The countdown is on to a reimagined 2020 AACTA Awards presented by Foxtel with the first slate of nominees today announced across television, online, film, documentary and short film categories.
This year’s television nominees have captivated audiences of all ages, from Australia’s most-watched programs of the year – including MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA and LEGO® MASTERS AUSTRALIA – through to quirky new comedies which were quick to build fanbases, such as UPRIGHT and LOL: LAST ONE LAUGHING, and gritty dramas, such as STATELESS and WENTWORTH, with its cult fan-following continuing to grow worldwide.
The AACTA Award for Best Entertainment Program struck just the right note with audiences of all ages, offering light moments and the humour needed to endure the challenging year that was. Last year’s winner, LEGO® MASTERS AUSTRALIA, is again nominated this year, and once again proved a ratings winner, with the finale averaging 1.22 million viewers. It competes with EUROVISION: AUSTRALIA DECIDES – GOLD COAST 2020, HARD QUIZ, THE VOICE, THE WEEKLY and HAVE YOU BEEN PAYING ATTENTION, which this year celebrated its 200th episode, and today receives its first AACTA nomination.
The AACTA Award for Best Factual Entertainment Program sees last year’s winner, YOU CAN’T ASK THAT, again compete with GOGGLEBOX AUSTRALIA and WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, both nominated in 2019. Also nominated are HAMISH & ANDY’S “PERFECT” HOLIDAY, THE PROJECT and newcomer LOVE ON THE SPECTRUM, hailed by critics and audiences for its unique insights into the lives and dating journeys of people with autism.
Again likely reflecting the impacts of COVID-19 and spending more time at home in 2020, home renovations and food dominate the AACTA Award for Best Lifestyle Program, with 2019 nominee SELLING HOUSES AUSTRALIA competing with BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS, THE LIVING ROOM and RESTORATION AUSTRALIA, alongside JIMMY SHU’S TASTE OF THE TERRITORY and LUKE NGUYEN’S RAILWAY VIETNAM.
Reality television also proved a salve to the challenging year that was, as reflected by record ratings – including for perennial fan favourite MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA. The popular cooking contest not only recorded its highest-rating premiere of the past five years in 2020, but has also become Australia’s most nominated reality TV program of the past decade, with today’s nomination for the AACTA Award for Best Reality Program, bringing its total AACTA nominations and wins to 14 nods since 2010.
MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA faces tough competition from fellow past Best Reality Program winners AUSTRALIAN SURVIVOR: ALL STARS, and THE AMAZING RACE AUSTRALIA – both of which attracted nearly 1 million viewers for their tense season finales. Also competing are 2019 nominee THE BLOCK and I’M A CELEBRITY… GET ME OUT OF HERE!, along with newcomer series THE REAL DIRTY DANCING.
This year’s AACTA Award winners will be announced across two events:
Friday 27 November – the 2020 AACTA Industry Awards presented by Foxtel will this year be delivered online as part of AACTA’s new ScreenFest event, featuring more than 40 free screen events.
Monday 30 November – the usual 2020 AACTA Awards presented by Foxtel ceremony at The Star Sydney will be held over two sittings with a reduced capacity adhering to a COVID safe plan.
Highlights from the 2020 AACTA Awards presented by Foxtel ceremony will be broadcast on Channel 7 on Wednesday 2 December.
