THE Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) has attracted Rebel Wilson to host the AACTA Awards Ceremony on Saturday and Harry Connick Jr to also do the honours at the AACTA Industry Awards on Thursday.

Both hosts will be joined by some of the industry’s most dynamic stars presenting at the ceremonies.  

The AACTA Industry Awards ceremony on February 8 and the AACTA Awards on February 10 are both presented by Foxtel Group and staged at the Home of the Arts (HOTA) on the Gold Coast. 

The 2024 AACTA Awards Ceremony will be broadcast on Channel 10 at 7pm AEDT Saturday. A special ‘director’s cut’ including all awards from the ceremony will be available at 7:30pm on February 11 on BINGE, Foxtel On-Demand and on AACTA TV.

Presenters for the tomorrow’s Connick-hosted Industry Awards include Zoë Coombs Marr, Darren Gilshenan, Lincoln Lewis, Isabel Lucas, Kate McCartney, Kate McLennan, Osamah Sami and Andrew Winter.

Award presenters at Saturday’s Rebel Wilson-hosted AACTA Awards include Cate Blanchett, Melanie Bracewell, Patrick Brammall, Grant Denyer, Harriet Dyer, Tom Gleeson, Ron Howard, Tim McDonald, Leah Purcell and Julia Zemiro, along with Harry Connick Jr.

At the AACTA Industry Awards, Mr Connick will be supported by some of Australia’s most revered screen talent including the creators of Deadloch Kate McCartney and Kate McLennan, actors Osamah Sami, Darren Gilshenan, Lincoln Lewis, comedian Zoë Coombs Marr, TV presenter Andrew Winter, and more.

The AACTA Awards ceremonies form part of AACTA Festival, a four-day celebration of Australia’s vibrant screen industry.

With more than 90 events, AACTA Festival will present a dynamic array of panels, meet-and-greet, screenings and activities offering a place for the Australian screen industry to connect from February 8-11, 2024. 

Many nominees and winners from the AACTA Awards will be presenting on panels and discussions throughout the Festival.

AACTA Festival will be held at the Home of the Arts (HOTA) on the Gold Coast, a destination renowned for its beauty and vibrant cultural scene – and a leading film and TV production centre in its own right. Find out more at aactafestival.com

Tickets are on sale now for the AACTA Awards, AACTA Industry Awards and AACTA Live Viewing Party. Click here for more information.

Harry Connick Jr’s body of work and honours

Renowned musician, singer and actor Harry Connick Jr is no stranger to the Australian film and TV industries, visiting and performing here regularly for several decades.

His career has exemplified excellence across multiple platforms in the entertainment world. In the US, Connick’s home country, he has received Grammy and Emmy awards as well as Tony nominations for his live and recorded musical performances, his achievements in film and television and his appearances on Broadway as both an actor and a composer.  

Connick has appeared in 20 films including Dolphin Tale with Morgan Freeman, Hope Floats with Sandra Bullock, P.S. I Love You with Hilary Swank, Bug with Ashley Judd, and Copycat with Sigourney Weaver, and on television (American Idol, Will & Grace, South Pacific and his Emmy Award winning concert specials).

In the autumn of 2016, he launched Harry, a national daytime television show featuring his touring band, which earned 11 Daytime Emmy nominations in its two seasons, including two nominations for best host, and a Critics’ Choice nomination for best talk show. 

He last performed on Broadway in December of 2019 in Harry Connick, Jr.- A Celebration of Cole Porter honouring one of America’s most respected songwriters, Cole Porter. 

Connick hosted the CBS special United We Sing: A Grammy Tribute to the Unsung Heroes, honouring essential workers in the pandemic.  In December 2021, he stepped into the shoes of Oliver ‘Daddy’ Warbucks in Annie Live! which aired on NBC. On Broadway, Connick received Tony nominations as both a lead actor in The Pajama Game and as a composer/lyricist for Thou Shalt Not. 

The foundation of Connick’s art is the music of his native New Orleans, where he began performing as a pianist and vocalist at the age of five. Highlights of his music career include several multi-platinum recordings such as When Harry Met Sally, Blue Light, Red Light, When My Heart Finds Christmas, Come By Me, and Only You. 

True Love: A Celebration of Cole Porter, was released in 2019 and coincided with performances on Broadway in a show he wrote and directed: Harry Connick, Jr. A Celebration of Cole Porter honouring the musical achievements of one of America’s most respected songwriters, Cole Porter.

