AACTA Award for Best Television Drama Series
The AACTA Award for Best Television Drama Series is a television award handed out by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). It was previously awarded by the Australian Film Institute (AFI), from 1991 to 2010, and will continue to be presented by the Academy. It is awarded to a dramatic television series of new fewer than five episodes. It can be a series of self-contained stories which can be screened in any order or a number of interweaving and overlapping plots continuing from one episode to the next.[1]
Between 1991 and 2001, only individual episodes were awarded. The award has changed its name several times, and between 1993 and 2001, it became two separate categories; from 1991 to 1992, the award was called Best Episode in a Television Drama, Series or Serial; from 1993 to 2001 the award was split into Best Episode in a Television Drama Series and Best Episode in a Television Drama Serial and; from 1998 to 2001 Best Episode in a Drama Serial was changed to Best Episode in a Television Drama Series (Long). In 2002 the awards was combined to make Best Drama Series.[2]
The award is usually presented to the producer(s) of a series, but between 1991 and 2001, the award went to the producer of a specific episode.[2] Over the years, ABC have won sixteen of twenty-nine awards.[A] Home and Away have won four awards, more than any other television programme. If the Best Episode categories aren't taken into account, then Home and Away's wins are discounted and Love My Way would have the record of three.
Rules[]
Potential nominees must submit two episodes from a drama series, which will be judged as a single entry, and a fee of A$1,125. The television program must be produced and broadcast in Australia for free-to-air or subscription television channels, but excludes broadcasts on community television.[1][3]
Winners and nominees[]
Best Episode in a Television Drama Series or Serial (1991-1992)[]
| Year | Program | Network | Episode | Producer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 (34th) | ||||
| Embassy (series 2) | ABC | Episode 1: "A Human Dimension" | Alan Hardy | |
| Police Rescue (season 1) | ABC | Episode 2: "Angel After Hours" | Sandra Levy and John Edwards | |
| Police Rescue (season 1) | ABC | Episode 13: "By The Book" | Sandra Levy and John Edwards | |
| Boys from the Bush (season 1) | Seven Network | Episode 8 | Jane Scott and Verity Lambert | |
| 1992 (35th) | ||||
| Phoenix (season 1) | ABC | Episode 13:"Hard Ball" | ||
| Police Rescue (season 2) | ABC | Episode 2: "Off The Track" | Sandra Levy and John Edwards | |
| Embassy (season 3) | ABC | Episode 10: "Crisis of Confidence" | Mark Callan | |
| Phoenix (season 1) | ABC | Episode 8: "Fond Memories" | Bill Hughes |
Best Episode in a Television Drama Series (1993-2001)[]
| Year | Program | Network | Episode | Producer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 (36th) | ||||
| Phoenix[D] | ABC | "Under Siege" | ||
| Police Rescue | ABC | "Whirlwind" | Sandra Levy, John Edwards | |
| G.P. | ABC | "Exposed" | Bruce Best | |
| Police Rescue | ABC | "Lifeline" | Sandra Levy, John Edwards | |
| 1994 (37th) | ||||
| The Damnation of Harvey McHugh[E][D] | ABC | "Hey St Jude" | Sue Masters | |
| Heartland[E][D] | ABC | "Episode 7" | Bruce Best, Penny Chapman, | |
| G.P. | ABC | "Double Bind" | Peter Andrikidis | |
| Police Rescue | ABC | "Double Illusion" | Sandra Levy, John Edwards | |
| 1995 | ||||
| Frontline[D] | ABC | "The Siege" | Rob Sitch, Santo Cilauro, Jane Kennedy, Tom Gleisner | |
| Frontline | ABC | "The Art of Gentle Persuasion" | Rob Sitch, Santo Cilauro, Jane Kennedy, Tom Gleisner | |
| Janus | ABC | "Not On The Merits" | Bill Hughes | |
| Janus | ABC | "Without Consent" | Bill Hughes | |
| 1996 (39th) | ||||
| Frontline[D] | ABC | "Keeping Up Appearances" | Rob Sitch, Santo Cilauro, Jane Kennedy, Tom Gleisner | |
