Voting for the AFI Awards
Voting for the 2009 Samsung Mobile AFI Awards has NOW CLOSED.
This is a landmark year for Australian feature film and it has yielded intense competition for the 2009 Samsung Mobile AFI Awards. Among a Melbourne Cup size field including many fine films, a delightfully large number are distinguished by having either already won major awards, done substantial box office, opened major festivals or received glowing critical appraise.
In light of this spirited field, the AFI is pleased to announce an exciting change to the 2009 Samsung Mobile AFI Award for Best Film, and the newly inaugurated AFI Members’ Choice Award. This year, six nominees for each of these awards were announced rather than the traditional four nominees at the 2009 Samsung Mobile AFI Awards Nominations Announcement in Sydney on October 28.
This expansion, intended for 2009 only is in direct response to the impressive collection of films vying for a coveted award nomination this year. The AFI feel that expanding the nominees to six will help us ensure that we can truly celebrate what is an exceptional year and field in Australian film.
The AFI are excited to be able to make this progressive amendment. A confluence of factors have led to a wider field of feature films that have achieved filmmaking excellence - who those top six films are for 2009 Samsung Mobile AFI Award for Best Film and the AFI Members’ Choice Award is up to AFI Members.
All AFI members are entitled to vote in the 2009 Samsung Mobile AFI Awards. Professionally accredited AFI members, vote for Best Film and in the feature film craft categories, along with the Best Feature Length Documentary, Best Short Fiction Film and Best Short Animation. General AFI members vote in the inaugural Members' Choice Award, Best Short Fiction Film and Best Short Animation.
The involvement of AFI members in the judging and voting processes of the 2009 Samsung Mobile AFI Awards is extremely important and we urge all our members to participate fully by voting in accordance with their voting rights. Voting is your opportunity to have your say on the screen industry you want to be a part of and to recognise those who've made the films that best demonstrate the extraordinarily skilled performers and practitioners that make up the Australian screen industry. Each and every vote counts in determining the winners so make sure you have your say.
How are the AFI Awards decided?
…gain unique insight into how films are viewed and voted by the AFI and its members
To be a part of the 2010 AFI Awards professional members outside of NSW and Victoria must be joined up before July 31 2010; professional members in NSW and Victoria must be joined up before August 31 2010.
The AFI Awards provide an opportunity for both industry professionals and the general public to acknowledge and honour excellence in Australian screen culture.
There are several distinct Awards categories and each category is decided differently:
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Feature Film
The entire professional membership is entitled to vote and decide the six nominees and winner of the AFI Award for Best Film. In the craft specific feature film categories such as acting, screenwriting and directing, the nominees and winners are selected by professional members of the AFI, who vote according to their areas of expertise. In 2009, the Members’ Choice Award will recognise the general AFI members’ film of the year.
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Documentary
In 2009, the AFI will expand the number of awards presented in the Documentary category. The AFI Award for Best Documentary Under One Hour, AFI Award for Best Feature Length Documentary and AFI Award for Best Documentary Series. Juries of industry professionals vote for the nominees and specific winners in each of the Documentary Under One Hour and Documentary Series award categories. The Feature Length Documentary jury determine the four nominees in this category with all AFI professional members being eligible to vote for the winner of the AFI for Best Feature Length Documentary.
In addition, a separate Documentary Craft Jury then meets to decide on the final nominees and winners in each of the craft award categories that fall across all three areas of Documentary. The Documentary Craft Jury also determine the winner of the AFI Documentary Trailblazer.
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Short Fiction Film and Short Animation
All AFI members can vote for the winner of the AFI Award for Best Short Fiction Film, and the AFI Award for Best Short Animation Film. The nominees and winner of all other short film awards are determined by juries of industry professionals.
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Television
Three juries of industry professionals vote for the nominees and specific winners in each of the Drama, Children’s Television and Comedy and Light Entertainment award categories. A separate TV Grand Jury then meets to decide on the final nominees and winners in categories that fall across all three areas of television.
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Please Note: Professional members who join, renew or became accredited after 30 June 2010, and live outside NSW or VIC, may have limited opportunity to view all films in competition, and therefore may not be eligible to vote in the 2010 Samsung Mobile AFI Awards.