AACTA Domestic + International
The Challenge
Originally known as the ‘AFI Awards’, Fourth Wall were selected to partner with the Australian Film Industry, to create an elaborate extravaganza that would earn a global reputation as the Australian equivalent of the Oscars and the BAFTAs, under the new brand AACTA.
Now, some 7+ years on, Fourth Wall remains the broadcast, production and event partner for the AACTA Awards, with the project going from strength to strength every year.
The Creation
The AACTA Awards began in August 2011, following the AFI's launch of the Australian Academy. Since then, six AACTA Awards cycles have been held.
The AACTA Awards are held annually in Sydney to recognise and celebrate Australia’s highest achievements in film and television, as judged by the industry itself. AFI/AACTA also recognise screen excellence, regardless of geography, through the AACTA International Awards, which are held each January in Los Angeles (USA).
In 2018, the 7th AACTA Awards presented by Foxtel, were held across two major events at The Star Event Centre in Sydney: 1) The Industry Luncheon and 2) The AACTA Awards Ceremony, where a record 55 Awards were presented.
The International AACTA Awards were held in Los Angeles at The Avalon Hollywood. Televised in Australia exclusively on Foxtel Arts, this intimate invitation-only ceremony was a star-studded affair, with nominees in attendance, including Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, Gary Oldman, Sam Rockwell, Abbie Cornish and presenters Jai Courtney, Josh Lawson, Mallory Jansen, Daniel MacPherson, Josh Thomas and Longford Lyell Award recipient Phillip Noyce.
The Outcome
Fourth Wall is proud to have remained the event’s broadcast, production and event partner since 2011, working with AACTA to expanded from a single Australian industry award program to its current format which includes an international Oscar-style awards program held in Hollywood.
Perpetually, Fourth Wall has achieved the AFI’s objectives to achieve cost-efficiencies and deliver within tight timeframes. One of the ways we have achieved considerable financial savings is through the use of our exclusive Collective of Creators, which provides unprecedented access to specialist expertise across all elements of the project.
Feedback confirms that each year, the industry, guests and sponsors adore this event. The style, speed and sense of occasion we continue to create has resulted in them being dubbed the “Aussie Oscars”. Media wrote, “All Australian awards shows – and some US ones too – are hereby put on notice. This is how to do awards.”
For us, having our audience as excited as we are about an event, is the ultimate mark of success.
