The ABC has received a phenomenal 60 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) nominations, more than any other network or streamer in the country.
The Newsreader S2 dominated the nominations, receiving more nods for the top screen prize than any other production. It was shortlisted 15 times across a broad range of categories, including lead acting nominations for the stellar performances by Sam Reid and Anna Torv as well as best drama series. Produced by Werner Productions, The Newsreader is also nominated twice for best supporting actor and actress, best direction, cinematography, screenplay, production design, costume design, casting, editing and sound.
The winners will be announced at an event on the Gold Coast in February.
ABC Chief Content Officer Chris Oliver-Taylor said the ABC is immensely proud of the incredible depth of talent across the entire slate.
“To be nominated in so many categories at this year’s AACTA Awards is a huge honour,” he said. “This is testimony to the brilliant creative work that (Head of Screen) Jen Collins’ team at the ABC have been delivering. Congratulations to all our nominated programs, people and independent producers and production companies for this outstanding and well-deserved recognition.”
ABC finalists span 32 award categories in this year’s AACTAs, which celebrate Australian Film, TV, Documentary, and Online production excellence. ABC dramas secured 20 nominations while factual and documentary programs also scored 20 nominations across multiple categories.
It was a strong year for Australian comedy, evident in the nominations for Best Narrative Comedy Series, which includes Fisk, Gold Diggers, and Utopia. Fisk starring Kitty Flannagan and documentary The Dark Emu Story each collected four nominations, while Queerstralia picked up three.
You can watch the ABC’s nominated content anytime, free and ad free, on the .
2023 ABC AACTA INDUSTRY AWARD NOMINATIONS
Best Acting in a Comedy
- Kitty Flanagan – FISK
- Julia Zemiro – FISK
Best Casting in Television presented by Casting Networks
- Nathan Lloyd – THE NEWSREADER
Best Children’s Program
- BEEP AND MORT
- BLUEY
- CRAZY FUN PARK
- THE PM’S DAUGHTER
- TURN UP THE VOLUME
Best Cinematography in a Documentary
- AUSTRALIA’S WILD ODYSSEY – Episode 1
- THE DARK EMU STORY
- THIS IS GOING TO BE BIG
Best Cinematography in Television
- Aaron Farrugia – AUNTY DONNA’S COFFEE CAFE – Episode 1
- Earle Dresner – THE NEWSREADER – Episode 4
Best Comedy Entertainment Program
- HARD QUIZ
- THE WEEKLY WITH CHARLIE PICKERING
Best Comedy Performer presented by Network Ten
- Tom Gleeson – HARD QUIZ
- Charlie Pickering – THE WEEKLY WITH CHARLIE PICKERING
Best Costume Design in Television
- Zed Dragojlovich – The Newsreader – Episode 4
Best Direction in Drama or Comedy
- Emma Freeman – THE NEWSREADER – Episode 4
Best Direction in Nonfiction Television
- Stamatia Maroupas – QUEERSTRALIA – Episode 1
Best Documentary
- HARLEY & KATYA
- THE DARK EMU STORY
- THIS IS GOING TO BE BIG
Best Documentary or Factual Program
- NINGALOO NYINGGULU
- QUEERSTRALIA
- WAR ON WASTE
Best Drama Series
- BAY OF FIRES
- THE NEWSREADER
Best Editing in a Documentary
- Peter Crombie, Lawrie Silvestrin – FOLAU – Episode 1
- Simon Njoo, Pete Ward – HARLEY & KATYA
- Aleck Morton, Lydia Springhall – QUEERSTRALIA Episode 1
Best Editing in Television
- Peter Bennett – AUNTY DONNA’S COFFEE CAFE – Episode 1
Best Editing in Television
- Angie Higgins – THE NEWSREADER – Episode 4
Best Factual Entertainment Program
- KITCHEN CABINET
- OLD PEOPLE’S HOME FOR TEENAGERS
- TAKE 5 WITH ZAN ROWE
Best Lead Actor in a Drama presented by BINGE
- Tim Draxl – IN OUR BLOOD
- Sam Reid – THE NEWSREADER
Best Lead Actress in a Drama presented by BINGE
- Anna Torv – THE NEWSREADER
Best Lifestyle Program
- GARDENING AUSTRALIA
Best Miniseries
- IN OUR BLOOD
Best Narrative Comedy Series
- FISK
- GOLD DIGGERS
- UTOPIA
Best Original Score in a Documentary
- Caitlin Yeo, Damien Lane – THE DARK EMU STORY
Best Original Score in Television
- Megan Washington, Daniel O’Brien – FISK Episode 4
- Matteo Zingales – IN LIMBO – Episode 1
Best Production Design in Television
- Episode 2 – Jonathon Oxlade – BEEP AND MORT
- Episode 3 – Simon McCutcheon – GOLD DIGGERS
- Episode 4 – Paddy Reardon – THE NEWSREADER
Best Screenplay in Television
- Adrian Russell Wills – THE NEWSREADER – Episode 4
Best Sound in a Documentary
- Eren Sener, Andrew Wright, Will Carroll, Megan Howieson – THE DARK EMU STORY
- Nick Godkin, Ralph Ortner, Lee Yee, Liesl Pieterse – THE NEWSREADER – Episode 6
Best Supporting Actor in a Drama
- Hunter Page-Lochard – THE NEWSREADER
- William McInnes – THE NEWSREADER
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama
- Michelle Lim Davidson – THE NEWSREADER
- Marg Downey – THE NEWSREADER
Best Indie Film
- LIMBO
Best Lead Actor in Film
- Simon Baker – LIMBO
Best Supporting Actor in Film
- Rob Collins – LIMBO