In 2020 as the country entered the pandemic lockdown, Connick retreated to his home studio and emerged with an album of songs of faith and inspiration. Alone With My Faith, released during the spring of 2021, displays the sheer breadth of Connick’s talents as he wrote new songs, arranged all songs, played every instrument, and sang every voice. Alone With My Faith earned Connick his 16^th career Grammy nomination for Best Roots Gospel Album. 

Despite his busy career, Connick has always found the time to be charitable and has done some of his most important work in his efforts to help New Orleans after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. He, along with friend Branford Marsalis, conceived of ‘Musicians’ Village’ and its centerpiece the Ellis Marsalis Center. Musicians’ Village provides homes for Katrina-displaced musicians while the Center uses music as its focal point of a holistic strategy to deliver a broad range of services to underserved children, youth, and musicians from neighbourhoods battling poverty and social injustice. 

Connick’s honours, including a star on the celebrated Hollywood Walk of Fame, induction into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame, honorary doctorates from Tulane and Loyola Universities, and the Jefferson Award for Public Service, have not led Harry Connick Jr to slow his creative pace. They only confirm his determination to apply his talents in ways that prove inspirational to other artists and publicly spirited citizens.

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THE Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) is calling ‘action’ for the debut AACTA Festival from February 8-11 across the Gold Coast.

The festival is a ‘blockbuster’ in its own right – four days of celebrating Australia’s vibrant screen industry that promises an immersive experience for all, from industry professionals to film enthusiasts, school-leavers, families, and aspiring creatives.

The AACTA Festival includes its paramount event, the AACTA Awards presented by Foxtel Group, being hosted at the Gold Coast’s Home of the Arts (HOTA) at Surfers Paradise.

With more than 70 events on the program, the AACTA Festival presents a dynamic array of panels, meet-and-greet, screenings and activities which are predominantly free to attend, according to AACTA CEO Damian Trewhella. 

The AACTA Festival is billed as an opportunity “to go behind the scenes of your favourite films, immerse yourself in the industry’s latest trends, meet your favourite stars, network with screen practitioners, and learn more about the exciting world of Australian film, TV, gaming, music and more”. 

“AACTA Festival is a must-attend event for anyone who loves Australian film, television, music, gaming, art, and pop culture,” Mr Trewhella said. “We are excited to present more than 70 events over four days celebrating the excellence of our industry. From red carpet glamour to workshops and a special kids’ line-up, it’s an invitation for everyone to step into the magic of storytelling and creativity.”

The AACTA Industry Awards Ceremony will kick things off on Thursday, February 8, followed by a day of industry events, masterclasses, and creator discussions on Friday.

Saturday February 10 is the AACTA Awards Ceremony which will welcome all the stars on the red carpet. The festival concludes on Sunday February 11 with an array of screenings, live music, kids events, acting workshops, meet-and-greets, and more.

Sunday will also feature the Screen Careers Expo presented by Essential Screen Skills, running all day and offering pathways for anyone wanting to break into the industry. It promises to be a great day out for the entire family. 

Cinematic highlights include a behind-the-scenes look at the making of The Matrix; an animation deconstruction of international blockbuster Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, a deep dive into the stunt work from Mad Max: Fury Road and a showcase of the upcoming BINGE Original series High Country, with Leah Purcell. 

Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman), and producer Paul Currie will give audiences an exclusive look of their upcoming Australian film Better Man starring singer Robbie Williams.

Iconic Australian musician Russell Morris (The Real Thing) will take part in an exclusive in-conversation with composer David Hirschfelder, and audiences can hear from Mortal Kombat director Simon McQuoid on the progress of the film franchise currently being shot in Queensland.

Many of Queensland’s top writers will attend and be showcased throughout the festival, including Trent Dalton, author of Boy Swallows Universe, and Holly Ringland author of Lost Flowers of Alice Hart. In addition to this, audiences can hear from writers Nick Earls, Lystra Rose, Mathew Condon, Richard Jameson, Tristan Michael Savage, and Ben Hobson to name just a few.

The festival will also host a series of Meet the Creators events – panel discussions with internationally renowned talent including directors Danny and Michael Philippou (Talk to Me), Warwick Thornton (The New Boy), and the team behind the hit TV show The Newsreader. 

AACTA’s Meet the Nominee panels offer a chance hear from some of Australia’s biggest stars, producers, and directors, nominated for a prestigious AACTA Award.

