Australian Film, TV Achievements Honored

It's that time of the year when the Australian Film Institute recognises and honors the year's achievements in Australian film and television.

The AFI Awards are spread over two nights, the AFI Industry Awards on December 5 and the AFI Awards Dinner on December 6, with both events taking place at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.

Hosting the awards is Australian actor Geoffrey Rush, US Academy Award winner for his role in the Australian film Shine and currently appearing in Elizabeth: The Golden Age with Cate Blanchett.

The AFI Awards are the Australian film and television industry's longest running and most prestigious awards ceremony.

Now in their 49th year, the AFI Awards focus industry and public attention on the best in Australian film and television productions in a broad range of categories that cover feature film, television, documentary, short fiction and short animation.

Recent winners of the AFI best film awards include Ten Canoes, Look Both Ways, Somersault, Japanese Story, Rabbit-Proof Fence and Lantana.

This year's best film nominees are The Home Song Stories, Lucky Miles, Noise and Romulus, My Father.

• Best Australian Films - Australian Film Institute Award Winners
• Australian Film Classics
• Cate Blanchett Movies on DVD
• Nicole Kidman Movies on DVD
• Melbourne Exhibition Centre
• Australian Centre for the Moving Image

Photo: Australian actors Geoffrey Rush and Cate Blanchett at last year's AFI Awards, courtesy Australian Film Institute