| G.P. | ABC | "Ceremony Of Innocence" | Peter Andrikidis | |
| G.P. | ABC | "Sing Me A Lullaby" | Peter Andrikidis | |
| Police Rescue | ABC | "Tomorrow Never Knows" | John Edward | |
| 1997 (40th) | ||||
| Frontline[D] | ABC | "Epitaph" | Rob Sitch, Santo Cilauro, Jane Kennedy, Tom Gleisner | |
| Frontline | ABC | "The Shadow We Cast" | Rob Sitch, Santo Cilauro, Jane Kennedy, Tom Gleisner | |
| Good Guys Bad Guys | Nine Network | "One Point Eight Million Reasons to Change Your Name: Part 1" | , | |
| Good Guys Bad Guys | Nine Network | "One Point Eight Million Reasons to Change Your Name: Part 2" | Roger Le Mesurier, Roger Simpson, Ros Tatarka | |
| 1998 (41st) | ||||
| Wildside[D] | ABC | "Episode 16" | Steve Knapman | |
| Blue Heelers | Seven Network | "Collateral Damage" | ||
| Good Guys, Bad Guys | Nine Network | "Dog People" | , , | |
| SeaChange | ABC | "Stormy Weather" | ||
| 1999 | ||||
| Wildside[D] | ABC | "Episode 59" | Steve Knapman | |
| SeaChange | ABC | "Law and Order" | ||
| SeaChange | ABC | "Manna From Heaven" | ||
| SeaChange | ABC | "Playing With Fire" | ||
| 2000 | ||||
| Grass Roots[D] | ABC | "The Whole Year" | ||
| Grass Roots | ABC | "Late July 4.00pm to 10.30pm" | ||
| Grass Roots | ABC | "Late September" | ||
| SeaChange | ABC | "Hungi Jury" | ||
| 2001 | ||||
| SeaChange [D] | ABC | "I Name Thee Bay of Pearls" | ||
| The Games | ABC | "Solar" | John Clarke, Ross Stevenson, | |
| Love Is a Four Letter Word | ABC | "Split" | Rosemary Blight, | |
| SeaChange | ABC | "Half Life" | ||
| The Secret Life of Us | Network Ten | "The Butterfly Effect" | John Edwards, Amanda Higgs |
Best Episode in a Television Drama Serial (1993-2001)[]
| Year | Program | Network | Episode | Producer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 (36th) | ||||
| Home and Away[C] | Seven Network | "Episode #1222" | Andrew Howie | |
| Home And Away | Seven Network | Episode 1252 (Seven Network) | Andrew Howie | |
| Neighbours | Network Ten | Episode 1859 | Margaret Slarke, Sally-Anne Kerr | |
| Home And Away | Seven Network | Episode 1251 | Andrew Howie | |
| 1995 | ||||
| Home and Away[C] | Seven Network | "Episode #1705" | Andrew Howie, | |
| Echo Point | Network Ten | Episode 29 | Sandra Levy, John Edwards | |
| Home And Away | Seven Network | Episode 1683 | John Holmes, Russell Webb | |
| 1997 (40th) | ||||
| Neighbours[C] | Network Ten | "Episode #2842" | Peter Dodds | |
| Home and Away | Seven Network | "The Earthquake" | ||
| Neighbours | Network Ten | "Episode #2911" | Peter Dodds | |
| 1998 (41st) | ||||
| Home and Away[C] | Seven Network | "Episode #2197" | ||
| All Saints | Seven Network | "Give and Take" | Jo Porter | |
| All Saints | Seven Network | "Revelations" | Jo Porter | |
| Home and Away | Seven Network | "Episode #2413" | ||
| 1999 | ||||
| All Saints[C] | Seven Network | "Head to Head" | Jo Porter | |
| Home and Away | Seven Network | "Episode #2646" | ||
| Neighbours | Network Ten | "Episode #3388 " | Peter Dodds | |
| Neighbours | Network Ten | "Episode #3389 " | Peter Dodds | |
| 2000 | ||||
| All Saints[C] | Seven Network | "Valley of the Shadows: Part 1" | Jo Porter | |
| All Saints | Seven Network | "Dead on Time" | Jo Porter | |
| Something in the Air | ABC | "Movers and Shakers" | , , | |
| Something in the Air | ABC | "We Will Remember Them" | , , | |
| 2001 | ||||
| Something in the Air[C] | ABC | "That One Defining Moment" | , , Alan Hardy | |
| All Saints | Seven Network | "The Sign" | ||
| Something in the Air | ABC | "Into Thy Hands" | Roger Le Mesurier, Roger Simpson, Alan Hardy | |
| Something in the Air | ABC | "Living in the Past" | Roger Le Mesurier, Roger Simpson, Alan Hardy |
Best Television Drama Series (2002-current)[]
| Year | Program | Network | Producer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 (45th) | |||
| Kath & Kim (series 1) | ABC | ||
