‘Promising Young Woman,’ ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ win Australian Academy (AACTA) International Awards

Erik Anderson March 6, 2021

The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts’ (AACTA) Awards has named Emerald Fennell’s feature film directorial debut Promising Young Woman the best international film of 2020 at their annual ceremony, also awarding star Carey Mulligan the Best Actress prize. The film was produced by Australian Margot Robbie and her production house LuckyChap Entertainment.

“It is particularly special to see Australian powerhouse Margot Robbie behind the scenes on such an important piece of work with Promising Young Woman taking out best film. To have started her career in Australia on a soap like Neighbours to now cementing her position as one of Hollywood’s most significant and influential storytellers is incredible,” AACTA CEO Damian Trewhella said in a statement.

Nomadland had led the nominations with six but eked out just a single win, for Chloé Zhao’s direction. The Trial of the Chicago 7 was the only film other than Promising Young Woman to win more than one award; it took home Best Screenplay for director Aaron Sorkin and Best Supporting Actor for Sacha Baron Cohen.

On the television side, The Queen’s Gambit and Schitt’s Creek won the series prizes. Mystery Road‘s Aaron Pedersen surprised in Best Actor in a Series over Emmy and Golden Globe nominees Paul Mescal (Normal People), Hugh Grant (The Undoing), Jason Bateman (Ozark) and Daniel Levy (Schitt’s Creek).

Here is the full list of nominees and winners.

FILM

Best Film

The Father
Minari
Nomadland
Promising Young Woman – WINNER
The Trial of the Chicago 7

Best Direction

Pete Docter, Soul
Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman
David Fincher, Mank
Aaron Sorkin, The Trial of the Chicago 7
Chloé Zhao, Nomadland – WINNER

Best Screenplay

Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman
Jack Fincher, Mank
Aaron Sorkin, The Trial of the Chicago 7 – WINNER
Florian Zeller and Christopher Hampton, The Father
Chloé Zhao, Nomadland

Best Lead Actor in Film

Riz Ahmed, Sound of Metal
Chadwick Boseman, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom – WINNER
Adarsh Gourav, The White Tiger
Anthony Hopkins, The Father
Gary Oldman, Mank

Best Lead Actress in Film

Viola Davis, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Vanessa Kirby, Pieces of a Woman
Frances McDormand, Nomadland
Carey Mulligan, Promising Young Woman – WINNER
Eliza Scanlen, Babyteeth

Best Supporting Actor in Film

Sacha Baron Cohen, The Trial of the Chicago 7 – WINNER
Chadwick Boseman, Da 5 Bloods
Ben Mendelsohn, Babyteeth
Mark Rylance, The Trial of the Chicago 7
David Strathairn, Nomadland

Best Supporting Actress in Film

Maria Bakalova, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
Olivia Colman, The Father – WINNER
Saoirse Ronan, Ammonite
Amanda Seyfried, Mank
Swankie, Nomadland

TELEVISION

Best Drama Series

The Crown
I May Destroy You
The Mandalorian
Mystery Road
The Queen’s Gambit – WINNER

Best Comedy Series

Afterlife
The Great
Schitt’s Creek – WINNER
Sex Education
What We Do in the Shadows

Best Actor in a Series

Jason Bateman, Ozark
Hugh Grant, The Undoing
Daniel Levy, Schitt’s Creek
Paul Mescal, Normal People
Aaron Pedersen, Mystery Road – WINNER

Best Actress in a Series

Cate Blanchett, Mrs America
Daisy Edgar-Jones, Normal People
Nicole Kidman, The Undoing
Catherine O’Hara, Schitt’s Creek
Anya Taylor-Joy, The Queen’s Gambit – WINNER

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Erik Anderson

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.