2025 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Domestic Nominations: Robbie Williams Musical Biopic ‘Better Man,’ ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’ Lead
The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) has announced its domestic nominations for the 2025 AACTA Awards presented by Foxtel Group. Returning to the Gold Coast in February, the awards celebrate achievements in Australian film, television, documentary and online content.
Topping the film categories are cinematic heavyweights Better Man, How to Make Gravy, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Late Night with the Devil and Memoir of a Snail. Leading the race, the Robbie Williams-inspired Better Man picked up a record-breaking 16 nominations across film categories. This is followed closely by George Miller’s Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga and streaming giant BINGE’s feature film debut How to Make Gravy securing 15 nominations each. Horror-favourite Late Night with the Devil secures 14 nominations while the animated gem Memoir of a Snail lands 11 nominations. Rounding out the Best Film category is Runt, which earned four nominations.
In television, the critically-acclaimed Boy Swallows Universe dominates with 22 nominations, including Best Miniseries and eight acting nominations, the most nominations for any production in AACTA history. Dylan River’s Thou Shalt Not Steal follows with nine nods, while Colin From Accounts and The Artful Dodger earn eight nominations each. Other standout productions include Exposure, Fake, Total Control, Fisk and Territory, showcasing the diversity of Australia’s small-screen storytelling.
For the first time in AACTA history, motion capture performances and voice acting have been included in the Acting categories. Jonno Davies earns a nod for his portrayal of a motion-capture monkey in Better Man, while performances by Jacki Weaver, Kodi Smit-McPhee and Sarah Snook in Memoir of a Snail highlight the skill and artform of voice acting.
Comedy and horror continue to be Australia’s global calling cards. Late Night with the Devil stands tall with 14 nominations, following the trail blazed by last year’s winner Talk to Me. Meanwhile, comedy hits like Colin From Accounts, Fisk and The Office Australia underline the international appeal of Australian wit and humor.
Screen Queensland CEO Jacqui Feeney says, “The AACTA Awards nominees highlight the depth of talent and diversity of storytelling right across Australia’s screen sector. It’s been a remarkable year for homegrown stories and Screen Queensland looks forward to welcoming the industry to the sunshine state for the second AACTA Awards and Festival in February.”
The nominees were determined by AACTA Members, Australia’s largest community of screen professionals and fans. Round Two voting opens today, AACTA Members are invited to vote on the nominated productions to determine the 2025 AACTA Award winners.
The winners of the 2025 AACTA Awards will be announced across two ceremonies – the AACTA Awards Industry Gala will be held on Wednesday, February 5 and the AACTA Award Ceremony will be held on Friday, February 7. Both ceremonies are presented by Foxtel Group and will be held at HOTA, Home of the Arts on the Gold Coast.
The 2025 AACTA Awards ceremonies will form part of AACTA Festival, which runs for five days, February 5 – 9, offering a vast range of activities celebrating film, television and pop culture. Festival goers can enjoy a range of meet the nominee events, in-depth movie deconstructions, interactive workshops, meet-and-greets, music showcases, masterclasses with renowned filmmakers, outdoor screenings and a variety of family-friendly activities. For those looking to break into the industry, an expanded Screen Careers Expo presented by Essential Screen Skills also makes its return on Saturday, February 8.