| All Saints (season 5) | Seven Network | ||
| MDA (series 1) | ABC | Greg Haddrick | |
| The Secret Life of Us | Network Ten | John Edwards and Amanda Higgs | |
| 2003 | |||
| MDA (series 2) | ABC | Denny Lawrence | |
| Grass Roots (series 2) | ABC | ||
| Stingers (series 6) | Nine Network | , and | |
| The Secret Life of Us (series 3) | Network Ten | Amanda Higgs | |
| 2004 | |||
| Stingers (series 8) | Nine Network | , and | |
| McLeod's Daughters (season 4) | Nine Network | Susan Bower and Posie Graeme-Evans | |
| MDA | ABC | Denny Lawrence | |
| White Collar Blue (series 2) | Network Ten | Steve Knapman and | |
| 2005 (48th) | |||
| Love My Way (series 1) | Fox8 | John Edwards and Claudia Karvan | |
| All Saints (season 8) | Seven Network | ||
| Blue Heelers (season 12) | Seven Network | and | |
| MDA (series 3) | ABC | Denny Lawrence | |
| 2006 (49th) | |||
| Love My Way (series 2) | W | John Edwards, Claudia Karvan and Jacquelin Perske | |
| All Saints (season 9) | Seven Network | ||
| Blue Heelers (season 13) | Seven Network | and | |
| McLeod's Daughters (season 6) | Nine Network | Posie Graeme-Evans and Karl Zwicky | |
| 2007 (50th) | |||
| Love My Way (series 3) | Showtime | John Edwards and Claudia Karvan | |
| All Saints (season 10) | Seven Network | and | |
| Dangerous | Fox8 | John Edwards and | |
| 2008 (51st) | |||
| Underbelly | Nine Network | Greg Haddrick and | |
| City Homicide (series 2) | Seven Network | ||
| Rush (series 1) | Network Ten | John Edwards and | |
| Satisfaction (series 1) | Showcase | and | |
| 2009 (52nd) | |||
| East West 101 (season 2) | SBS One | and Steve Knapman | |
| Packed to the Rafters (season 1) | Seven Network | Jo Porter | |
| Satisfaction (season 2) | Showcase | John Edwards and | |
| Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities | Nine Network | Greg Haddrick and | |
| 2010 (53rd) | |||
| Rush (series 3) | Network Ten | John Edwards and | |
| The Circuit (season 2) | SBS | and | |
| Spirited (series 1) | W | John Edwards, Claudia Karvan and Jacquelin Perske | |
| Tangle (season 2) | Showcase | John Edwards and | |
| 2011 (1st) | |||
| East West 101 (season 3) | SBS One | Steve Knapman and Kris Wyld | |
| Offspring (season 2) | Network Ten | John Edwards and Imogen Banks | |
| Rake | ABC1 | Ian Collie Peter Duncan and Richard Roxburgh | |
| Spirited (series 2) | W | Claudia Karvan and Jacquelin Perske | |
| 2012 (2nd) | |||
| Puberty Blues | Network Ten | John Edwards and Imogen Banks | |
| Rake (season 2) | ABC1 | Ian Collie, Peter Duncan and Richard Roxburgh | |
| Redfern Now | ABC1 | Darren Dale and | |
| Tangle (season 3) | Showcase | John Edwards and Imogen Banks | |
| 2013 (3rd) | |||
| Redfern Now (series 2) | ABC1 | Darren Dale and Miranda Dear | |
| Offspring (season 4) | Network Ten | John Edwards and Imogen Banks | |
| Serangoon Road | ABC1 | Paul Barron and Nick North | |
| Wentworth (series 1) | Soho | Jo Porter and Amanda Crittenden | |
| 2014 (4th) | |||
| The Code | ABC | Shelley Birse, David Maher and David Taylor | |
| Janet King | ABC | Karl Zwicky and Lisa Scott | |
| Puberty Blues (season 2) | Network Ten | John Edwards and Imogen Banks | |
| Rake (series 3) | ABC | Ian Collie, Peter Duncan and Richard Roxburgh | |
| 2015 (5th) | |||
| Glitch | ABC | Tony Ayres, Louise Fox and Ewan Burnett | |
| Love Child (season 2) | Nine Network | Tom Hoffie | |
| Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries (series 3) | ABC | Deb Cox and Fiona Eagger | |
| Wentworth (season 3) | SoHo | Jo Porter and Amanda Crittenden | |
| 2016 (6th) | |||
| Wentworth (season 4) | SoHo | Pino Amenta and Jo Porter | |
| The Code | ABC | David Maher, David Taylor, Shelley Birse, Diane Haddon | |
| Jack Irish | ABC | Ian Collie, Andrew Knight | |
| Rake | ABC | Ian Collie, Peter Duncan, Richard Roxburgh | |
| 2017 (7th) | |||
