AACTA 2021 Nominations | Predictions

Nominations were announced last Sunday as part of Halloween celebrations. So better late than never, here are my predictions for the Awards held in early December. Predictions bold and in red.

Television nominees:

Best Drama Series

• Clickbait

• Jack Irish

• Mr Inbetween

• The Newsreader

• Total Control

• Wakefield

• Wentworth

Best Miniseries or Telefeature

• A Sunburnt Christmas

• The End

• Fires

• New Gold Mountain

• The Unusual Suspects

Best Lead Actor in a Drama

• Rudi Dharmalingam – Wakefield

• Guy Pearce – Jack Irish

• Sam Reid – The Newsreader

• Richard Roxburgh – Fires

• Scott Ryan – Mr Inbetween

Best Lead Actress in a Drama

• Deborah Mailman – Total Control

• Mandy McElhinney – Wakefield

• Miranda Otto – Fires

• Pamela Rabe – Wentworth

• Anna Torv – The Newsreader

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama

• Harry Greenwood – Wakefield

• William McInnes – The Newsreader

• Matt Nable – Mr Inbetween

• Stephen Peacocke – The Newsreader

• Justin Rosniak – Mr Inbetween

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama

• Michelle Lim Davidson – The Newsreader

• Marg Downey – The Newsreader

• Harriet Dyer – Wakefield

• Rachel Griffiths – Total Control

• Noni Hazlehurst – The End

Best Narrative Comedy Series

• Aftertaste

• Aunty Donna’s Big Ol’ House Of Fun

• Fisk

• Frayed

• Preppers

• Rosehaven

Best Comedy Entertainment Program

• Dom and Adrian 2020

• Hard Quiz

• The Moth Effect

• Spicks And Specks

• The Weekly

Best Comedy Performer

• Mark Samual Bonanno – Aunty Donna’s Big Ol’ House Of Fun

• Kitty Flanagan – Fisk

• Tom Gleeson – Hard Quiz

• Broden Kelly – Aunty Donna’s Big Ol’ House Of Fun

• Sarah Kendall – Frayed

• Nakkiah Lui – Preppers

• Luke McGregor – Rosehaven

• Celia Pacquola – Rosehaven

Best Entertainment Program

• Australian Ninja Warrior

• Lego Masters Australia

• The Masked Singer

• Mastermind

• Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 2021

• The Voice

Best Factual Entertainment Program

• Australia Talks

• Courtney Act’s One Plus One

• Gogglebox Australia

• Love on the Spectrum

• The Project

• You Can’t Ask That

Best Lifestyle Program

• Adam and Poh’s Malaysia in Australia

• The Cook Up with Adam Liaw

• Gardening Australia

• Grand Designs Australia

• The Living Room

• Love it or List it Australia

Best Reality Program

• The Amazing Race Australia

• Australian Survivor: Brains v Brawn

• The Block

• Luxe Listings Sydney

• MasterChef Australia

• The Real Housewives of Melbourne

Best Documentary or Factual Program

• Brazen Hussies

• Exposed: The Ghost Train Fire

• Life in Colour with David Attenborough

• Ms Represented with Annabel Crabb

• Old People’s Home For 4 Year Olds

• The School That Tried to End Racism

Best Children’s Program

• 100% Wolf: Legend of the Moonstone

• Bluey

• The Bureau of Magical Things

• Dive Club

• Hardball

• Kangaroo Beach

Best Screenplay in Television

• Mr Inbetween (Episode 6) – Scott Ryan

• The Newsreader (Episode 1) – Michael Lucas

• The Newsreader (Episode 5) – Kim Ho & Michael Lucas

• Wakefield (Episode 5) – Kristen Dunphy & Sam Meikle

• Total Control (Episode 1) – Stuart Page

Best Stand-Up Special

• Anne Edmonds and Lloyd Langford – Business with Pleasure

• Celia Pacquola – Let Me Know How It All Works Out

• Hannah Gadsby – Douglas

• Lano and Woodley in Lano and Woodley

• Rhys Nicholson Live at the Athenaeum

• Tom Gleeson – Lighten Up

Best Direction in Drama or Comedy

• Fires (Episode 2) – Ana Kokkinos

• Mr Inbetween (Episode 6) – Nash Edgerton

• The Newsreader (Episode 1) – Emma Freeman

• Wakefield (Episode 5) – Kim Mordaunt

• Wakefield (Episode 8) – Jocelyn Moorhouse

Best Direction in Non-Fiction Television

• Brazen Hussies – Catherine Dwyer

• Hannah Gadsby – Douglas – Madeleine Parry

• Love on the Spectrum (Episode 4) – Cian O’Clery

• Ms Represented with Annabel Crabb (Episode 1) – Stamatia Maroupas

• You Can’t Ask That (Episode 1) – Kirk Docker