The nominees for the 2025 AACTA Awards presented by Foxtel Group are:
AACTA Award for Best Film
Better Man – Paul Currie, Michael Gracey, Coco Xiaolu Ma, Craig McMahon – Better Man Productions Pty Ltd
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga – Doug Mitchell, George Miller – Kennedy Miller Mitchell and Warner Bros
How To Make Gravy – Schuyler Weiss, Hamish Lewis, Nick Waterman, Meg Washington, Michael Brooks – Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia Pty Ltd
Late Night with the Devil – Mathew Govoni, Adam White – Future Pictures PTY LTD
Memoir Of A Snail – Liz Kearney, Adam Elliot – Arenamedia
Runt – Jamie Hilton, Craig Silvey – See Pictures Pty Ltd
AACTA Award for Best Direction in Film
Better Man – Michael Gracey
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga – George Miller
How To Make Gravy – Nick Waterman
Late Night with the Devil – Colin Cairnes, Cameron Cairnes
Memoir Of A Snail – Adam Elliot
AACTA Award for Best Screenplay in Film
Better Man – Simon Gleeson, Oliver Cole, Michael Gracey
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga – George Miller, Nico Lathouris
How To Make Gravy –Meg Washington, Nick Waterman
Late Night with the Devil – Colin Cairnes, Cameron Cairnes
Memoir Of A Snail – Adam Elliot
AACTA Award for Best Lead Actress in Film
Laura Gordon – Late Night with the Devil
Sarah Snook – Memoir Of A Snail
Jackie van Beek – Audrey
Anya Taylor-Joy – Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
Anna Torv – Force Of Nature: The Dry 2
Phoebe Tonkin – Kid Snow
AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor in Film
Eric Bana – Force Of Nature: The Dry 2
David Dastmalchian – Late Night with the Devil
Jonno Davies – Better Man
Daniel Henshall – How To Make Gravy
Guy Pearce – The Convert
Kodi Smit-McPhee – Memoir Of A Snail
AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actress in Film
Alyla Browne – Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
Hannah Diviney – Audrey
Kate Mulvany – Better Man
Kate Mulvany – How To Make Gravy
Ingrid Torelli – Late Night with the Devil
Jacki Weaver – Memoir Of A Snail
AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actor in Film
Fayssal Bazzi – Late Night with the Devil
Chris Hemsworth – Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
Damon Herriman – Better Man
Damon Herriman – How To Make Gravy
Richard Roxburgh – Force Of Nature: The Dry 2
Hugo Weaving – How To Make Gravy
AACTA Award for Best Cinematography in Film
Better Man – Erik A. Wilson, Matt Toll, Ashley Wallen
Heartbreak High – Carly Heaton, Sarah Freeman, Hannah Carroll Chapman – Fremantle Australia (Netflix)
The Artful Dodger – Jo Porter, David Maher, David Taylor – Curio Pictures (Disney+)
The Twelve – Hamish Lewis, Michael Brooks, Ally Henville, Ian Collie, Rob Gibson – Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia Pty Ltd and Easy Tiger Productions Pty Ltd (Binge, Foxtel)
Thou Shalt Not Steal – Dylan River, Tanith Glynn-Maloney, Charlie Aspinwall, Daley Pearson, Sam Moor – Ludo Studio & Since1778 Productions (Stan)
Total Control – Darren Dale, Rachel Griffiths, Stuart Page, Erin Bretherton – Blackfella Films (ABC)
AACTA Award for Best Narrative Comedy Series
Austin – Catherine Nebauer, Joe Weatherstone, Darren Ashton, Ben Miller – Northern Pictures (ABC)
Bump – Dan Edwards, John Edwards, Claudia Karvan, Kelsey Munro – Roadshow Rough Diamond (Stan)
Colin From Accounts – Kevin Greene, Ian Collie, Rob Gibson – Easy Tiger Productions (Binge, Foxtel)
Fisk – Nicole Minchin, Kitty Flanagan, Vincent Sheehan, Tom Peterson – Origma 45 (ABC)
Strife – Steve Hutensky, Jodi Matterson, Asher Keddie, Mia Freedman, Sarah Scheller, Lorelle Adamson – Made Up Stories and Fifth Season (Binge, Foxtel)
The Office – Sophia Zachariou, Kylie Washington, Linda Micsko – BBC Studios Australia and Bunya Entertainment (Amazon Prime Video)
AACTA Award for Best Miniseries
Boy Swallows Universe – Andrew Mason, Troy Lum – Brouhaha Entertainment Australia (Netflix)
A Horse Named Winx – Janine Hosking (Dir.) – iKandy Films
