Foxtel Arts

Foxtel Arts (Channel 133) Foxtel’s High Definition dedicated arts channel is proud to exclusively broadcast the 5th AACTA International Awards this Sunday January 31 at 7.30pm followed by an encore on Arena at 9.30pm.

Foxtel Arts is the home to major Australian and International awards shows including Broadway’s coveted Tony Awards broadcast live and in HD and the live broadcast of the Helpmann Awards. Foxtel Arts continues to support and participate in Australia’s creative industries and arts organisations and as part of this role the channel is proud to add to the prestigious list of awards broadcast, the 5th AACTA International Awards.

Brian Walsh, Foxtel Executive Director of Television, said: “Foxtel’s exclusive broadcast of the AACTA International Awards outlines our on-going commitment to supporting the Australian film and television industry on a global scale. Our sponsorship further extends our support of the domestic AACTA Awards and the governing body of the Academy.”

The AACTA International Awards are held annually in Los Angeles and recognise film excellence regardless of geography. The Awards are determined by the AACTA International Chapter, which is comprised of over 140 of Australia’s most recognised filmmakers and executives who vote across seven categories: Best Film, Best Direction, Best Screenplay, Best Lead Actor, Best Lead Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress.

The 5th AACTA International Awards ceremony will be held at an exclusive event in Los Angeles this Friday January 29 PST (Saturday January 30 AEDT) and attracts Australian and International guests, including actors, filmmakers, studio executives, film distributors and media.

The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) announced that 17 films have received nominations recognising excellence across the seven categories.

Todd Haynes’ CAROL leads the nominations with five nominations and also sees Rooney Mara nominated for Best Supporting Actress, and Cate Blanchett nominated for Best Lead Actress, following SAG and Golden Globe award nods for both performers. CAROL marks the second collaboration between Haynes and Blanchett.

THE BIG SHORT - the story of four outsiders tackling the big banks in the wake of the mid-2000s housing bubble collapse - follows with four nominations, including Best Film and Best Direction for Adam McKay.

Also competing alongside CAROL and THE BIG SHORT for Best Film and Best Direction are George Miller’s dystopian Road War MAD MAX: FURY ROAD which won both categories at the recent AACTA domestic Awards in Sydney.

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD and THE REVENANT received three nominations each, as did STEVE JOBS and THE MARTIAN, which rounds out the nominees for Best Direction with a nod for Ridley Scott.

SPOTLIGHT, the true story of The Boston Globe’s role in uncovering the massive scandal of child abuse and cover up by the Catholic Church, rounds out the five Best Film nominees, and is also nominated for Best Screenplay alongside CAROL, EX MACHINA, THE MARTIAN and STEVE JOBS.

The remaining nine films nominated for the 5th AACTA International Awards all received nominations in acting categories.

Competition in the Best Lead Actor category is fierce, with all five nominees - Steve Carell (THE BIG SHORT), Matt Damon (THE MARTIAN), Leonardo DiCaprio (THE REVENANT), Michael Fassbender (STEVE JOBS) and Eddie Redmayne (THE DANISH GIRL) - also having been nominated for Golden Globes for these performances. Whilst this marks the first nomination from the Australian Academy for Damon, Carell and Redmayne are past nominees, and Fassbender and DiCaprio are past winners for their performances in 12 YEARS A SLAVE and THE GREAT GATSBY respectively.

Best Lead Actress sees Cate Blanchett (CAROL), Brie Larson (ROOM) and Saoirse Ronan (BROOKLYN) nominated and each also competing for SAG and Golden Globe awards for these performances. They compete alongside Emily Blunt for her performance in SICARIO, and Charlize Theron for her performance as Imperator Furiosa in MAD MAX: FURY ROAD.

Fellow Australian and AACTA Award winner Joel Edgerton received a nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in BLACK MASS. He competes alongside Christian Bale (THE BIG SHORT) and Mark Rylance (BRIDGE OF SPIES), whose performances also received SAG and Golden Globe nods. Paul Dano, nominated for his performance as Beach Boys leader Brian Wilson in LOVE AND MERCY, and Benicio del Toro (SICARIO) round out the five nominees for Best Supporting Actor.

Following accolades at the recent 5th AACTA Awards in Sydney for their performances in Australian dramedy THE DRESSMAKER, Judy Davis and Kate Winslet - who both hold BAFTA, EMMY and Golden Globe wins - were today announced as nominees for the AACTA International Award for Best Supporting Actress. Davis is again nominated for her role as Winslet’s eccentric on-screen mother in THE DRESSMAKER, Molly Dunnage, whilst Winslet today received a nod for her role as the fierce and feisty Joanna Hoffman in STEVE JOBS. Also nominated in this category are Alicia Vikander (THE DANISH GIRL), Jennifer Jason Leigh (THE HATEFUL EIGHT) and the aforementioned Rooney Mara (CAROL).

For the full list of nominees for the 5th AACTA International Awards visit www.aacta.org

THE PASSION

Friday 25 March (Good Friday) at 3:00pm Encore 8:30pm.
Repeat 27 March 27 at 6am, 2pm and 6pm .

