For the second time in under five years, Australian horror auteurs Danny and Michael Philippou have swept the AACTAs, picking up 10 awards for their 2025 film Bring Her Back.
The former YouTube stars, also known as the RackaRacka brothers, took home two of the night’s biggest awards, Best Film and Best Direction.
“We should all be inspired about what Australia is able to do and the fact there’s excitement about Australian stories and Australian point of views and vision. It’s a very exciting time to be a part of,” producer Samantha Jennings said while accepting the award for best film alongside the brothers.
The Bring Her Back cast and crew accept their AACTA award for Best Film. (Getty: Mackenzie Sweetnam)
The film’s lead Sally Hawkins also won Best Lead Actress. In Bring Her Back, Hawkins plays a kooky foster mum, Laura, who takes in two foster children after the sudden death of their father, and who might have more than one secret hiding in her derelict garden shed.
“I’m only as good as the people I’m working with and playing against,” Hawkins said via video acceptance.
“It was an honour to get this script, which had incredible, magical energy about it. As soon as I received it, I didn’t know quite how I would get there. It’s terrifying, and yet of course you just take the leap and I did.”
You’d wish you had never seen what’s on the inside of Laura’s heavily locked garden shed. (Supplied: Sony Pictures)
Causeway Films’ Kristina Ceyton and Samantha Jennings, the producers behind Bring Her Back and Talk To Me, as well as other Australian horror classic The Babadook, were also presented with the Byron Kennedy Award by Mad Max director George Miller.
Star-studded reception for Sarah Snook
This year’s Trailblazer Award went to Succession star Sarah Snook, and her former TV dad Brian Cox was on hand to present her the honour.
“She is the absolute real deal … She’s always present, always there. Her range is extraordinary,” Cox said.
“I would hazard to say she’s one of the best screen partners I’ve ever had, if not the very best.”
Sarah Snook and Brian Cox on the 2026 AACTAs red carpet. (Getty: Sam Tabone)
Succession creator Jesse Armstrong, appearing in a video package, echoed Cox’s sentiment, saying he “considers it one of the absolute honours of my career to have worked with [Snook]”.
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Snook recently won a Critics Choice award for her work in miniseries All Her Fault, and she used her Trailblazer speech to illustrate the difference between her Hollywood and home life.
“I do sometimes feel I’m double lives; me who is the real version of me, at home in her trackie-dacks watching this on TV with her family and friends,” she said.
“Then this other person who puts on make-up and sometimes gets honours like this.
“They told me I would win the Trailblazer Award and my first response was, ‘You sure?'”
Snook ended her speech with a passionate shout-out to the Australian film and TV industry.
“We continually punch above our weight. [It’s] amazing what we are able to produce. Keep celebrating that and let’s not let some stupid AI overlord ruin it.”
Snook also won the International AACTA for Best Actress in a Series for All Her Fault.
The Newsreader goes out with a bang
The saga of the ruthless News At Six newsroom has come to a fitting conclusion, with The Newsreader taking home four AACTA awards.
Stream The Newsreader on ABC iview
Set in 1980s Australia, the show follows “difficult” newsreader Helen (Anna Torv) and ambitious junior reporter Dale (Sam Reid), who must navigate big hair, bigger news stories and the biggest newsroom drama.
For its third and final season, the fan-favourite ABC period drama won the prestigious Best Drama Award.
But it isn’t the first time — The Newsreader has done so all three times it’s been nominated.
The series also won the award for Best Screenplay in Television, while Daniel Henshall won Best Supporting Actor in a drama for his role as newcomer Bill.
Last but definitely not least, star Anna Torv took home Best Lead Actress in a Drama — also her third win in the category for the show.
The Newsreader castmembers (L-R) Anna Torv, Michelle Lim Davidson and Daniel Henshall. (Getty: Don Arnold)
Accepting her award, Torv said she was “so proud and honoured” to have been involved in the series.
“I don’t know, I guess to all the Helens out there … When people say, you’re too much, you’re not. You are spectacular,” she said.
“That was the point of her story. Thank you.”
The narrow road to AACTAs glory
The Narrow Road to The Deep North dominated in the television categories, pulling down nine wins — including Best Lead Actor for its Hollywood star, Jacob Elordi.
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Based on Richard Flanagan’s Booker Prize-winning novel, Elordi stars as Dorrigo Evans — a famous war hero and celebrated surgeon — who recounts his childhood in rural Tasmania, a torrid love affair in his 20s and his time as a POW on the Thai-Burma Railway in World War II through flashback.
Elordi is on a whirlwind press tour for his upcoming film Wuthering Heights alongside fellow Aussie Margot Robbie, but he sent in a video acceptance speech.
“Thank you to the AACTAs, thank you Justin [Kurzel, series creator], you’re my brother. Thanks to the boys that were in the trenches with me, our whole creative team and everyone helped make this what it is,” he said.
Elordi also won the International AACTA for Best Actor in a Film for Frankenstein.
Kurzel’s (Snowtown, Nitram) miniseries also picked up Best Supporting Actress for Heather Mitchell and a slew of technical awards including Sound, Cinematography and Editing.