Every Little Thing – Sally Aitken (Dir.), Bettina Dalton – WildBear Entertainment and Dogwoof & HHMI Tangled Bank Studios
Midnight Oil: The Hardest Line – Paul Clarke (Dir.), Carolina Sorensen, Mikael Borglund, Martin Fabinyi – Beyond Entertainment Pty Limited and Blink TV Production Pty Limited
Otto by Otto – Gracie Otto (Dir.), Cody Greenwood, Nicole O’Donohue, – Rush Films & Wildflower Films
Porcelain War – Brendan Bellomo (Dir.), Slava Leontyev (Dir.), Camilla Mazzaferro, Aniela Sidorska, Paula Du Pré Pesmen, Olivia Ahnemann – Finch No Worries and Imaginary Lane
The Musical Mind: A Portrait In Process – Scott Hicks (Dir.), Kerry Heysen, Jett Heysen-Hicks, David Chiem – Beyond May30 Entertainment Pty Ltd
AACTA Award for Best Indie Film
Before Dawn – Jordon Prince-Wright (Dir.), Ian Hale – Prince-Wright Productions
Birdeater – Jack Clark (Dir.), Jim Weir (Dir.), Ulysses Oliver, Stephanie Troost – Breathless Films and Fax Machine
Christmess – Heath Davis (Dir.), Daniel Fenech, Cindy Pritchard, Rick Beecroft, Jonathan Page – Crash House Productions Pty Ltd and Brick Studios
Just A Farmer – Simon Lyndon (Dir.), Leila McDougall, Sean McDougall – VAM Paddock Productions
The Emu War – John Campbell (Dir.), Lisa Fineberg (Dir.), Jay Morrissey (Dir.) – Hot Dad Productions Pty Ltd
You’ll Never Find Me – Indianna Bell (Dir.), Josiah Allen (Dir.), Christine Williams, Jordan Cowan – Stakeout Films, Someone Like U
AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama
Essie Davis – Exposure
Rachel Griffiths – Total Control
Heather Mitchell – Fake
Deborah Mailman – Boy Swallows Universe
Sophie Wilde – Boy Swallows Universe
Asher Yasbincek – Heartbreak High
AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama
Simon Baker – Boy Swallows Universe
Wayne Blair – Total Control
Bryan Brown – Boy Swallows Universe
Travis Fimmel – Boy Swallows Universe
Lee Tiger Halley – Boy Swallows Universe
Ewen Leslie – Prosper
AACTA Award for Best Comedy Performer
Wil Anderson – Taskmaster Australia
Aaron Chen – Guy Montgomery’s Guy-Mont Spelling Bee
Anne Edmonds – Taskmaster Australia
Tom Gleeson – Hard Quiz
Guy Montgomery – Guy Montgomery’s Guy-Mont Spelling Bee
Charlie Pickering – The Weekly with Charlie Pickering
AACTA Award for Best Entertainment Program presented by EMG/Gravity Media
Dancing With The Stars – Peter Beck, Deb Spinocchia, Kylie Washington – BBC Studios Australia (Seven Network)
LEGO® Masters Australia vs The World – David McDonald, AJ Johnson, Di Yang – Endemol Shine Australia (Nine Network)
Mastermind – Lucy De Luca, Kylie Washington, Deb Spinocchia – BBC Studios Australia (SBS)
Spicks and Specks – Rowdie Walden, Michiko Smith, Anthony Watt – ABC (ABC)
The 1% Club – John Leahy, Michiko Smith, Kylie Washington, Deb Spinocchia – BBC Studios Australia (Seven Network)
Tipping Point Australia – Amelia Fisk, Becky Taylor, Miles Reeves, Roslyn Saunders – Endemol Shine Australia (Nine Network)
AACTA Award for Best Direction in Drama or Comedy
Boy Swallows Universe – Episode 1 – Bharat Nalluri
Colin From Accounts – Episode 3 – Trent O’Donnell
Colin From Accounts – Episode 6 – Madeline Dyer
Fake – Episode 5 – Emma Freeman
Thou Shalt Not Steal – Episode 2 – Dylan River
AACTA Award for Best Soundtrack
Better Man – Jordan Carroll
Boy Swallows Universe – Jemma Burns
Heartbreak High – Jemma Burns
How To Make Gravy – Meg Washington
Last Days of the Space Age – Allegra Caldwell
AACTA Award for Best Children’s Program
Bluey – Joe Brumm, Charlie Aspinwall, Daley Pearson, Sam Moor – Ludo Studio (ABC)
Eddie’s Lil Homies – Sophie Byrne, Mark O Toole, Anna Scullie, Eddie Betts – Highly Spirited and Eddie Betts Promotions (Netflix, NITV)
Hard Quiz Kids – Chris Walker, Kevin Whyte, Tom Gleeson, John Tabbagh – Thinkative Television and ABC (ABC)
Little J & Big Cuz – Ned Lander – Ned Lander Media Pty Ltd (ABC, NITV)
Play School: Big Ted’s Time Machine – Bryson Hall – Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
Spooky Files – Paul Watters, Andrea Denholm, Tony Ayres, Guy Edmonds, Matt Zeremes – Tony Ayres Productions and Megaboom Pictures (ABC)
