Alana Valentine (pictured), Andrew Knight, Lachlan Philpott and Kim Mordaunt were all recipients of AWGIE Awards presented at the Plaza Ballroom in Melbourne on Friday 4 October.
Hosted by acclaimed writer, comedian and songbird Sammy J, the Awards reflect the high quality and breadth of work currently being produced by Australia’s writers for performance and are the only Australian awards judged solely by writers on the basis of the script – the writer’s intention – rather than the finished production.
Television was well represented with awards being presented to Underground: The Julian Assange Story, Underbelly: Badness, and the narrative comedies A Moody Christmas and comedian Josh Thomas’ debut Please Like Me. Rake and Home & Away were also awarded.
In the theatre section, Alana Valentine (recipient of 3 Awards) was awarded for Grounded – story of a young woman who wants to be a marine pilot. Valentine, one of Australia’s leading playwrights, also received the David Williamson Prize and the Major AWGIE.
Kate Mulvany and Anne-Louise Sarks were awarded for Medea, whilst Lally Katz was acknowledged for her contribution to Children’s theatre in Starchaser. Lachlan Philpott received his Award for Truck Stop – a work for young audiences.
In individual awards, Neil Armfield was the recipient of the Dorothy Crawford Award for outstanding contribution to the profession; Guy Rundle won the Fred Parsons Award for outstanding contribution to Australian Comedy; whilst Kym Goldsworthy was the recipient of the Hector Crawford Award for his contribution to script editing.
Australian Writers Guild President and Academy Award nominee Jan Sardi said “The AWGIES are the highlight of the year for us and a unique chance to celebrate the oft-unsung but stellar work created by Australian writers of the script.”
The 46th Annual AWGIE Award Recipients:
DAVID WILLIAMSON PRIZE:
Alana Valentine
MAJOR AWGIE:
Alana Valentine
DOROTHY CRAWFORD AWARD – For outstanding contribution to the profession:
Neil Armfield
RICHARD LANE AWARD – For outstanding service and dedication to the Australian Writers’ Guild:
Simon Hopkinson
HECTOR CRAWFORD AWARD – For outstanding contribution to the craft via a body of script editing work:
Kym Goldsworthy
FRED PARSONS AWARD – For outstanding contribution to Australian Comedy:
Guy Rundle
TELEMOVIE – ADAPTATION:
Underground: The Julian Assange Story – Robert Connolly
TELEVISION – MINI-SERIES ORIGINAL:
Underbelly: Badness – Niki Aken, Peter Gawler, Felicity Packard and Jeffrey Truman
TELEVISION – SERIES:
Rake 2: R v. Floyd – Andrew Knight
TELEVISION – SERIAL:
Home & Away 5714 – Gary Sewell
COMEDY – SKETCH OR LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT:
Good News Week: The Second Going – Mat Blackwell, George Dodd, Simon Dodd, Warwick Holt, Paul Livingston and Ian Simmons
COMEDY – SITUATION OR NARRATIVE: (Joint Winners)
A Moody Christmas: Separate Seats – Phil Lloyd and Trent O’Donnell
Please Like Me: Portuguese Custard Tarts – Josh Thomas with Liz Doran and Thomas Ward
FEATURE FILM – ORIGINAL:
The Rocket – Kim Mordaunt
FEATURE FILM – ADAPTATION:
Lore – Cate Shortland with Robin Mukherjee
RADIO – ORIGINAL:
See How The Leaf People Run – Michele Lee
RADIO – ADAPTATION:
Cross Sections – Suzie Miller
INTERACTIVE MEDIA:
The Opera House Project – Sam Doust
ANIMATION:
The Adventures Of Figaro Pho: Fear Of Unfamiliar Toilets – Bruce Griffiths
DOCUMENTARY – PUBLIC BROADCAST:
Red Obsession – David Roach with Warwick Ross
DOCUMENTARY – CORPORATE & TRAINING:
Your Choice – Ken Wallace
THEATRE – FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES:
Truck Stop – Lachlan Philpott
THEATRE – COMMUNITY & YOUTH THEATRE:
Grounded – Alana Valentine
THEATRE – STAGE:
Medea – Kate Mulvany and Anne-Louise Sarks
THEATRE – CHILDREN’S:
Starchaser – Lally Katz
SHORT FILM:
The Amber Amulet – Genevieve Hegney and Matthew Moore
CHILDREN’S TELEVISION – P CLASSIFICATION:
Guess How Much I Love You: I Promise – David Evans
CHILDREN’S TELEVISION – C CLASSIFICATION:
Dance Academy: A Perfect Storm – Samantha Strauss
MONTE MILLER AWARD – LONG FORM
Fury – Charlotte McConaghy
MONTE MILLER AWARD – SHORT FORM:
Trunk – Derek Foster
For more information, visit: www.awg.com.au for details.
Image: Alana Valentine by Dan Prichard