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No matter where you may fall on the spectrum of faith, it cannot be denied that religion — Christianity, in particular, as is the subject of The New Boy — can be equally beautiful and frightening. On one hand, there's something inspiring about the way in which faith can be used as a guiding principle for kindness, a means of fostering community, and a way of making sense of the world. On the other hand, of course, we have seen across history — and currently are seeing — the weaponization of religion, with faith becoming a source of justification for violence (whether physical or through dangerous rhetoric).

With The New Boy, which makes its North American premiere at TIFF, Kaytetye filmmaker Warwick Thornton turns his lens on Australia's own history of colonization. Set in the 1940s, we follow as an Aboriginal boy, known only as "the New Boy" (Aswan Reid), is taken by the...

A 2015 Meet the Nominees event.

Aacta has unveiled the full schedule for its Meet the Nominees series: nine events featuring Aacta nominees presented by Aftrs.

"We.re thrilled to be partnering with Aacta to present the 2016 Meet the Nominees events; an exclusive opportunity to hear the inside stories from Australia.s leading film, television and documentary makers," Aftrs CEO Neil Peplow said..

This year.s events will feature nominated editor Veronika Jenet Ase (The Daughter); editor Andrew Cooke (Hitting Home); sound designer Liam Egan Assg (The Daughter); editor Steven Robinson Ase (In The Shadow of the Hill); and sound designers Yulia Akerholt Assg (The Daughter) and Robert Mackenzie (Hacksaw Ridge).

Director Rosemary Myers (Girl Asleep) will feature on the panel for The Directors event, alongside Bentley Dean Adg and Martin Butler Adg, whose film Tanna was recently announced as Australia.s foreign language Oscars entry.

Bentley Dean Adg will also...

The first round of Aacta Award winners have been announced today at the 4th Aacta Award Luncheon held at the Star Event Centre in Sydney.

Celebrating screen craft excellence in Australia, 22 awards were presented, recognising the work of screen practitioners working in television, documentary, short fiction film, short animation and feature film.

The Luncheon was hosted by writer/actor/producer/director Adam Zwar, who was also joined throughout the event by a list of distinguished presenters. including Aacta President Geoffrey Rush, David Stratton, Damian Walshe-Howling, Alexandra Schepisi, Charlotte Best and Diana Glenn.

In the feature film category, Predestination took home the most Awards; with Ben Nott Acs taking out the prize for Best Cinematography, Matt Villa Ase winning the award for Best Editing, and Matthew Putland scooping Best Production Design.

Tess Schofield was honoured with the Aacta Award for Best Costume Design for her work on The Water Diviner while...

Director Russell Crowe Movie up for Best Film: Australian Academy Awards 2015 nominations (photo: Actor-director Russell Crowe in 'The Water Diviner') Aacta Awards: Feature Film Categories Best Film The Babadook Kristina Ceyton and Kristian Moliere Charlie's Country Nils Erik Nielsen, Peter Djigirr and Rolf de Heer Predestination Paddy McDonald, Tim McGahan, Peter Spierig and Michael Spierig The Railway Man Chris Brown, Andy Paterson and Bill Curbishley Tracks Emile Sherman and Iain Canning The Water Diviner Andrew Mason, Keith Rodger and Troy Lum Best Director The Babadook Jennifer Kent Charlie's Country Rolf de Heer Predestination Peter Spierig and Michael Spierig The Rover David Michôd Best Actress Kate Box The Little Death Essie Davis The Babadook Sarah Snook Predestination Mia Wasikowska Tracks Best Actor Russell Crowe The Water Diviner David Gulpilil Charlie's Country Damon Herriman The Little Death Guy Pearce The Rover Best Supporting Actor Patrick Brammall The Little Death Yilmaz Erdogan...

The Great Gatsby dominated. Aacta.s technical and short films awards today, collecting gongs in all six craft categories for which it was nominated, plus the Aacta award for outstanding achievement in visual effects.

The co-production Top of the Lake bagged two TV trophies while Matchbox Pictures. Nowhere Boys, created by Tony Ayres, was named best children.s TV series.

The TV documentary prize went to Redesign My Brain, which explores the revolutionary new science of brain plasticity, written and directed by Paul Scott and produced by Isabel Perez and Scott for ABC TV.

Writer-director Nick Verso's The Last Time I Saw Richard, produced by John Molloy, was honoured as best short fiction film. Developed and funded through Screen Australia.s Springboard program, the short is a prequel to the upcoming feature film Boys In The Trees, tracing the friendship between two teenagers in a mental health clinic in...

Trevor Harrison has stepped down as president of the Australian Screen Sound Guild (Assg).

Harrison, who has worked on SeaChange, McLeods’ Daughters and Einstein Factor, held the role for eight years.

Doron Kipen will replace Harrison as president with a committee of Tony Murtagh (The Way Back, Happy Feet Two), Jenny Ward (Legend of the Guardians, Happy Feet), Nigel Christensen (Australia, A Few Best Men), Liam Egan (Superman Returns, Clubland), Will Ward (Red Dog, The Way Back), Peter Miller and Rhette Dufty.

