But the standout when the nominations are announced for Australia's top screen awards today is a modestly budgeted,edgy film about how a cancer diagnosis changes the lives of a schoolgirl and everyone around her.
First-time feature director Shannon Murphy'sBabyteeth dominates with 12 nominations for Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards,including best film,best director,best actress for Eliza Scanlen,best actor for Toby Wallace,best supporting actress for Essie Davis and best supporting actor for Ben Mendelsohn.
In this COVID-19-disrupted year for new films,Justin Kurzel's wild bushranger dramaTrue History of the Kelly Gang was next with 10 nominations,then John Sheedy's family filmH Is For Happiness with nine.
All three are up for best film with horror-thriller and international hitThe Invisible Man, Helen Reddy bio-picI Am Womanand horror picRelic.
Nominations in the television categories were led by ABC seriesMystery Road andStateless,with seven each.
BehindBabyteeth's success is an all-female team:veteran executive producer Jan Chapman (The Piano,Lantana) mentored debut producer Alex White,with Murphy directing and Rita Kalnejais,another first-timer on a feature film,writing the script.
Chapman and White instantly recognised the film potential of Kalnejais'playBabyteethon opening night at Belvoir St Theatre eight years ago.
Said Chapman:"We were looking for something that[Alex] could move into producing with. We both saw the play and really thought that this was it. And she did well."
Chapman is thrilled about the recognition forBabyteethafter a difficult shoot during extreme heat at a house in St Ives."A lot of people put in a lot of really inventive and great work to make a film like that on such a low budget."
White described Chapman as a"guiding light"for bringing her experience to the production,especially in script development,casting and financing.
"There is so much warmth and humour in the play,which is why we were attracted to it,"she said."The way[Kalnejais] dealt with the subject matter had such a light touch that we could see how it could be adapted beautifully to the screen and be something fresh and unique."
Murphy said it was"an exceptional feeling"to be nominated."It's always amazing to get recognition overseas,but the truth is you're always hankering to hear what the audience that you truly made it for thinks."
Murphy,who directed two episodes of hit seriesKilling Eve before the pandemic struck,thoughtBabyteeth's themes had become more pertinent.
"The idea of cocooning around those you love and being forced to turn inwards and take stock is something that all of us have been experiencing,"she said.
Among the high-profile names,Crowe is up for best supporting actor forTrue History of the Kelly Gang;Blanchett for both acting in and producingStateless;Moss and Nyong’o are up for best actress in a feature film forThe Invisible Man andLittle Monsters,respectively;Weaver and Brown for acting inBloom;Keddie for acting inStateless;Neill for acting inRams;and,Minchin for acting in and producingUpright.
The AACTA industry awards are on November 27 and the main awards ceremony is on November 30.
AACTA AWARD NOMINEES
Best Film: Babyteeth,H Is for Happiness,I Am Woman,The Invisible Man,True History of the Kelly Gang,Relic
Best Indie Film: A Boy Called Sailboat,Hot Mess,Koko:A Red Dog Story,A Lion Returns,Standing Up for Sunny,Unsound
Best Direction: Shannon Murphy (Babyteeth),John Sheedy (H Is for Happiness),Leigh Whannell (The Invisible Man),Natalie Erika James (Relic),Justin Kurzel (True History of the Kelly Gang)
Best Lead Actress:Tilda Cobham-Hervey (I Am Woman),Laura Gordon (Undertow),Elisabeth Moss (The Invisible Man),Lupita Nyong’o (Little Monsters),Eliza Scanlen (Babyteeth)
Best Lead Actor: George Mackay (True History of the Kelly Gang),Sam Neill (Rams),Richard Roxburgh (H Is for Happiness),Toby Wallace (Babyteeth),Hugo Weaving (Measure for Measure)
Best Supporting Actress: Emma Booth (H Is for Happiness),Essie Davis (Babyteeth),Bella Heathcote (Relic),Deborah Mailman (H Is for Happiness),Doris Younane (Measure for Measure)
Best Supporting Actor: Fayssal Bazzi (Measure for Measure),Russell Crowe (True History of the Kelly Gang),Aaron Jeffery (The Flood),Ben Mendelsohn (Babyteeth),Wesley Patten (H Is for Happiness)
Best Screenplay: Rita Kalnejais (Babyteeth),Abe Forsythe (Little Monsters),Leigh Whannell (The Invisible Man),Natalie Erika James,Christian White (Relic),Shaun Grant (True History of the Kelly Gang)
Best TV Drama Series:Bloom,Doctor Doctor,Halifax:Retribution,The Heights,Mystery Road,Wentworth
Best Telefeature Or Miniseries: The Gloaming,Hungry Ghosts,Operation Buffalo,The Secrets She Keeps,Stateless
Best Comedy Series: At Home Alone Together,Black Comedy,The Other Guy,Rosehaven,Upright
Best Entertainment Program: Eurovision - Australia Decides,Hard Quiz,Have You Been Paying Attention?,Lego Masters,The Voice,The Weekly
Best Documentary: Brazen Hussies (director Catherine Dwyer),Brock:Over the Top (Kriv Stenders),Looky Looky Here Comes Cooky (Steven McGregor),Firestarter - The Story of Bangarra (Nel Minchin),Slim&I (Kriv Stenders),Suzi Q (Liam Firmager)