AACTA Award for Best Stand-Up Special
Anne Edmonds: Why Is My Bag All Wet? – Anne Edmonds, Frank Bruzzese, Kathleen McCarthy, Kevin Whyte, Georgina Ogilvie – Guesswork Television (Network Ten, Paramount+)
Lloyd Langford: Current Mood – Lloyd Langford, Frank Bruzzese, Kathleen McCarthy, Kevin Whyte, Georgina Ogilvie – Guesswork Television (Network Ten, Paramount+)
Mel Buttle: Let Me Know Either Way? – Mel Buttle, Frank Bruzzese, Kathleen McCarthy, Kevin Whyte, Georgina Ogilvie – Guesswork Television (Network Ten, Paramount+)
Melbourne International Comedy Festival – The Allstars Supershow – Rowdie Walden, Claire Hammond, Susan Provan – ABC (ABC)
Melbourne International Comedy Festival – The Gala – Rowdie Walden, Claire Hammond, Susan Provan – ABC (ABC)
Rove McManus: Loosey Goosey – Rove McManus, Frank Bruzzese, Kathleen McCarthy, Kevin Whyte, Georgina Ogilvie – Guesswork Television (Network Ten, Paramount+)
AACTA Award for Best Comedy Entertainment Program
Guy Montgomery’s Guy-Mont Spelling Bee – Cam Bakker, Bronwynn Bakker, Greg Sitch – Kevin & Co and ABC (ABC)
Hard Quiz – Chris Walker, Kevin Whyte, Tom Gleeson, John Tabbagh – Thinkative Television and ABC (ABC)
Have You Been Paying Attention? – Michael Hirsh, Rob Sitch, Deb Herman – Working Dog Productions (Network Ten)
Thank God You’re Here – Michael Hirsh, Deb Herman, Rob Sitch – Working Dog Productions (Network Ten)
The Cheap Seats – Michael Hirsh, Deb Herman, Rob Sitch – Working Dog Productions (Network Ten)
The Weekly with Charlie Pickering – Chris Walker, Charlie Pickering, Kevin Whyte, Frank Bruzzese – Thinkative Television and ABC (ABC)
AACTA Award for Best Factual Entertainment Program
Alone Australia – Riima Daher, Beth Hart, Keely Sonntag – ITV Studios Australia (SBS)
Gogglebox Australia – David McDonald, Will Minchin, Natasha Pizzica – Endemol Shine Australia (Binge, Foxtel, Network Ten)
Muster Dogs – Monica O’Brien, Michael Boughen, John Unwin, Matthew Street, Jo Chichester, Rachel Robinson – Ambience Entertainment Pty Ltd (ABC)
Stuff The British Stole – Marc Fennell, Alan Erson, Richard Finlayson, Kate Pappas – Wooden Horse & Wildbear Entertainment and Cream (Canada) (ABC)
Take 5 with Zan Rowe – Zan Rowe, Nikita Agzarian, Josh Schmidt – Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
The Assembly – Mark Fennessy, Therese Hegarty, Julie Hanna, Vanessa Oxlad – HELIUM Pictures (ABC)
AACTA Award for Best Documentary or Factual Program
Australia’s Sleep Revolution with Dr Michael Mosley – Celia Tait – Artemis Media (SBS)
I Was Actually There – Kirk Docker, Josh Schmidt, Loni Cooper, Julie Hanna – Docker Media Pty Ltd (ABC)
Maggie Beer’s Big Mission – Celia Tait, Laki Baker, Phillipa Hutchinson – Artemis Media (ABC)
Miriam Margolyes Impossibly Australian – Jo Siddiqui – Southern Pictures Pty Ltd (ABC)
Ray Martin: The Last Goodbye – Sky Kinninmont, Deb Spinocchia, Kylie Washington – BBC Studios Australia (SBS)
Who Do You Think You Are? – Maxine Gray – Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia Pty Ltd (SBS)
AACTA Award for Best Lifestyle Program
Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly Australia – Naomi Elkin, Sarah Thornton, Helen Biggs, Leisa Pratt – Network Ten Pty Ltd (Network Ten)
Gardening Australia – Gill Lomas – ABC (ABC)
Grand Designs Australia – Brooke Bayvel, Michael Collett – Fremantle Australia (ABC)
Grand Designs Transformations – Brooke Bayvel, Michael Collett – Fremantle Australia (ABC)
Restoration Australia – Brooke Bayvel, Michael Collett – Fremantle Australia (ABC)
Selling Houses Australia – Kam Vurlow, Monique Bushby – Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia Pty Ltd (Foxtel)
AACTA Award for Best Reality Program presented by Network Ten
Australian Idol – Joel McCormack, Wes Dening, Rikkie Proost – Eureka (Seven Network)
Australian Survivor: Titans V Rebels – Amelia Fisk, David Forster, Toby Trappel, Phoebe McMahon – Endemol Shine Australia (Network Ten)
MasterChef Australia – Marty Benson, Simon Child, Eoin Maher, April Mackay – Endemol Shine Australia (Network Ten)