See tonight’s AACTA winners below.Â
FILMBest FilmBring Her Back — WINNERKangarooLesbian Space PrincessThe CorrespondentThe SurferThe TravellersBest Direction in FilmBring Her Back — Danny Philippou, Michael Philippou — WINNERKangaroo — Kate WoodsLesbian Space Princess — Emma Hough Hobbs, Leela VargheseThe Correspondent — Kriv StendersThe Travellers — Bruce BeresfordBest Lead Actress in FilmAlison Brie — TogetherEmily Browning — One More ShotSally Hawkins — Bring Her Back — WINNERSusie Porter — The TravellersDaisy Ridley — We Bury The DeadLily Whiteley — KangarooBest Lead Actor in FilmBryan Brown — The TravellersRyan Corr — KangarooJai Courtney — Dangerous AnimalsGuy Pearce — InsideRichard Roxburgh — The Correspondent — WINNERDavid Wenham — SpitBest Supporting Actress in FilmMarta Dusseldorp — With or Without YouDeborah Mailman — Kangaroo — WINNERBrooke Satchwell — KangarooYael Stone — The CorrespondentSally-Anne Upton — Bring Her BackSora Wong — Bring Her BackBest Supporting Actor in FilmDamon Herriman — TogetherCosmo Jarvis — InsideJulian Maroun — The CorrespondentJulian McMahon — The Surfer — WINNERRahel Romahn — The CorrespondentJonah Wren Phillips — Bring Her BackBest DocumentaryEllis ParkJourney Home, David Gulpilil — WINNERNot Only Fred Dagg But Also John ClarkeSongs InsideUnbreakable — The Jelena Dokic StoryYurlu | CountryTELEVISIONBest Drama SeriesBay of FiresBlack Snow Jack of ClubsMystery Road: OriginThe Family Next DoorThe Newsreader — WINNERThe Twelve: Cape Rock KillerBest Narrative Comedy SeriesAustinBump — WINNERGhostsMother and SonStrifeTop End BubBest MiniseriesApple Cider Vinegar — WINNERInvisible BoysMix TapeThe Last AnniversaryThe Narrow Road to the Deep NorthThe SurvivorsBest Lead Actress in a DramaAlycia Debnam-Carey — Apple Cider VinegarAisha Dee — Watching YouKaitlyn Dever — Apple Cider VinegarTuuli Narkle — Mystery Road: OriginTeresa Palmer — Mix TapeAnna Torv — The Newsreader — WINNERBest Lead Actor in a DramaMark Coles Smith — Mystery Road: OriginJacob Elordi — The Narrow Road to the Deep North — WINNERTravis Fimmel — Black Snow Jack of ClubsSam Neill — The Twelve: Cape Rock KillerHunter Page-Lochard — RecklessSam Reid — The NewsreaderBest Acting in a ComedyClaudia Karvan — BumpAsher Keddie — StrifeBen Miller — AustinSally Phillips — AustinAngus Sampson — BumpDenise Scott — Mother and SonMiranda Tapsell — Top End Bub — WINNERMichael Theo — AustinBest Screenplay in TelevisionApple Cider Vinegar — Episode 5 — Angela BetzienApple Cider Vinegar — Episode 6 — Samantha StraussMix Tape — Episode 1 — Jo SpainThe Newsreader — Episode 6 — Michael Lucas — WINNERThe Twelve: Cape Rock Killer — Episode 1 — Sarah L. WalkerBest Comedy PerformerHamish Blake — LEGO Masters Australia: Grand Masters of the GalaxyMelanie Bracewell — The Cheap SeatsAaron Chen — Guy Montgomery’s Guy Mont Spelling BeeTom Gleeson — Hard Quiz — WINNERLuke McGregor — Portrait Artist of the YearGuy Montgomery — Guy Montgomery’s Guy-Mont Spelling BeeSam Pang — Sam Pang TonightJulia Zemiro — Crime Night!AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actress in a DramaEssie Davis — Apple Cider VinegarAisha Dee — Apple Cider VinegarMichelle Lim Davidson — The NewsreaderRobyn Malcolm — Mystery Road: OriginHeather Mitchell — The Narrow Road to the Deep North — WINNERSusie Porter — Apple Cider VinegarAACTA Award for Best Supporting Actor in a DramaLuke Carroll — Mystery Road: OriginMark Coles Smith — Apple Cider VinegarDaniel Henshall — The Family Next DoorDaniel Henshall — The Newsreader — WINNERMatt Nable — Apple Cider VinegarAshley Zukerman — Apple Cider VinegarAACTA Award for Best Entertainment ProgramDancing with the StarsEurovision Song Contest 2025 Grand Final: Access All AreasI’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! AustraliaLEGO Masters Australia: Grand Masters of the GalaxyPortrait Artist of the Year — WINNERThat Blackfella Show Best Children’s ProgramDo Not Watch This ShowHard Quiz KidsPlay School: All Together — WINNERSpace NovaAACTA Award for Best Comedy Entertainment ProgramGuy Montgomery’s Guy-Mont Spelling BeeHard Quiz — WINNERSam Pang TonightSpicks and SpecksTaskmaster AustraliaThe Weekly with Charlie PickeringAACTA Award for Best Factual Entertainment ProgramAlone Australia — WINNERGogglebox AustraliaMuster Dogs Collies and KelpiesTake 5 with Zan RoweThe PianoThe Secret DNA of UsAACTA Award for Best Reality ProgramAustralian IdolAustralian Survivor: Australia v The WorldMarried At First Sight AustraliaMasterChef AustraliaThe Amazing RaceThe Great Australian Bake Off — WINNER
See the full list of winners from the AACTA Industry Gala here.