Grammy Award-winner Seal joins stellar cast in epic television event

Grammy Award-winning recording artist and singer/songwriter Seal has been cast in the role of Pontius Pilate in THE PASSION, an inspirational two-hour epic musical event shot LIVE in New Orleans this week and broadcast on Foxtel Arts this Friday March 25 (Good Friday) at 3:00pm and encored later that evening at 8:30pm. It will be repeated on Easter Sunday, March 27 at 6am, 2pm and 6pm on Foxtel Arts.

Seal joins actor, writer, producer and New Orleans native Tyler Perry (The Haves and The Have Nots/ Gone Girl) who will host and narrate. Three-time Grammy Award winner Trish Yearwood has been cast as Mary, the mother of Jesus and joins singer/songwriter and actor Jencarlos Canela as Jesus Christ and multi-Platinum recording artists Chris Daughtry as Judas and Prince Royce as the disciple Peter.

THE PASSION, written by Peter Barsocchini (“High School Musical”), tells the 2000-year-old story of the last hours of Jesus Christ’s life on earth through passages from the Bible and a variety of contemporary popular music, sung by the cast, and arranged specifically for this event by executive producer and hit music producer Adam Anders (“Glee,” “Rock of Ages”).

FOX has teamed with dick clark productions, the world’s largest producer and proprietor of televised live event entertainment programming, Eye2Eye Media and Anders Media Inc. to produce the event.

Set in modern day, the event will follow the dramatic and inspirational story of Jesus of Nazareth, as he presides over the Last Supper, and then is betrayed by Judas, put on trial by Pontius Pilate, convicted, crucified and resurrected.

The event will unfold live at some of New Orleans’ most iconic locations, while featuring a procession of a thousand people carrying a 20-foot, illuminated cross from outside the Mercedes Benz Superdome to the live stage at Woldenberg Park on the banks of the Mississippi River.

FOXTEL ARTS CELEBRATES WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S 400 YEAR LEGACY

Foxtel Arts, Foxtel’s High Definition dedicated arts channel commemorates the prolific playwright William Shakespeare throughout the month of April dedicating its programming to the extraordinary world and works of The Bard and their still vivid impact today, 400 years after his death.

Foxtel Arts continues to bring extraordinary experiences in Australian arts and the world’s finest performing artists from the greatest opera houses, concert halls and festival stages and, this month, the channel celebrates the legacy of Shakespeare with 16 live recorded performances of Shakespeare’s best works from the iconic Globe Theatre, London airing Sunday to Wednesday evenings at 8.30pm throughout April.

Foxtel Arts’ presenter Leo Schofield hosts all 16 Shakespeare Globe Theatre performances from this Sunday April 3 featuring a raft of Royal Shakespeare Company alumni and showcasing the best of Shakespeare’s comedies, tragedies and historical plays including Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Love Labour’s Lost, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Othello and Twelfth Night featuring an all-male cast including Stephen Fry as Malvolio, Sunday April 10 at 8.30pm.

Shakespeare Uncovered, an extraordinary six-part documentary series combines new analysis of some of Shakespeare’s most famous works with the personal passion of the actors who have starred in them. Interviews with directors, actors and scholars are combined with clips from some of the most celebrated productions to offer a captivating insight for both those new to Shakespeare and those familiar with his plays. The series also features clips from some of the most celebrated productions and excerpts from the plays especially rehearsed and performed at Shakespeare’s Globe.

By combining fascinating personal insights with detailed analysis these films investigate and reveal the extraordinary world and works of Shakespeare, how they have survived over the 400 years and their impact today in a fresh and exciting way.

Shakespeare in Love actor Joseph Fiennes investigates how Romeo and Juliet came to be Shakespeare’s most famous play. He meets writer and critic Bonnie Greer to discuss the play’s remarkable heroine and talks to theatre director Dominic Dromgoole about the play’s enduring appeal. Shakespeare Uncovered- Romeo and Juliet, Sunday April 3 at 7.30pm.

Homeland star David Harewood, the first black actor to play the lead role at the National theatre in London, explores the complexities and contradictions of Othello which is arguably the tightest piece of thriller writing in Shakespeare’s body of work. Shakespeare Uncovered - Othello, Monday April 4 at 7.30pm.

Sex and the City star Kim Cattrall who has played Cleopatra on two occasions explores the truths and myths behind the real Cleopatra and how Shakespeare helped to define the Hollywood version of her that we know today. Shakespeare Uncovered - Antony and Cleopatra, Tuesday April 12 at 7.20pm.

Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville who began his career as an understudy for Ralph Fiennes in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, the most magical of Shakespeare’s comedies, reflects on the play’s enduring appeal with Fiennes, David Walliams and Sheridan Smith.
Shakespeare Uncovered - A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Sunday April 17 at 7.30pm.

Morgan Freeman investigates the role of Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew, a part he played 1990, and explores the origin and the legacy, of Shakespeare’s most notorious comedy. Shakespeare Uncovered - The Taming of the Shrew, Monday April 18 at 7.30pm.

