Welcome to the 2009 Samsung Mobile AFI Awards
The AFI Awards are held each year to celebrate excellence in Australian film and television. These are the most prestigious and recognised entertainment awards in Australia.
Thank you very much to all of those that contributed to our online consultation process. We are very grateful for the constructive suggestions, positive feedback and endorsements that we received in that time. The AFI will continue to review its rules and processes on an annual basis.
All feedback has been given due consideration, we are pleased to present our final changes to the Awards Rule Book for 2009.
In addition, the AFI is pleased to confirm the 2009 entry fees, deadlines and eligibility criteria
.
Documentary
In 2009 the AFI will present following new awards:
- AFI Award for Best Documentary Under One Hour
- AFI Award for Best Feature Length Documentary
- AFI Award for Best Documentary Series
In addition to the existing awards:
- AFI Award for Best Direction in a Documentary
- AFI Award for Best Editing in a Documentary
- AFI Award for Best Cinematography in a Documentary
- AFI Award for Best Sound in a Documentary.
We are also pleased to confirm an entry fee reduction in 2009 from $500 to $400 for the Feature Length Documentary and Documentary Series entries.
Entries & materials close: Wednesday 13 May
Films completed between 14 May 2008 - 12 May 2009
Entry Fees:
- $400* Feature Length Documentary & Documentary Series
- $350* Short Documentary
*All prices listed include GST.
Feature Film
To best represent the breadth and diversity of contemporary feature film production within AFI Awards constraints, we will create a multi-tiered eligibility criteria in 2009.
Films that achieve our three capital city release entry criteria, which is:
“publicly exhibited during the release period for paid admission in a commercial cinema, for a run of at least seven consecutive days, in a minimum of three Australian capital cities - including Sydney and Melbourne”
will directly qualify for entry.
Films that are unable to qualify directly, but are:
“publicly exhibited during the release period for paid admission in a commercial cinema, for a run of at least seven consecutive days, in any Australian capital city.”
or achieve an adequate DVD release in the period being:
“a Videogram commercially released to the Australian market within the Release Period with a minimum distribution of 1000 copies”
will be eligible to participate in a pre-selection process for the 2009 AFI Awards.
Films that enter the AFI Samsung Mobile Awards in 2009 via the pre-selection process will be required to pay 20% of the entry fee at the point of entry. The remaining 80% of the fee will be due only for successfully pre-selected films.
Entries close:
- Wednesday 20 May (1 capital city release & DVD release entries)
- Wednesday 10 June (3 capital city release entries)
Supporting materials close: Friday 10 July
Films released in Australia for the first time between 2 October 2008 – 14 October 2009
Entry Fees:
- $1500* Film with a production budget over $2 million
- $1000* Film with a production budget under $2 million
*All prices listed include GST.
Short Fiction Film & Short Animation Duration
In 2009, Short Fiction Film and Short Animation entries will have a maximum duration of 40 minutes.
Telefeature, Mini Series or Short Run Series
In 2008 Short Run Series was established as an eligible category in the AFI Awards.
The intent of the Short Run Series category was to allow those short run series that were being created as a ‘one off’ television events to be judged against other like programming.
We have an update to this rule for 2009. The update stipulates that a;
“Telefeature, Mini Series or Short Run Series would not be eligible to enter in this category if the Production is a continuation of or related to a Telefeature, Mini Series or Short Run Series that entered in a previous year. This does not disqualify a Telefeature, Mini Series or Short Run Series from entering as a Television Drama Series”.
New Children’s Television Animation Category
In 2009 we will present both the:
- AFI Award for Best Children’s Television Animation
- AFI Award for Best Children’s Television Drama.
Animators
In 2009 up to four animators per entry will be able to be listed as “Other Key Cast & Crew” in the following AFI Award categories: Feature Film, Television, Short Fiction Film and Short Animation.
Animators will now be eligible for Outstanding Achievement Awards in Television, Short Fiction Film and Short Animation.
Make-Up Artists
In 2009 up to four make-up artists per entry will be able to be nominated as “Other Key Cast & Crew” in the following AFI Award categories: Feature Film, Television and Short Fiction Film.
Make-up artists will now be eligible for Outstanding Achievement Awards in Television and Short Fiction Film.
Sound Nominees
In 2009 we will accept up to six nominees for the following two sound awards,
- AFI Award for Best Sound in a Documentary
- AFI Award for Best Sound
The AFI Award for Best Sound in a Documentary includes all aspects of sound, from location recording, sound editing to music composition. It is the Producer’s responsibility to include the most appropriate candidates.
Television Visual Effects Entries
In 2009 Television Visual Effects entries will be able to select the three scenes that are submitted to the visual effects jury from the entire series, rather than being restricted to the two episodes entered for the AFI Awards for Best Television Drama.
Lead Actor and Lead Actress in Television Drama
The AFI has repealed the rule that stipulates that a Lead Actor or a Lead Actress must appear in both entered episodes, in order to qualify as a Lead Actor or Lead Actress.
Whilst we still recommend where possible the Lead Actor or Lead Actress should appear in both of the entered episodes, it is not mandatory in 2009.
Young Actor
In 2009, Young Actors will need to be in a Lead, Guest or Supporting role in order to be eligible to be considered for the Young Actor Award.
Executive Producers
In 2009 up to six Executive Producers will be able to be listed on the online entry for each entered production.
Extension of Feature Film and Television eligibility dates
Eligibility dates for Feature Film and Television have been expanded by two weeks in 2009, allowing entries to be released or broadcast between 2 October 2008 and 14 October 2009.
Please download a summary of all eligibility dates here.