lead Actress

• Emily Barclay – Suburban Mayhem

AFI Award for Best Supporting Actor

• Anthony Hayes – Suburban Mayhem

AFI Award for Best Supporting Actress

• Susie Porter – The Caterpillar Wish

NON-FEATURE

AFI Award for Best Documentary
• Hunt Angels – Sue Maslin

AFI Award for Best Direction in a Documentary

• Raul the Terrible – David Bradbury

AFI Award for Best Cinematography in a Documentary

• Hunt Angels – Jackie Farkas

AFI Award for Best Editing in a Documentary

• Raul the Terrible – Stewart Young ASE

AFI Award for Best Sound in a Documentary

• Vietnam Nurses – Livia Ruzic, Mark Tarpey, Keith Thomas & John Willsteed

AFI Award for Best Short Animation

• Gargoyle – Michael Cusack

AFI Award for Best Short Fiction Film

• Stranded – Stuart McDonald

AFI Award for Best Screenplay in a Short Film