Kidman, Blanchett may attend AFI aw
Kidman, Blanchett may attend AFI awards Nicole Kidman and Cate Blanchett are expected to attend next month's revamped AFI Awards ceremony, capping a resurgent year for the Australian film industry. Also, Russell Crowe is locked in as host for the Australian Film Institute's gala event, general manager Geoffrey Williams confirmed. After a major overhaul, the awards will screen on commercial television and include a new 'popular choice' award. Mr Williams said the awards would reflect how much the industry had been revitalised. "Last year's 10 (films entered) was the lowest for a very long time," he told AAP. "The industry's starting to grow again in confidence. We've got a real comeback year because of the quality of the films and the number of the films." This year 17 feature films have been entered, including the critically acclaimed Little Fish, Look Both Ways, The Proposition and Three Dollars. For the first time the awards will be spread over two nights on November 25 and 26 at Melbourne's Docklands precinct. Workers behind the scenes will be honoured at the AFI Craft Awards on November 25, while the big names will get their gongs at the AFI Awards Dinner the following evening. Mr Williams said the health of the industry was cyclical and a resurgence appeared to be in full swing. He said improved funding arrangements, including more money for development, was starting to show on the big screen. The Victorian government has been sponsoring the AFI Awards for the past four years and Premier Steve Bracks said seven of the feature films entered this time were produced in Victoria. He described the updating of the awards as "significant". "Three new international awards will be added, including Best Performance by an Australian actor and Best Performance by an Australian actress," Mr Bracks said in a statement. "This year, members of the public will be able to vote in some award categories. The juries in the judging process will also be named for the first time, and will include some high-profile members."
Kidman, Blanchett may attend AFI awards Nicole Kidman and Cate Blanchett are expected to attend next month's revamped AFI Awards ceremony, capping a resurgent year for the Australian film industry. Also, Russell Crowe is locked in as host for the Australian Film Institute's gala event, general manager Geoffrey Williams confirmed. After a major overhaul, the awards will screen on commercial television and include a new 'popular choice' award. Mr Williams said the awards would reflect how much the industry had been revitalised. "Last year's 10 (films entered) was the lowest for a very long time," he told AAP. "The industry's starting to grow again in confidence. We've got a real comeback year because of the quality of the films and the number of the films." This year 17 feature films have been entered, including the critically acclaimed Little Fish, Look Both Ways, The Proposition and Three Dollars. For the first time the awards will be spread over two nights on November 25 and 26 at Melbourne's Docklands precinct. Workers behind the scenes will be honoured at the AFI Craft Awards on November 25, while the big names will get their gongs at the AFI Awards Dinner the following evening. Mr Williams said the health of the industry was cyclical and a resurgence appeared to be in full swing. He said improved funding arrangements, including more money for development, was starting to show on the big screen. The Victorian government has been sponsoring the AFI Awards for the past four years and Premier Steve Bracks said seven of the feature films entered this time were produced in Victoria. He described the updating of the awards as "significant". "Three new international awards will be added, including Best Performance by an Australian actor and Best Performance by an Australian actress," Mr Bracks said in a statement. "This year, members of the public will be able to vote in some award categories. The juries in the judging process will also be named for the first time, and will include some high-profile members."