The festival also features a wide range of topical industry panels covering various aspects of the screen industry, from the future of AI and streaming to First Nations truth-telling and storytelling panels. Also included are a range of online gaming ‘Let’s Play’ events, and an immersive art experience led by acclaimed painter, actor, and musician Stan Yarramunua.

There will be fun for the whole family, with a series of kids events, including a Play School Live event, kid’s acting workshops, face painting, live music, and a very special appearance from Queensland’s beloved Bluey.

For those looking to join the industry, the AACTA Screen Careers Expo presented by Essential Screen Skills will be operating all-day on Sunday and provide a comprehensive and insightful immersion into the diverse facets of the screen industry.

Amanda Laing, Foxtel Group chief content and commercial officer, and Binge managing director said, “The AACTAs festival will provide more ways to showcase and celebrate the best of Australian storytelling and the incredible talent powering it. The Foxtel Group is proud to support this exciting new initiative.”

“The Gold Coast is one of the most prolific screen production centres in the Southern Hemisphere, with the screen sector contributing an estimated $590 million in direct and flow-on benefits for our city,” Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said.

The AACTA Festival program is designed to provide opportunities for seasoned industry professionals, budding creators and the community alike to explore Australia’s screen sector and celebrate the Gold Coast’s leading role in it.

Screen Queensland CEO  Jacqui Feeney said, “The AACTA Festival will bring leading local and national screen practitioners together on the Gold Coast—a renowned production and screen talent hub, and the ideal home for this event. Screen Queensland is proud to support the inaugural AACTA Festival and welcome aspiring filmmakers and audiences alike to also connect, learn and revel in this celebration of screen culture.”

The latest AACTA Festival information and ticketing for events is available through the website, aactafestival.com .

AACTA Festival official hashtag: #AACTAFestival #AACTAs | Instagram: @aacta | YouTube: /AFIAACTA | Twitter: @aacta | Facebook: /AACTAAwards | Web: aacta.org | TikTok: //www.tiktok.com/@aacta">@aacta

AACTA Festival headline events

2024 AACTA Industry Awards presented by Foxtel Group and After Party Presented by Screen Queensland: Thursday, February 8.

2024 AACTA Awards Ceremony presented by Foxtel Group and Official After Party: Saturday, February 10.

AACTA Festival: Thursday, February 8-11.

About AACTA

The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) is a not-for-profit organisation, aimed at promoting, encouraging, and celebrating screen excellence in Australia. The Australian Academy is Australia’s only independent, member-based, national screen organisation that represents all differing screen crafts, from directors to producers, actors, writers, musicians, and a vast number of members in below-the-line roles.

For over 60 years, the AACTA Awards (formerly the AFI Awards) have recognised and celebrated Australia’s highest achievements in film, television, documentary, short form, and digital content. The AACTA Awards are Australia’s most prestigious screen ceremony, embracing a diverse range of screen productions and recognising some of the biggest and brightest names in the industry. 

The AACTA Awards are presented by Foxtel Group and supported by the Queensland Government, through Tourism and Events Queensland and Screen Queensland, and Experience Gold Coast. The event also features on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar.

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THE Asia Pacific Screen Academy (APSA) has unveiled all 2023 Jury members leading up to the 16^th Asia Pacific Screen Awards Ceremony, set to take place on Friday, November 3 at Home of the Arts (HOTA) on the Gold Coast.

Clara Law, a pioneer of Asian-Australian cinema and an internationally acclaimed auteur filmmaker, will preside over the APSA International Jury in 2023. A writer, director and producer, Ms Law (Australia) has been making features across two continents for almost 40 years. 

Her filmography includes Autumn Moon (1992), The Goddess of 1967 (2000), Floating Life (1996) and the documentary Letters to Ali (2004). Her most recent feature, Drifting Petals (2021) was made across three of the places she has called home – Australia, Hong Kong and Macau – and won a prestigious Golden Horse Award for Best Director.

The APSA red carpet and gala ceremony event will be attended by nominees, jurors and special guests from across the 78 countries and areas of the Asia Pacific and will honour cinematic excellence from the vast and culturally diverse region.

Running concurrently, the 5th Asia Pacific Screen Forum will take place from November 1-4, also at HOTA. The four-day event will enable local filmmakers, nominees and international delegates to engage through a series of panels and presentations, roundtable discussions, networking events, workshops and screenings.

