The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards, known as the AACTA Awards, are presented annually by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). The awards recognise excellence in the film and television industry, both locally and internationally, including the producers, directors, actors, writers, and cinematographers. It is the most prestigious awards ceremony for the Australian film and television industry. They are generally considered to be the Australian counterpart of the Academy Awards for the United States and the BAFTA Awards for the United Kingdom.
AACTA Award statuette
Actress Diana Glenn with an AACTA Award in 2012.
AACTA Awards Statuette on Red Carpet in 2014.
The cinema of Australia began with the 1906 production of The Story of the Kelly Gang, arguably the world's first feature film. Since then, Australian crews have produced many films, a number of which have received international recognition. Many actors and filmmakers with international reputations started their careers in Australian films, and many of these have established lucrative careers in larger film-producing centres such as the United States.
The old Pacific Cinema at Bulahdelah, New South Wales - a classic example of an early, small, country-town cinema
Errol Flynn had his debut in In the Wake of the Bounty (1933)
Peter Finch with fellow Australian Diane Cilento during the making of British film Passage Home (1955)
Prime Minister John Gorton initiated several avenues of government support for Australian cinema