Shark Tank Australia – Cat Bowden, Ben Ulm, Jemma Carlton – Curio Pictures (Network Ten)
The Amazing Race – Jane Rowley, Rikkie Proost, Lucy Connors, Emma Hanna – Eureka Productions (Network Ten)
The Great Australian Bake Off – Alenka Henry, Sophie Johnston, Kylie Washington, Deb Spinocchia – BBC Studios Australia (Foxtel)
AACTA Award for Best Screenplay in Television
Boy Swallows Universe – Episode 4 – John Collee
Colin From Accounts – Episode 6 – Patrick Brammall, Harriet Dyer
Fake – Episode 1 – Anya Beyersdorf
Fisk – Episode 3 – Penny Flanagan, Kitty Flanagan
Thou Shalt Not Steal – Episode 2 – Tanith Glynn-Maloney, Sophie Miller, Dylan River
AACTA Award for Best Short Film
And The Ocean Agreed – Tanya Modini (Dir.), Luisa Martiri, Stephanie Dower – Screaming Birds
Before We Sleep – Josh Lacy (Dir.), Michelle Walker, Mason Jay Lewis, Joshua Walsh – Top Tier Entertainment and Eastmount studios
Die Bully Die – Nathan Lacey (Dir.), Nick Lacey (Dir.), Matthew Backer, Drew Weston – Based Film
Favourites – Nick Russell (Dir.), Nick Musgrove – Tandem Media
Gorgo – Veniamin Gialouris (Dir.), Katie Amos, Danielle Stamoulos – Australian Film, Television and Radio School
Why We Fight – Danielle Cormack (Dir.), Nicole da Silva – Four One One Productions
AACTA Award for Best Online Drama or Comedy
Bad Ancestors – Vanilla Tupu, Jessica Magro, Wendy Mocke, Rizcel Gagawanan – Purple Carrot Entertainment
Buried – Fran Derham, Charlotte George, Miriam Glaser – Frantales Productions
Descent – Millie Holten, Madi Savage, Ella Lawry, Liam Fitzgibbon, Sam Lingham – Haven’t You Done Well Productions
Girl Crush – Ally Morgan, Hew Sandison, Sayuri Kawamura, Madeleine Mallis, Samantha Andrew – Oddity Entertainment
Urvi Went to an All Girls School – Urvi Majumdar, Nina Oyama, Lauren Nichols, Kate Cornish – Buxstock Entertainment
Erik Anderson is the founder/owner and Editor-in-Chief of AwardsWatch and has always loved all things Oscar, having watched the Academy Awards since he was in single digits; making lists, rankings and predictions throughout the show. This led him down the path to obsessing about awards. Much later, he found himself in film school and the film forums of GoldDerby, and then migrated over to the former Oscarwatch (now AwardsDaily), before breaking off to create AwardsWatch in 2013.
He is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, accredited by the Cannes Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and more, is a member of the International Cinephile Society (ICS), The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics (GALECA), Hollywood Critics Association (HCA) and the International Press Academy. Among his many achieved goals with AwardsWatch, he has given a platform to underrepresented writers and critics and supplied them with access to film festivals and the industry and calls the Bay Area his home where he lives with his husband and son.
Erik Anderson is the founder/owner and Editor-in-Chief of AwardsWatch and has always loved all things Oscar, having watched the Academy Awards since he was in single digits; making lists, rankings and predictions throughout the show. This led him down the path to obsessing about awards. Much later, he found himself in film school and the film forums of GoldDerby, and then migrated over to the former Oscarwatch (now AwardsDaily), before breaking off to create AwardsWatch in 2013. He is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, accredited by the Cannes Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and more, is a member of the International Cinephile Society (ICS), The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics (GALECA), Hollywood Critics Association (HCA) and the International Press Academy. Among his many achieved goals with AwardsWatch, he has given a platform to underrepresented writers and critics and supplied them with access to film festivals and the industry and calls the Bay Area his home where he lives with his husband and son.