Mad Max, Kate Winslet and Cate Blanchett Win Big at the Australian Academy
Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at 10:30AM 
Glenn here. As expected, it was a big night for Oscar hopeful Mad Max: Fury Road at the AACTA Awards last night, while Cate Blanchett gave yet another wonderful speech upon winning the Longford Lyell Award for outstanding achievement to Australian screen. Split over two ceremonies in Sydney, this year’s “Australian Oscars” were honouring the most successful year for Australian film on record – yes, that means of all time (inflation not included) – as well as television. Miller’s film picked up eight trophies all up, bringing the total number of AFI/AACTA Awards won by the franchise to 16, while Miller has now amassed 8 career statues. Yes, eight!!
Jocelyn Moorhouse’s homegrown phenomenon The Dressmaker was also a hit winning five including for actors Kate Winslet, Judy Davis, and Hugo Weaving as well as the audience choice award, which goes to show just how popular that period western has been here and how much it's captured the public's attention (it has come within mere millions of Mad Max’s box office). The most sentimental win of the night was for lead actor Michael Caton, the industry legend whose first win finally came at age 72 in Last Cab to Darwin about a dying man driving cross-country. AIDS-era gay romance Holding the Man sadly went home empty-handed despite being one of the finest dramas this country has ever produced.
Best Film: Mad Max: Fury Road
People's Choice Award: The Dressmaker
Best Direction: George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road
Best Lead Actor: Michael Caton, Last Cab to Darwin
Best Lead Actress: Kate Winslet, The Dressmaker
Best Supporting Actor: Hugo Weaving, The Dressmaker
Best Supporting Actress: Judy Davis, The Dressmaker
Best Original Screenplay: Robert Connolly and Steve Worland, Paper Planes
Best Adapted Screenplay: Reg Cribb and Jeremy Sims, Last Cab to Darwin
Best Documentary Feature: That Sugar Film
More winners + Cate Blanchett (!) after the jump...
No, we won't stop using this gif!
Best Cinematography: John Seale, Mad Max: Fury Road
Best Editing: Margaret Sixel, Mad Max: Fury Road
Best Costume Design: Marion Boyce and Margot Wilson, The Dressmaker
Best Production Design: Colin Gibson, Mad Max: Fury Road
Best Original Music Score: Tom Holkenborg aka Junkie XL, Mad Max: Fury Road
Best Sound: Ben Osmo, David White, Chris Jenkins, Gregg Rudloff, Scott Hecker, Wayne Pashley and Mark Mangini, Mad Max: Fury Road
Best Visual Effects or Animation: Andrew Jackson, Holly Radcliffe, Dan Oliver, Andy Williams, Tom Wood and Fiona Crawford, Mad Max: Fury Road
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Best Short Animation: Ernie Biscuit, Adam Elliot
Best Short Fiction Film: Nulla Nulla, Dylan River and Tanith Glynn-Maloney
Best Direction in a Documentary: Bill Guttentag and Michael Ware, Only the Dead
Best Editing in a Documentary: Jane Moran, Only the Dead
Best Original Music Score in a Documentary: Antony Partos, Sherpa
While Kate Winslet didn't come down to accept here award, another actress heavy on the American awards campaign trail did. Cate Blanchett was awarded for her contribution to screen culture with an introduction by Hugo Weaving, Richard Roxburgh and Gillian Armstrong, the latter of whom spoke about spending five months convincing Fox to allow her to cast a then virtually unknown Blanchett in Oscar and Lucinda. Directors like Martin Scorsese, Robert Redford, Ron Howard, Ridley Scott, and Todd Haynes - for whom she will no doubt fly back to America ASAP to hawk Carol to Oscar voters alongside - were on hand in video to thank her.
Blanchett, ever reliable for good reaction shots, jokingly checked her nails during embarrassing anecdotes and wiped away tears upon accepting the award.
Thank you. Look, thank you, to receive this from you guys is astonishing. You’re not only three of the most influential people in my career, [but also] the greatest humans that I’ve had the great pleasure to work with and call my friends, so thank you. And there’s several of you in the house tonight and Sasha’s there and Marta’s there and so many of you. It’s so annoying! So, thank you to AACTA. But particularly thank you for recognising Lottie Lyle’s work and expanding the title of this award. So often in any industry, the film industry is no different, female achievements are sort of… because we just sort of get on and do stuff and get swept under the carpet, so I think it’s fantastic that AACTA are coming into the 21st century. So it’s got a particular pleasure for me to receive this and also with the extraordinary and eclectic bunch of people who have received it before me.
