AACTA reveals 2025 AACTA International Award nominees

Better Man, the biopic inspired by the life of Robbie Williams, dominates the nominations with six nods across key categories. Helmed by Australian director Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman), the film picked up an international nomination for Best Film, Best Director and Best Screenplay, alongside acting nominations for its lead cast. Gracey’s visionary approach continues to elevate Australian storytelling, earning acclaim both at home and abroad.

The Brutalist secured five nominations, including Best Supporting Actor for Australian favourite Guy Pearce. The film’s haunting narrative and striking performances have solidified its place as a standout in this year’s lineup. Emilia Perez, which has already swept the Golden Globe nominations, makes its mark with four AACTA nods. Anora and Dune: Part Two round out the five nominees for Best Film.

Other Australians nominated include George Miller for Best Director in Film for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. The iconic filmmaker once again demonstrates his ability to captivate audiences with action-packed storytelling and visionary cinematography. Toni Collette’s performance in Juror #2 and Nicole Kidman’s role in Babygirl show the depth and versatility of Australian talent.

In the television categories, Shogun emerges as a standout drama series, earning three nominations. The visually stunning and deeply engaging historical drama has engaged viewers worldwide. The Bear also picks up three nominations including Best Comedy Series.

Australian production, Boy Swallows Universe, received a nomination for Best Drama Series. The series has already captivated audiences and critics alike, setting a record with 22 nominations across AACTA’s domestic Awards. Colin From Accounts earns its place among the nominees, reflecting the world-class storytelling and comedic prowess of Australian creators.

Elizabeth Debicki continues her reign as one of Australia’s finest acting exports, earning a nomination for her portrayal of Princess Diana in The Crown. Her performance has earned widespread acclaim. Last year’s Golden Globe and Emmy wins confirm her as a powerhouse in the industry. Other notable nominees include Hack, which picked up a nomination for Best Comedy Series as well as Best Lead Actress for Jean Smart’s performance as Deborah Vance. Slow Horses also received two nominations for Best Drama Series and Best Lead Actor for Gary Oldman’s role as Jackson Lamb.

The domestic nominations for the AACTA Awards were announced earlier this month, for a full list of AACTA Award nominees. The nominees are determined by AACTA members, Australia’s largest community of screen professionals and fans. This year’s AACTA Awards mark an historic moment with the inclusion of motion-capture performances and voice acting in the acting categories. This groundbreaking decision recognizes the innovative ways in which technology and performance intersect to create compelling storytelling. Jonno Davies leads this new era with a nomination for his motion-capture portrayal of a monkey in Better Man. His performance blends physicality and digital artistry, highlighting the evolution of acting in a digital age.

The winners of the 2025 AACTA Awards will be announced across two ceremonies – the AACTA Awards Industry Gala will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 5 and the AACTA Award Ceremony will be held on Friday, Feb. 7. Both ceremonies are presented by Foxtel Group and will be held at HOTA, Home of the Arts on the Gold Coast.

The 2025 AACTA Awards ceremonies will form part of AACTA Festival which will run for five days, Feb. 5 – 9, offering a vast range of activities celebrating film, television and pop culture. Festival goers can enjoy a range of meet the nominee events, in-depth movie deconstructions, interactive workshops, meet-and-greets, music showcases, masterclasses with renowned filmmakers, outdoor screenings and a variety of family-friendly activities. For those looking to break into the industry, an expanded Screen Careers Expo presented by Essential Screen Skills will also make its return on Saturday Feb. 8. For more information visit aactafestival.com.

The 2025 AACTA Awards Ceremony will be broadcast in Australia on Channel Ten at 7.30pm AEDT, Friday 7 February. A special extended AACTA Awards broadcast, including all awards from the ceremony, will be available from 7:30pm on Saturday Feb. 8 on BINGE and Foxtel (Famous and available On-Demand). International broadcast details to be announced soon.

AACTA have teamed up with a number of local businesses to help guests plan a trip to Queensland. Take advantage of discount accommodation offers and deals on exciting Gold Coast experiences available via aacta.org.

The nominees for the 2025 AACTA International Awards are:

Best Film

• Anora
• Better Man
• Dune: Part two
• Emilia Pérez 
• The Brutalist

Best Lead Actor in Film

• Adrien Brody – The Brutalist – as László Tóth
• Daniel Craig – Queer – as Lee
• Jonno Davies – Better Man – as Robbie Williams
• Colman Domingo – Sing Sing – as John “Divine G.” Whitfield
• Ralph Fiennes – Conclave – as Thomas Lawrence

Best Lead Actress in Film

• Kirsten Dunst – Civil War – as Lee Smith
• Karla Sofia Gascón – Emilia Pérez – as Emilia Pérez
• Nicole Kidman – Babygirl – as Romy
• Mikey Madison – Anora – as Mikheeva
• Kate Winslet – Lee – as Lee Miller

Best Supporting Actor in Film

• Kieran Culkin – A Real Pain – as Benji Kaplan
• Damon Herriman – Better Man – as Nigel
• Guy Pearce – The Brutalist – as Harrison Lee Van Buren Sr.
• Stanley Tucci – Conclave – as Cardinal Bellini
• Denzel Washington – Gladiator II – as Macrinus

Best Supporting Actress in Film

• Toni Collette – Juror #2 – as Prosecutor
• Ariana Grande – Wicked – as Glinda
• Felicity Jones – The Brutalist – as Erzsébet Tóth
• Zoe Saldaña – Emilia Pérez – as Rita Mora Castro
• Alison Steadman – Better Man – as Betty

Best Direction in Film

• Jacques Audiard – Emilia Pérez
• Brady Corbet – The Brutalist
• Michael Gracey – Better Man
• George Miller – Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
• Denis Villeneuve – Dune: Part Two

Best Screenplay in Film

• Anora – Sean Baker
• Better Man – Michael Gracey, Oliver Cole, Simon Gleeson
• Conclave – Peter Straughan
• The Brutalist – Brady Corbet, Mona Fastvold
• A Real Pain – Jesse Eisenberg

Best Drama Series

• After the Party
• Boy Swallows Universe 
• Shōgun 
• Slow Horses 
• The Diplomat 

Best Comedy Series

• Colin from Accounts 
• Curb your Enthusiasm 
• Hacks 
• Only Murders in the Building 
• The Bear

Best Actor in a Series

• Larry David – Curb Your Enthusiasm – (as Larry David)
• Idris Elba – Hijack – (as Sam Nelson)
• Gary Oldman – Slow Horses – (as Jackson Lamb)
• Hiroyuki Sanada – Shōgun – (as Yoshii Toranaga)
• Jeremy Allen White – The Bear – (as Carmy)

Best Actress in a Series

• Elizabeth Debicki – The Crown – (as Princess Diana)
• Ayo Edebiri – The Bear –(as Sydney Adamu)
• Jessica Gunning – Baby Reindeer – (as Martha Scott)
• Anna Sawai – Shōgun – (as Toda Mariko)
• Jean Smart – Hacks – (as Deborah Vance)