The power of the resilient father and son relationship was cemented in Raimond Gaita’s acclaimed memoir Romulus, My Father which was awarded the L'Oréal Paris 2007 AFI Award for Best Film, and presented to Robert Connolly and John Maynard.

The compelling film also celebrated Eric Bana collecting the AFI Award for Best Lead Actor for his role as Romulus, and in a remarkable triumph across generations, his on-screen son and co-star, aspiring young actor Kodi Smit-McPhee, was awarded the L'Oréal Paris AFI Young Actor Award. Martin Csokas took the tally to four when he received the award for Best Supporting Actor.

The Home Song Stories brought home the coveted AFI Award for Best Lead Actress through Joan Chen’s captivating performance as Rose, a beautiful nightclub singer struggling in seventies Australia with young children. In this remarkable story based on true-life events, Tony Ayres reveals much of his own childhood, and this moving story secured him both the AFI Award for Best Direction, and the Macquarie Private Wealth AFI Award for Best Screenplay (Original or Adapted)

The AFI Award for Best Supporting Actress was presented to Emma Booth, for her role of Jill in the sexy and poignant coming of age story, Clubland.

In the television categories, Love My Way collected the AFI Award for Best Television Drama Series for the third year in a row. Claudia Karvan won Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama for her role as the loveable Frankie Paige.

Stephen Curry was awarded the AFI Award for Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama for his outstanding portrayal of Australia’s King of Television, Graham Kennedy in The King (TV1). This much anticipated telefeature also took home the award for Best Telefeature or Mini Series

Rose Byrne, star of Damages on the Nine Network, collected the International Award for Best Actress, while the International Award for Best Actor went to Dominic Purcell for his role as Lincoln Burrows in Seven Network’s hit series, Prison Break.

In non-feature films, the AFI Award for Best Documentary was awarded to Sally Regan and Anna Broinowski for the real-life thriller about a con artist, FORBIDDEN LIE$. The AFI Award for Best Short Animation was presented to Justine Kerrigan and Paul McDermott for The Girl Who Swallowed Bees, and the AFI Award for Best Short Fiction Film was won by Spike Up, and collected by Anthony Maras and Kent Smith.

The Byron Kennedy Award, an award that is given in respect of a filmmaker’s relentless pursuit of excellence in filmmaking, was presented to Curtis Levy. In addition, David Hannay was honoured with the AFI Raymond Longford Award, the highest accolade the AFI bestows on a filmmaker in recognition of their enduring contribution to Australian screen culture.

The Global Achievement Award, acknowledging achievement on a global scale by an Australian or Australians working in the film and television industries internationally was awarded to Happy Feet director, Dr George Miller.

The News Limited Readers’ Choice Award went to Eric Bana.

Click Here for a full list of L'Oréal Paris 2007 AFI Awards recipients.


For all media enquiries, images or interviews please contact:

Mango Communications
Robyn Smith Mobile: 0400 189 197 Tel: 03 9254 3525
Email robyn.smith@mangocommunications.com.au

Renae Hanvin Mobile: 0417 207 453 Tel: 03 9254 3514
Email renae.hanvin@mangocommunications.com.au


Notes to Editors:

About the Australian Film Institute

The Australian Film Institute presents the AFI Awards each year to recognise and celebrate excellence in Australian film and television production. Now in their 49th year, the AFI Awards are the Australian Film and Television Industries’ longest running and most prestigious awards.

The AFI is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to developing an active film culture in Australia and fostering engagement between general public and the film industry. www.afi.org.au

Cate Blanchett, Academy Award® and AFI Award winner, is the ambassador of the AFI. Dr. George Miller, four-time Academy Award® nominee and winner of eight AFI Awards, is the AFI’s patron.

About Dainty Consolidated Entertainment

Paul Dainty’s business, Dainty Consolidated Entertainment (DCE), is the promoter and producer of a vast array of live entertainment events from theatrical productions, to major concerts and special events.

Paul Dainty has been responsible for some of the largest and most successful tours to ever visit Australian and New Zealand including Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, U2, David Bowie, Prince, Pink Floyd, Michael Jackson, Phil Collins, Neil Diamond, Bee Gees, George Michael and ABBA as well as theatrical
productions such as Mamma Mia!, Happy Days: The Arena Mega Musical, The Rocky Horror Show, Saturday Night Fever and Riverdance.

In 2005 Paul Dainty was appointed to produce the L'Oréal Paris AFI Awards until 2011. Further information can be found at www.dcegroup.com