| Top Of The Lake: China Girl | Foxtel/BBC First | Emile Sherman, Iain Canning, Jane Campion, Philippa Campbell, Libby Sharpe | |
| Cleverman | ABC | Rosemary Blight, Sharon Lark, Ryan Griffen, Jane Allen | |
| Glitch | ABC | Louise Fox, Tony Ayres, Julie Eckersley, Chris Oliver-Taylor | |
| Wentworth (season 5) | Foxtel/Showcase | Jo Porter and Pino Amenta | |
| Janet King - Playing Advantage | ABC | Lisa Scott, Karl Zwicky, Greg Haddrick | |
| 2018 (8th) | |||
| Mystery Road | ABC | David Jowsey, Greer Simpkin | |
| Jack Irish | ABC | Ian Collie, Matt Cameron, Andrew Knight | |
| Rake | ABC | Ian Collie, Peter Duncan, Richard Roxburgh | |
| Mr Inbetween | Foxtel/Showcase | Michele Bennett | |
| Wentworth (season 6) | Foxtel/Showcase | Jo Porter and Pino Amenta | |
| 2019 (9th) | |||
| Total Control | ABC | Darren Dale, , Rachel Griffiths | |
| Mr Inbetween | Foxtel/Showcase | Michele Bennett | |
| Bloom | Stan | David Maher, David Taylor, Glen Dolman, Sue Seeary | |
| Secret City: Under the Eagle | Foxtel/Showcase | Stephen Corvini, Penny Chapman, Matt Cameron, Penny Win | |
| Wentworth (season 7) | Foxtel/Showcase | Jo Porter and Pino Amenta | |
| 2020 (10th) | |||
| Mystery Road | ABC | David Jowsey, Greer Simpkin (ABC) | |
| Bloom | Stan | David Maher, David Taylor, Glen Dolman, Sue Seeary | |
| Doctor Doctor | Nine Network | Ian Collie, Ally Henville, Keith Thompson, Rodger Corser | |
| Halifax: Retribution | Nine Network | Roger Simpson, Louisa Kors | |
| The Heights | ABC | Warren Clarke, Peta Astbury-Bulsara, Debbie Lee, Que Minh Luu | |
| Wentworth | Foxtel | Jo Porter, Pino Amenta |
See also[]
Notes[]
- A^ : In 1993, and then from 1995 to 2001, the award was split into two categories: Best Episode in a Television Drama, Series or Serial and Best Episode in a Television Drama Serial (the latter was changed to Best Episode in a Television Drama Series (Long) in 1998). This means that two awards were presented for both categories each year, bringing the total of awards presented to twenty-nine.[2]
- B^ : Awarded for Best Episode in a Television Drama, Series or Serial.[2]
- C^ : Awarded for Best Episode in a Television Drama Serial (1993–1997). The category then changed to Best Episode in a Television Drama Series (Long) (1998–2001).[2][4]
- D^ : Awarded for Best Episode in a Television Drama Series.[2]
- E1 2 : The Damnation of Harvey McHugh and Heartland were joint winners for Best Episode in a Television Drama Series at the 1994 awards.[5][6]
References[]
- General
- Shining a Light: 50 Years of the Australian Film Institute. Australian Teachers of Media. 2009. ISBN 1-876467-20-7.
- "IMDb Australian Film Institute Awards". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
- Specific
- ^ a b "Rule Eight - Special Conditions for Television Programs". 2011 AFI Awards Rule Book. Australian Film Institute. Archived from the original on 8 August 2011. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f "AFI Award Winners Feature Categories 1958-2009". Australian Film Institute. 2009. Archived from the original on 7 March 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- ^ "2011 AFI Awards Materials Checklist". 2011 AFI Awards Rule Book. Australian Film Institute. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
- ^ French, Lisa; Poole, Mark (2009). Shining a Light: 50 Years of the Australian Film Institute. Australian Teachers of Media. p. 194. ISBN 1-876467-20-7.
- ^ "John Cundill writing credits". Up the Tibier. Archived from the original on 24 February 2011. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
- ^ "Darren Jonusas editing credits". Jonusas.com. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
External links[]
- "The Official Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts website". (AACTA). Retrieved 27 June 2011.
- "IMDb Australian Film Institute Awards Page". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
Categories:
- AACTA Awards