Joining jury president Clara Law on the 16^th APSA International Jury are:

Malaysian performer Yeo Yann Yann, a multiple award-winner best known for her big-screen roles in Anthony Chen’s Ilo Ilo (2013) and Wet Season (2019), which saw her become a two-time Golden Horse Award and Asian Film Award winner. Her work in television has seen her nominated for an International Emmy (Invisible Stories, 2020) and she is currently nominated for a Hollywood Critics Association TV Award for American Born Chinese.

Anna Katchko (Germany) is a highly successful producer working across multiple countries. Since the beginning of last year alone she has had three films receive major international acclaim: Ukrainian film Stepne won two awards at the Locarno Film Festival; Happiness, from Kazakhstan, won the Audience Award at the 2023 Berlinale and, also from Kazakhstan, Bauryna Salu is selected to premiere this week at the 2023 San Sebastian Film Festival.

Hideho Urata (Japan, Singapore) is an acclaimed cinematographer on films including the multi-award winner A Land Imagined (2018) and most recently Plan 75, which received a Special Mention at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival and saw him nominated for an Asian Film Award for cinematography in 2023.

Saudi Arabian film industry pioneer, producer Faisal Baltyuor is currently the CEO of Muvi Studios, the production arm of biggest cinema chains in Saudi Arabia. He was formerly the CEO of the Saudi Film Council, which was the first Saudi governmental entity founded to support the film industry in Saudi Arabia. He most recently co-produced the Sudanese feature Goodbye Julia, which was selected for Cannes Un Certain Regard – the bold and innovative section of the festival – in 2023.

The APSA Youth, Animation and Documentary International Jury for 2023 will be chaired by Taiwanese filmmaker Midi Z, a writer, director and producer of both fiction and documentary features selected for Cannes (Nina Wu, 2019), Berlin (14 Apples, 2018) and beyond.

He will be joined by Indian writer, director and producer Rima Das, whose acclaimed 2017 film Village Rockstars, about a rebellious young girl who wants to form a rock band, was the first Assamese-language film to be India’s Oscars submission. Also judging the section is  acclaimed documentary maker Hikaru Toda (Japan), whose APSA nominated 2017 feature Of Love & Law told the story of the first and only law firm in Japan run by an openly gay couple.

 “APSA is honoured to welcome such accomplished filmmakers to the Jury for the 16th Asia Pacific Screen Awards,” chair of the Asia Pacific Screen Academy, Tracey Vieira said.

“The Jury will deeply engage with peers at the APSA Screen Forum and with Asia Pacific Screen Academy members whilst performing the important task of selecting the outstanding films and performances for the year. The APSA Academy proudly grows to be more than 1,500 members strong in 2023, reflecting the exceptional screen storytelling expertise of the region and the cultural diversity that makes up this vast area like never before.” 

The Asia Pacific Screen Awards and Forum are presented by the Asia Pacific Screen Academy with the support of major partners the City of Gold Coast, Screen Queensland, the Motion Picture Association and Griffith Film School, Griffith University.

The full list of nominations for the 16^th Asia Pacific Screen Awards and the full Forum programme will be announced on October 4.

ABOUT APSA

The Asia Pacific Screen Academy (APSA) has presented the region’s highest accolade in film, the Asia Pacific Screen Awards since 2007. APSA ignites and honours the cinematic excellence and cultural diversity of the world’s fastest growing film region: comprising 78 countries and areas, 4.5 billion people, and responsible for half of the world’s film output.  

APSA and its Academy is committed to its ongoing global partnerships with FIAPF, the European Film Academy (EFA), the Motion Picture Association (MPA), Premios Platino del Cine Iberoamericano, NETPAC (the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema), the Asia Pacific Screen Lab (APSL) and Griffith Film School.

All APSA nominees, Nominations Councils and Jury members are inducted into the prestigious APSA Academy presided over by Australian screen legend Jack Thompson AM PhD. In 2023 the Academy totals more than 1,500 members of the region’s leading filmmakers. It provides exclusive networking, development and funding opportunities available to Academy members through the MPA APSA Academy Film Fund, and Academy mentoring opportunities for the next generation of Asia Pacific filmmakers through the Asia Pacific Screen Lab.

The awards venue, HOTA, on Australia’s Gold Coas, is located on the traditional lands of the First Nations Kombumerri families of the Yugambeh Language Region.

Tickets are now available for the Asia Pacific Screen Forum at: https://www.asiapacificscreenawards.com/asia-pacific-screen-forum

www.asiapacificscreenawards.com/about-academy

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