Kipen said: “The Assg will be broadening its horizons to be a truly national organisation with a keen interest in advocacy for all aspects of the vital screen sound sector. The Assg’s new focus will be to build positive and meaningful relationships with the other craft guilds, producers and all levels of Government. The Assg is committed to a “whole of industry” approach that will lead to...

Sound re-recording mixer, Doron Kipen, has been appointed the new president of the Australian Screen Sound Guild (Assg). The move follows the resignation of Trevor Harrison, who served in the position for eight years. Kipen's career in sound has spanned across more than twenty five years. In this time, he has received four Assg awards, an AFI and an If Award - for his work on 2007's Noise. His work on this year's surprise hit Mrs Carey's Concert has earned him Aacta nomination for Best Sound in a Documentary. The incoming president will work alongside a new leadership committee, which includes Tony Murtagh (Bait, Happy Feet Two), Nigel Christensen (A Few Best Men), Jenny Ward (cloudstreet), Liam Egan (Here I Am), Will Ward (Burning Man), Rhette Duffy and Peter...

Tomorrow, When the War Began took the Soundtrack of the Year and Best Film Sound Recording trophies at the Australian Screen Sound Guild (Assg) Sound Awards

Beneath Hill 60 won the Sound Design Category, while the Sound Mixing prize went to Daybreakers.

The ceremony took place last Friday in North Sydney.

These are the 2010 winners:

Feature Film Soundtrack of the Year.

Tomorrow When The War Began

Best Achievement in Sound for Film Sound Recording.

Tomorrow When The War Began

David Lee, Gerry Nucifora, Emma Barham.

Best Achievement in Sound for Film Sound Design.

Beneath Hill 60

Liam Egan, Tony Murtagh, Alicia Slusarski,

Leah Katz, Blair Slater, Mario Vaccaro,

Liesl Pieterse, Andy Wright, Jennifer Sochackyj,

Ruth Vance, Michelle Child, Cara Harvey.

Best Achievement in Sound for Film Sound Mixing.

Daybreakers

Phil Heywood, Wayne Pashley.

Best Achievement in Sound for a Television Commercial or Program.

Centrebet “Don’t Just Watch itâ€.

Scott Collins...

Remember that one year (2001) when the list-happy AFI (American Film Institute) decided to compete with the Globes and the Oscars in year end prizes? No, that didn't last long. But there's another AFI, The Australian Film Institute, that has been around for a long time and is in no such danger of being a one-off. This year, they're all about the amazing family crime drama Animal Kingdom which they awarded with a record breaking 18 nominations. Sure, the film is in danger of being way overhyped for people who are coming to it late (which is just about everyone given the sorry state of international distribution for dramas of virtually any kind) but for those who can slough off the "omg" raves, I guarantee you'll think it at least an insinuating and well executed crime drama.

AFI Favorites with multiple nominations

Its main competition for the coveted prizes, if you go by nomination counts,...

Animal Kingdom received 18 nominations for this year’s Australian Film Institute Awards, followed by Beneath Hill 60 (12), Bright Star (11), Tomorrow, When the War Began (8), The Tree, Bran Nue Dae (7 each) and The Boys Are Back (4)

The Best Film category will see Animal Kingdom competing against Beneath Hill 60, Bright Star, Bran Nue Dae, The Tree and Tomorrow, When the War Began.

Australia’s top rated drama productions – Packed to the Rafters and Underbellly: The Golden Mile – were both absent from the main Television categories (except for Underbelly‘s two acting nods).

The winners will be revealed on December 10 (Industry Awards) and 11 (main Awards Ceremony) in Melbourne.

This is the full list of nominees:

AFI Members’ Choice Award

Animal Kingdom. Liz Watts. Beneath Hill 60. Bill Leimbach. Bran Nue Dae. Robyn Kershaw, Graeme Isaac. Bright Star. Jan Chapman, Caroline Hewitt. The Boys Are Back. Greg Brenman, Tim White. Tomorrow When The War Began.

Not to be confused with The Australian Film Institute Awards, the Inside Film Awards are set to take place at the City Recital Hall Angel Place in Sydney on November the 14th. Picking up the most nominations, it has long been established that 2010 was the year of Animal Kingdom. The top category of Best Feature Film is comprised of four nominees: David Michod's crime drama, the tale of Australian Wwi miners Beneath Hill 60, Bruce Beresford’s Mao’s Last Dancer, and Stuart Beattie's big concept thriller, Tomorrow When The War Began. The cateogry should be representative of the tussle between Animal Kingdom and Mao’s Last Dancer in the other categories - with Animal Kingdom winning all kudos. Here are the rest of the If Awards categories and predictions. Best Director: The heavyweight in this category is Bruce Beresford with Mao’s Last Dancer, who has tasted a...