AACTA nominations announced, Birdman leads the way
The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) today announced 14 films nominated across seven categories with Birdman leading the nominations tally with a total of seven nominations.
The announcement:
The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) today announced 14 films nominated across seven categories – Best Film, Best Direction, Best Screenplay, Best Lead Actor, Best Lead Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress – for the 4th AACTA International Awards.
BIRDMAN leads the nominations tally with a total of seven nominations, followed by BOYHOOD and THE IMITATION GAME which received five nominations each, including Best Film, Best Direction and Best Screenplay. WHIPLASH followed closely with four nominations, and THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL rounded out the top five nominated films, receiving three nominations. The remaining nine films nominated for the 4th AACTA International Awards all received nominations in acting categories, including FOXCATCHER and THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING, which each received two nominations.
Competition in the Best Lead Actor category is fierce, with all five nominees – Steve Carell (FOXCATCHER), Benedict Cumberbatch (THE IMITATION GAME), Jake Gyllenhaal (NIGHTCRAWLER), Michael Keaton (BIRDMAN) and Eddie Redmayne (THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING) – also having been nominated for SAG Awards and Golden Globes for these performances.
Competition is similarly strong for the AACTA International Award for Best Lead Actress, with Felicity Jones (THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING), Julianne Moore (STILL ALICE), Rosamund Pike (GONE GIRL) and Reese Witherspoon (WILD) nominated alongside Australian actress Essie Davis for her performance in the Australian film THE BABADOOK. Davis is also nominated for this performance at the domestic 4th AACTA Awards, to be announced in Sydney in January.
Fellow Australian Naomi Watts received a nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in BIRDMAN, marking a strong year following her recent SAG Award nomination for her role in ST VINCENT. Watts’ last collaboration with BIRDMAN writer/director/producer, Alejandro González Iñárritu, was 21 GRAMS, for which she received an Oscar nomination.
Competition for Watts in the Best Supporting Actress category includes fellow BIRDMAN performer Emma Stone, and Meryl Streep for her performance in INTO THE WOODS. This marks Streep’s third nomination for an AACTA International Award in four years, and follows her award for Best Lead Actress for THE IRON LADY at the inaugural AACTA International Awards in 2012.
Winners of the 4th AACTA International Awards will be announced in Los Angeles on 31 January 2015 at the G’Day USA Gala featuring the 4th AACTA International Awards presented by Qantas. This marks a brand new event format for the AACTA International Awards, and for the G’Day USA Gala, following the announcement of a partnership between AACTA and G’Day USA in December 2014. The AACTA International Awards will form the centrepiece of the Gala, which will also see G’Day USA honour a prominent Australian from the entertainment industry for their individual contribution to the US-Australia relationship. The AACTA International Awards segment of the event will be broadcast on Foxtel’s Arena (Australia) on Sunday 1 February 2015.
AFI | AACTA CEO, Damian Trewhella, said: “Nominations for the 4th AACTA International Awards again show consensus as well as some divergence among the Australian screen industry and our international peers regarding which outstanding performers, productions and practitioners should be recognised at the highest level. The AACTA International Awards add an Australian voice to the global screen conversation, and allow us to honour the world’s best, including outstanding Australians working on international productions. We look forward to celebrating at our biggest, best event yet, as the 4th AACTA International Awards form the centrepiece of the high-profile G’Day USA Gala in LA, creating a brand new, stand-out event.”
4TH AACTA INTERNATIONAL AWARDS NOMINEES
AACTA International Award for Best Film
- BIRDMAN
- BOYHOOD
- THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL
- THE IMITATION GAME
- WHIPLASH
AACTA International Award for Best Direction
- BIRDMAN – Alejandro González Iñárritu
- BOYHOOD – Richard Linklater
- THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL – Wes Anderson
- THE IMITATION GAME – Morten Tyldum
- WHIPLASH – Damien Chazelle
AACTA International Award for Best Screenplay
- BIRDMAN – Alejandro González Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Armando Bo
- BOYHOOD – Richard Linklater
- THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL – Wes Anderson
- THE IMITATION GAME – Graham Moore
- WHIPLASH – Damien Chazelle
AACTA International Award for Best Lead Actor
- Steve Carell – FOXCATCHER
- Benedict Cumberbatch – THE IMITATION GAME
- Jake Gyllenhaal – NIGHTCRAWLER
- Michael Keaton – BIRDMAN
- Eddie Redmayne – THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING
AACTA International Award for Best Lead Actress
- Essie Davis – THE BABADOOK
- Felicity Jones – THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING
- Julianne Moore – STILL ALICE
- Rosamund Pike – GONE GIRL
- Reese Witherspoon – WILD
AACTA International Award for Best Supporting Actor
- Ethan Hawke – BOYHOOD
- Edward Norton – BIRDMAN
- Mark Ruffalo – FOXCATCHER
- Andy Serkis – DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES
- J.K. Simmons – WHIPLASH
AACTA International Award for Best Supporting Actress
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Patricia Arquette – BOYHOOD
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Keira Knightley – THE IMITATION GAME
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Emma Stone – BIRDMAN
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Meryl Streep – INTO THE WOODS
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Naomi Watts – BIRDMAN
Source: AACTA media release
