Samson and Delilah sweeps AFI awards

source: afi.org

The winners of the 2009 Australian Film Institute Awards were announced Saturday night, with favourite Samson and Delilah sweeping the major awards. The acting prizes were shared amongst some of Australia’s favourite actors.

Samson and Delilah won seven awards in total, including Best Film, Director, Original Screenplay, Cinematography, Sound as well as the AFI Young Actor Award, shared between stars Marissa Gibson and Rowan McNamara.

Balibo picked up four prizes, including Best Adapted Screenplay and Editing as well as Best Actor for Anthony LaPaglia and Best Supporting Actor for Oscar Isaac.

Check out the full list of winners below:

Best Film

WINNER: Samson and Delilah
Balibo
Beautiful Kate
Blessed
Mao’s Last Dancer
Mary and Max

AFI Member’s Choice Award

WINNER: Mao’s Last Dancer
Australia
Balibo
Beautiful Kate
Mary and Max
Samson and Delilah

Best Director

WINNER: Warwick Thornton – Samson and Delilah
Robert Connelly – Balibo
Rachel Ward – Beautiful Kate
Bruce Beresford – Mao’s Last Dancer

Best Actor

WINNER: Anthony LaPaglia – Balibo
Ben Mendelsohn – Beautiful Kate
Hugo Weaving – Last Ride
Rowan McNamara – Samson and Delilah

Best Actress

WINNER: Frances O’Connor – Blessed
Sophie Lowe – Beautiful Kate
Sacha Horler – My Year Without Sex
Marissa Gibson – Samson and Delilah

Best Supporting Actor

WINNER: Oscar Isaac – Balibo
Brandon Walters – Australia
Damon Gameau – Balibo
Bryan Brown – Beautiful Kate

Best Supporting Actress

WINNER: Rachel Griffiths – Beautiful Kate
Bea Viegas – Balibo
Maeve Dermody – Beautiful Kate
Mitjili Gibson – Samson and Delilah

Best Original Screenplay

WINNER: Warwick Thornton – Samson and Delilah
Serhat Caradee – Cedar Boys
Adam Elliot – Mary and Max
Sarah Watt – My Year Without Sex

Best Adapted Screenplay

WINNER: Robert Connolly, David Williamson – Balibo
Rachel Ward – Beautiful Kate
Andrew Bovell, Melissa Reeves, Patricia Cornelius, Christos Tsiolkas – Blessed
Jan Sardi – Mao’s Last Dancer

You can see the full list of winners here!

Discuss: What were your thoughts on this year’s AFI Award winners?