Danny and Michael Philippou’s Bring Her Back leads the nominations for the 2025 AACTA Awards with a record-equally 16 nods, including Best Film, Best Direction, Best Screenplay, and Best Lead Actress for Sally Hawkins. This equals Better Man‘s record last year as the most nominations received by a single film.
AACTA CEO Damian Trewhella said, “This year’s nominations showcase the remarkable creativity and craft behind Australian screen storytelling. It’s encouraging to see such a diverse mix of new voices, returning favourites and world-class productions recognised across film, television, documentary and online content. I congratulate all nominees and look forward to celebrating with the industry as we gather on the Gold Coast for AACTA Festival in February.”
Presented by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts, whose membership contains professionals from a cross-section of the screen industry, the awards are considered the highest honour in Australian film.
The winners of the 2026 AACTA Awards will be announced on February 6, 2026. Full list of nominees below.
AACTA Award for Best Film
- Bring Her Back – Samantha Jennings, Kristina Ceyton – Causeway Films
- Kangaroo – David Jowsey, Greer Simpkin, Angela Littlejohn, Rachel Clements, Trisha Morton-Thomas – Cultivator Films Australia – a STUDIOCANAL Company
- Lesbian Space Princess – Tom Phillips
- The Correspondent – Carmel Travers – Pop Family Entertainment
- The Surfer – Leonora Darby, James Harris, Robert Connolly, James Grandison, Brunella Cocchiglia, Nathan Klingher, Nicolas Cage – Arenamedia and Saturn Films, Lovely Productions, Tea Shop Productions
- The Travellers – Michael Boughen, Matthew Street, Kelvin Munro – Ambience Entertainment Pty Ltd
AACTA Award for Best Indie Film
- Carmen & Bolude – Yolandi Franken, Michela Carattini – Frankendipity Enterprises & Charcol Pictures
- Fwends – Carter Looker, Sarah Hegge-Taylor, Sophie Somerville – Excellent Friends And Future Success PTY LTD
- It Will Find You – Helen Tuck, Enzo Tedeschi, Chris Broadbent – Giniirr Films Pty Ltd
- Lesbian Space Princess – Tom Phillips – Wemat Studios
- Magic Beach – Liz Kearney, Kate Laurie, Robert Connolly, Chloe Brugale – Arenamedia
- With or Without You – Su Armstrong, Carolyn Johnson – WitWot Pty Ltd
AACTA Award for Best Direction in Film
- Bring Her Back – Danny Philippou, Michael Philippou
- Kangaroo – Kate Woods
- Lesbian Space Princess – Emma Hough Hobbs, Leela Varghese
- The Correspondent – Kriv Stenders
- The Travellers – Bruce Beresford
AACTA Award for Best Lead Actress in Film
- Alison Brie – Together
- Emily Browning – One More Shot
- Sally Hawkins – Bring Her Back
- Susie Porter – The Travellers
- Daisy Ridley – We Bury The Dead
- Lily Whiteley – Kangaroo
AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor in Film
- Bryan Brown – The Travellers
- Ryan Corr – Kangaroo
- Jai Courtney – Dangerous Animals
- Guy Pearce – Inside
- Richard Roxburgh – The Correspondent
- David Wenham – Spit
AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actor in Film
- Damon Herriman – Together
- Cosmo Jarvis – Inside
- Julian Maroun – The Correspondent
- Julian McMahon – The Surfer
- Rahel Romahn – The Correspondent
- Jonah Wren Phillips – Bring Her Back
AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actress in Film
- Marta Dusseldorp – With or Without You
- Deborah Mailman – Kangaroo
- Brooke Satchwell – Kangaroo
- Yael Stone – The Correspondent
- Sally-Anne Upton – Bring Her Back
- Sora Wong – Bring Her Back
AACTA Award for Best Documentary
- Ellis Park – Justin Kurzel (Dir.), Nick Batzias, Charlotte Wheaton – GoodThing Productions
- Journey Home, David Gulpilil – Maggie Miles (Dir.), Trisha Morton-Thomas (Dir.), Rachel Clements, Jida Gulpilil, Lloyd Garrawurra – Savage Films and Brindle Films
- Not Only Fred Dagg But Also John Clarke – Lorin Clarke (Dir.), Richard Keddie – THW FILM COMPANY & LORIN CLARKE PRODUCTTIONS
- Songs Inside – Shalom Almond (Dir.), Katrina Lucas – Songs Inside Pty Ltd
- Unbreakable – The Jelena Dokic Story – Ivan O’Mahoney (Dir.), Jessica Halloran (Dir.) – In Films
- Yurlu | Country – Yaara Bou Melhem (Dir.) – Illuminate Films
AACTA Award for Best Screenplay in Film
- Bring Her Back – Danny Philippou, Bill Hinzman
- Inside – Charles Williams