And walking the red carpet, every time we all do we talk about ‘isn’t this a great year for Australian film?’ as if it’s some fluke or it’s something we should be surprised by. We should be bloody proud of it. And the films don't necessarily need to go to another country. Our stories are worth consuming here. And box office is great – all hail to the extraordinary and diverse films that have made huge successes at the box office – but it’s not the only measure of success and I am incredible proud to continue to work in this industry for no other reason than it’s great.
I did want to say that Gill omitted to say that she had to fight very, very hard back then to have an Australian play an Australian character. And it seems like a no-brainer, but it’s a testament to directors like Gill who come back and say, ‘no, I want an Australian to play this role.’ It’s not a quota, but it needs to be fought for. And budget cuts, it’s true, you actually took a cut in the budget to have an Australian play an Australian role. Isn’t that silly? But there you go. And you fought for it and I wouldn’t be here without you, Gill, so thank you. And thank you all, this is an extraordinary industry and this means so very much. Thank you.
We keep talking about how Cate's Oscar win just two years ago means it's extremely unlikely she would win again, but you guys she gives such good speeches... If nothing else, hopefully these awards was a trial run for some Oscar speeches in a few months time. What do you think?
Thank you. Look, thank you, to receive this from you guys is astonishing. You’re not only three of the most influential people in my career, the greatest humans that I’ve had the great pleasure to work with and call my friends, so thank you. And there’s several of you in the house tonight and Sasha’s there and Marta’s there and so many of you. It’s so annoying! So, thank you to AACTA. And, but particularly thank you for recognising Lottie Lyle’s work and expanding the title of this award. So often in any industry, the film industry is no experience, female achievements are sort of… because we just sort of get on and do stuff and get swept under the carpet, so I think it’s fantastic that AACTA are coming into the 21st century. So it’s got a particular pleasure for me to receive this and also with the extraordinary and eclectic bunch of people who have received it before me.
Walking the red carpet, every time we all do we talk about ‘isn’t this a great year for Australian film?’ as if it’s some fluke or it’s something we should be surprised by. We should be bloody proud of it. And we don’t need the films to necessarily go to another country. Our stories are worth consuming here. And box office is great – all hail to the strong and diverse films that have made huge successes at the box office – but it’s not the only measure of success and I am incredible proud to continue to work in this industry for no other reason than it’s great.
I did want to say that Gill omitted to say that she had to fight very, very hard back then to have an Australian play an Australian character. And it seems like a no-brainer, but it’s a testament to directors like Gill who come back and say, ‘no, I want an Australian to play this role.’ It’s not a quota, but it needs to be fought for. And budget cuts, it’s true, you actually took a cut in the budget to have an Australian play an Australian role. Isn’t that silly? But there you go. And you fought for it and I wouldn’t be here without you, Gill, so thank you. And thank you all, this is an extraordinary industry and this means so very much. Thank you.
Reader Comments (21)
Go Mad Max and The Dressmaker indeed!
Oh Cate, you are an Outstanding Achievement to INTERNATIONAL screen.
Yay for Kate, Cate, Mad Max, and The Dressmaker!
I love the fact that The Dressmaker won The People's Choice Award. What a mad and colorful fantasy that film is.
Yes I'm all for more awards for Cate. Get that 3rd Oscar for Carol!!!
It's obvious to me she's the only person apart from Larosn who is not vulnerable,the films nae after her.Speeches help a lot,Nat you always made the case for that on this site,
Congrats to all the winners. I kinda wish "Cut Snake" had won something, as it's such a great nifty romantic drama.
coincidentally, "Junkie XL" is my grindr name
Fantastic year for Aussie cinema. No surprise of course ;) Loved both Mad Max and the dressmaker. Two completely different Aussie movies but both with the crazy Aussie spirit. But wait a minute both films starred non-Australians? I mean I can't imagine anyone else in any of the roles but I think it shows that for Australian movies to rule here in Australia they have to have an international cast. If you look at the top 10 Box Office Aussie's movies of all time only Baz's Strictly Ballroom and Australia and a little Aussie flick called Red Dog have a completely Aussie starring cast. As much as Cate can talk about fighting for Aussies roles for Aussies, it was English Kate who played Aussie Tilly.
