Following a big year for Australian cinema globally, it was no surprise that some home favorites were the big winners Friday at the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) International Awards held in Los Angeles.
Mad Max: Fury Road was named best film, while George Miller won best director. The win for the pic mirrored its top prize at the AACTA domestic awards in December and more recently at the London Critics Circle Film Awards. Miller’s dystopian road movie beat out The Big Short, Carol, The Revenant and Spotlight for the top prize. It is the first time an Australian film has doubled up with a win at the domestic awards in Sydney and then again at the international awards in L.A.
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Todd Haynes’ Carol was the other big winner, with Australia’s own Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara winning best actress and best supporting actress, respectively.
Leonardo DiCaprio continued his march toward possible Oscar glory, winning best actor honors, while the AACTA International award for best supporting actor went to Bridge of Spies’ Mark Rylance for his portrayal of Soviet spy Rudolf Abel.
Journalism drama Spotlight won in the best screenplay category against strong competition from Carol, Ex Machina, The Martian and Steve Jobs.
“The fifth year of the AACTA International Awards has again seen a dynamic mix of international and Australian achievement honored, celebrating some of the world’s biggest names in film, behind and in front of the camera,” said AACTA CEO Damian Trewhella. “Over the past five years, we’ve seen AACTA International Award winners go on to win 16 BAFTAs and 14 Oscars, and we look forward with great anticipation to seeing if this trend again continues this year. We congratulate all winners, and wish them every success as we head towards the pointy end of this competitive awards season.”
The AACTA International Awards are voted on by 150 Australians who are members of the organization’s international chapter, with many of them also members of AMPAS and BAFTA.
The full list of nominees follows, with the winners in bold:
AACTA International Award for Best Film
The Big Short
Carol
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Revenant
Spotlight
AACTA International Award for Best Direction
Adam McKay — The Big Short
Todd Haynes — Carol
George Miller — Mad Max: Fury Road
Ridley Scott — The Martian
Alejandro G. Inarritu — The Revenant
AACTA International Award for Best Screenplay
Phyllis Nagy — Carol
Alex Garland — Ex Machina
Drew Goddard — The Martian
Tom McCarthy & Josh Singer — Spotlight
Aaron Sorkin — Steve Jobs
AACTA International Award for Best Lead Actor
Steve Carell — The Big Short
Matt Damon — The Martian
Leonardo DiCaprio — The Revenant
Michael Fassbender — Steve Jobs
Eddie Redmayne — The Danish Girl
AACTA International Award for Best Lead Actress
Cate Blanchett — Carol
Emily Blunt — Sicario
Brie Larson — Room
Saoirse Ronan — Brooklyn
Charlize Theron — Mad Max: Fury Road
AACTA International Award for Best Supporting Actor
Christian Bale — The Big Short
Paul Dano — Love and Mercy
Benicio Del Toro — Sicario
Joel Edgerton — Black Mass
Mark Rylance — Bridge of Spies
AACTA International Award for Best Supporting Actress
Judy Davis — The Dressmaker
Jennifer Jason Leigh — The Hateful Eight
Rooney Mara — Carol
Alicia Vikander — The Danish Girl
Kate Winslet — Steve Jobs