- Lesbian Space Princess – Emma Hough Hobbs, Leela Varghese
- The Correspondent – Peter Duncan
- Together – Michael Shanks
AACTA Award for Best Cinematography in Film
- Beast of War – Mark Wareham
- Bring Her Back – Aaron McLisky
- The Correspondent – Geoffrey Hall
- The Surfer – Radek Ladczuk
- Went Up The Hill – Tyson Perkins
AACTA Award for Best Editing in Film presented by Spectrum Films
- Beast of War – Kiah Roache Turner, Stephen Evans, Regg Skwarko
- Bring Her Back – Geoff Lamb
- The Correspondent – Veronika Jenet
- The Surfer – Tony Cranstoun
- Together – Sean Lahiff
AACTA Award for Best Original Score in Film
- Bring Her Back – Cornel Wilczek
- Lesbian Space Princess – Michael Darren
- The Correspondent – Tom Ellard
- The Surfer – Francois Tetaz
- Together – Cornel Wilczek
AACTA Award for Best Production Design in Film
- Bring Her Back – Vanessa Cerne
- Lesbian Space Princess – Emma Hough Hobbs
- The Correspondent – Fiona Donovan
- Together – Nicholas Dare
- Went Up The Hill – Sherree Philips
AACTA Award for Best Costume Design in Film
- Beast of War – Tracey Rose Sparke
- Bring Her Back – Anna Cahill
- Spit – Phill Eagles
- The Correspondent – Joanna Mae Park
- The Surfer – Lien See Leong
ACTA Award for Best Sound in Film
- Bring Her Back – Emma Bortignon, Nick Steele, Hamish Keen, Cameron Grant, Lachlan Harris, Pete Smith
- Spit – Stuart Morton
- The Correspondent – Liam Egan, Angus Robertson, Lara Cross, Michael Newton
- Together – Paul Pirola, Matt Lapthorne
- Went Up The Hill – Robert McKenzie, Chris Hiles, Justin Spaveski, Leah Katz
AACTA Award for Best Casting in Film presented by Casting Networks
- Bring Her Back – Nikki Barrett
- Inside – Nikki Barrett, Natalie Wall
- Kangaroo – Anousha Zarkesh
- The Correspondent – Anousha Zarkesh
- The Surfer – Jane Norris
AACTA Award for Best Hair and Makeup
- Bring Her Back – Rebecca Buratto, Larry Van Duynhoven, Paul Katte, Nick Nicolaou, Karen Gower, Mariel McClorey
- It Will Find You – Amber Adams, Adam Johansen, Damian Martin
- The Narrow Road to the Deep North – Angela Conte
- Together – Larry Van Duynhoven, Ellie Daniel, Brydie Stone, Julian Dimase
- We Bury The Dead – Hayley Atherton, Jason Baird, Sean Genders
AACTA Award for Best Original Song
- Dangerous (Ryan Bingham) – Dangerous Animals
- Head South (Jonathan Ogilvie, Stella Bennett, Michael Daly, Grant Horsnell) – Head South
- Here I Go (Leela Varghese, Gemma Chua-Tran, Michael Darren) – Lesbian Space Princess
- Night & Day (Dominic Cabusi, Bronte Maree O’Neill, Herana, Steady Okurame) – Carmen & Bolude
- The Chase (Elliott Wheeler, Shannon Sanders) – Spit
- Went Up the Hill (Vicky Krieps) – Went Up The Hill
AACTA Award for Best Soundtrack
- Apple Cider Vinegar – Jemma Burns
- Bring Her Back – Andrew Koťátko
- Kangaroo – Jemma Burns
- Mixtape – Rory McPartland, Dina Coughlan
- Mystery Road: Origin – Jemma Burns
- Playing Gracie Darling – Julia Webster, Jamie Richter
AACTA Award for Best Original Score in a Documentary
- Journey Home, David Gulpilil – David Bridie
- Revealed: Death Cap Murders – Simon Walbrook
- Songs Inside – Amanda Brown
- Unbreakable – The Jelena Dokic Story – Helena Czajka
- Yurlu | Country – Helena Czajka
AACTA Award for Best Sound in a Documentary
- Cold Chisel: The Big 5-0 – Travis Handley, Stephen Hopes
- Journey Home, David Gulpilil – David Williams, Josh Williams
- Songs Inside – Tom Heuzenroeder
- Unbreakable – The Jelena Dokic Story – Nigel Christensen, Michael Ackroyd, James Andrews
- Yurlu | Country – Sam Hayward
AACTA Award for Best Short Film
- Beyond Measure – David Ferrier (Dir.) – North of 40 Buttons
- Dependent – Julian Maroun, Marcus Fredrick Khoudair, Joseph Chebatte (Dir.), Emma Elias – The Mad Collab
- DIY – Tony Gardiner (Dir.), Lachlan Marks – Third generation Films and One Nine Media
- Don’t Ignore Me – Raymond Mendez, Charli Fletcher (Dir.), Rosangela Fasano, Bianca Kean – NoFilter Productions
- I’m The Most Racist Person I Know – Leela Varghese (Dir.), Suriyna Sivashanker, Shabana Azeez
- Red River Cowboy – Grace Wriggles (Dir.) – Grace Wriggles Films and Black Phoenix Productions
- The Shirt Off Your Back – Julia Corcoran, Ari Harrison, David Robinson-Smith (Dir.) – Sanctuary Pictures and Ripple Pictures
- Writers in Love – Sarah Giles (Dir.), Grace Malouf, Jacqueline Kerwick – Portal Productions Pty Ltd