Nice post Glenn, and I am very pleased for Blanchett, Mad Max, Dressmaker, etc. The Australian film industry should be justifiably proud to exist and be thriving. As a Canadian I have a special affection for national home grown film industries and the importance they have to a national culture. Directors and Producers survive against the financial odds.
Great photos and that was a beautiful speech by Cate. Congratulations to all.
Yes, I want Cate to win a third Oscar for Carol. She's simply the best :) I am a bit sad that channel 7 edited her speech for tv. Leave her swearing and snot jokes in please!
Meanwhile, call the cops coz 'Women He's Undressed' was ROBBED in the doco category.
Ez, yes, I was sadly aware it was edited, but until some footage comes online of the full speech there's sadly nothing we can do.
Joanne, I don't so much think that they're the only films - I mean, ODDBALL made over $10mil without any international names (and technically RED DOG had Josh Lucas; what about CROCODILE DUNDEE though? And AUSTRALIA is all local - but it's just that the films that typically have the broader pull are those with bigger budgets and with bigger budgets you can cast bigger names and sometimes that's just going to mean international names. We should be happy international actors wanna make our movies. I kinda wished THE DRESSMAKER had been made with Toni Collette if we're being honest, but Kate was great so we'll manage.
Holding the Man was overlooked. Agree best Australian film in a very long time. Ryan Corr especially for Best Actor.
Oh Glenn, I hope you didn't think I was having a go at you re Cate's speech. My annoyance is totally directed at Channel 7. I wish I had a dollar for every time I was peeved with one of the commercial tv channels...
Ez, no I was just acknowledging that it was indeed edited. You could tell, too. The cutting was terrible.
Imagine if she and Tom Hanks won Oscars this year. The Speeches would be grand!
par - naughty. and with christmas coming up.
mary -- yep. but also i don't think Saoirse is vulnerable either. So we got three locks but the other two noms at this point could go anywhere. what a weird year.
Is there a video to Cate's speech? It seems good and it's fine with me if she carries the mantle as greatest living (even though we know Facebook scientists are working to ensure Meryl will still be working through Artificial Intelligence through eternity, so we welcome them both as the first actresses to see the evolution of cinema through to longevity)
Glenn Dunks - they are the only films in the top 10 that have an all Aussie starring cast. Croc Dundee has Lynda Kozslowski. I think The Dressmaker just knocked Red Dog off 10th place anyway. The others in the Aussie all time Top 10 are Croc Dundee 1&2, Babe, The Great Gatsby, Happy Feet, Moulin, Rogue & Mad Max Fury Road is at 9. All have an international cast. Don't get me wrong, I love Ewan in MR, Tom hardy as MM and The Great Gatsby is an American Story so should have an American star.
"Australia" (at Number 2 behind Croc 1) proves that an all star all Aussie cast can make big bucks at home. I would love to see Australian talent come home more often and make big budget movies with big name Aussies - Nicole, Russell, Hugh, Geoffry, Toni, Cate, Guy, Eric, Hugo, The Hemsworths, Margot, Ben M, Isla, Rose, Joel E, Jacki W, Naomi, Jai, Rebel, Sam W...I could go on with all the TV stars and then of course all the directors and cinematographers and editors and spfx techs and costume designers and make up artists. I know that sometimes they come home and make smaller budget films and Theatre appearances but they seem to wait for Baz to make a move before they'll do anything big budget.
I do know it's all about the money and maybe Aussie audiences should get behind movies with all- Aussie casts. I mean Animal Kingdom had an amazing Aussie cast, led to an Oscar and recognition for Jacki Weaver but it didn't make big bucks and all the stars headed off to Hollywood almost immediately to do more mainstream Hollywood movies and Tv.
Someone mentioned Ryan Corr in Holding the Man. Fantastic actor. Started on tv, has made same smaller Aussie films won a few awards. I'm pretty sure the Aussie movie industry will be soon waving him off on a QANTAS flight one-way, non-stop to LA...
Just noticed I wrote Moulin Rogue instead of Moulin Rouge. Ooops! One sounds like the next Mission Impossible film the other is my favourite movie of all time :)
It's a little odd her saying let an Australian play an Australian, since she herself has had so many opportunities in film as an older actress. But I don't want to cause any trouble.
Ok, turns out we aren't the only ones cranky about Cate's speech getting chopped up. News.com.au are running an article at the moment detailing how her speech was "massacred". But they don't mention her boob job joke, or her defense of her copious snot. So much focus on the f-bomb. What's a girl gotta do to get her boob job joke heard?!!