Veteran actor Christopher Plummer who first played the title role in 2002 under the direction of Jonathan Miller, delves into one of the greatest tragedies King Lear. Exploring the power and ethics of authority, King Lear is considered to be one of the most penetrating plays of the human psyche ever written. Shakespeare Uncovered - King Lear, Tuesday April 26 at 7.20pm.

A 400 year legacy in a month long celebration. Shakespeare 400 only on Foxtel Arts.

###70TH ANNUAL TONY AWARDS

Monday 13 June at 10am AEST

James Corden to host Awards with special appearances by Barbra Streisand and Oprah Winfrey

Foxtel Arts channel will broadcast Broadway’s ultimate night of nights the 70th Annual Tony® Awards live and exclusive from the Beacon Theatre in New York City, next Monday June 13 from 10am.

Marking 70 years of excellence on Broadway, The Tony Awards honour theatre professionals for distinguished achievement on Broadway and has been broadcast on CBS since 1978. For the first time, Tony Award winner James Corden of CBS’s “The Late Late Show” will host the Awards. Corden won a Tony Award in 2012 for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play for his performance in One Man, Two Guvnors.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to be hosting the Tony awards. Both times I’ve worked on Broadway have been amongst the happiest times of my professional life. I consider it a huge honour to be asked to host such an incredible night. It’s gonna be fun, I can’t wait to dust off my tap shoes!” said Corden.

Broadway’s biggest night will feature appearances by Oprah Winfrey, Cate Blanchett, Tony Nominees Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, Carole King, Audra McDonald, Saoirse Ronan, Patina Miller and Nathan Lane, among others.

Returning to the Tony Awards stage for the first time since 1970, the legendary Barbra Streisand will present at the 2016 Tony Awards. While Streisand hasn’t appeared on the Tony Awards since 1970, Broadway has never left her. Streisand next releases “ENCORE: Movie Partners Sing Broadway,” her third and long-awaited Broadway album, later in 2016. Streisand’s “The Broadway Album” and “Back to Broadway” released in 1985 and 1993, respectfully, both went multi-platinum.

Receiving a record-breaking 16 Tony Award nominations is the musical Hamilton, alongside Bright Star with five nominations, School of Rock-The Musical with four nominations and Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed with ten nominations.

Mr. Miranda’s show about the Founding Father has taken down the musicals Billy Elliot and The Producers for the record of most Tony nominations received, with the two shows each having 15 nods.

For the category of best actor in a leading role in a play, Mark Strong (A View From the Bridge), Tim Pigott-Smith (King Charles III), Frank Langella (The Father), Jeff Daniels (Blackbird), and Gabriel Byrne (Long Day’s Journey Into Night) are nominated.

Jessica Lange (Long Day’s Journey Into Night), Laurie Metcalf (Misery), Lupita Nyong’o (Eclipsed), Sophie Okonedo (The Crucible), and Michelle Williams (Blackbird) are nominated for best actress in a leading role in a play. In addition to Ms. Soo, She Loves Me actress Laura Benanti is nominated for best actress in a leading role in a musical, as is Bright Star actress Carmen Cusack, The Color Purple actress Cynthia Erivo, and Waitress actress Jessie Mueller.

School of Rock actor Alex Brightman, Fiddler on the Roof actor Danny Burstein, and She Loves Me actor Zachary Levi are nominated for best actor in a leading role in a musical, alongside Miranda and Mr. Odom Jr. Hamilton’s strong presence continues in the category of best actor in a featured role in a musical, with actors Jonathan Groff, Christopher Jackson, and Daveed Diggs receiving nods for their work in Hamilton. Shuffle Along actor Brandon Victor Dixon and Waitress actor Christopher Fitzgerald also received nominations.

Contenders for best performance by an actress in a featured role in a musical are Adrienne Warren for Shuffle Along, Disaster! actress Jennifer Simard, Jane Krakowski for She Loves Me, Danielle Brooks for The Color Purple, and Renée Elise Goldsberry for Hamilton.

The actors who are nominated for best featured actor in a play are Reed Birney for The Humans, Bill Camp for The Crucible, David Furr for Noises Off, Richard Goulding for King Charles III, and Michael Shannon for Long Day’s Journey Into Night. The actresses nominated for best featured actress in a play are Pascale Armand for Eclipsed, Megan Hilty for Noises Off, Jayne Houdyshell for The Humans, Andrea Martin for Noises Off, and Saycon Sengbloh for Eclipsed.

2016 HELPMANN AWARDS

Foxtel Arts is proud to honour excellence in Australia’s vibrant live performance industry in its LIVE broadcast of the prestigious and glamorous 2016 Helpmann Awards, direct from the Sydney Lyric Theatre on the set of Singin’ in the Rain on Monday July 25 at 7.30pm.

The Helpmann Awards, now in its 16th year, will be hosted by some of Australia’s most dynamic performers including Adam Garcia, Helen Dallimore, Guy Noble, Simon Phillips, Queenie van de Zandt, Stuart Maunder AM and The Umbilical Brothers. The Awards Ceremony will also be simulcast on foxtelarts.com.au

The Helpmann Awards recognise distinguished achievement and excellence in Australia’s live performance sectors spanning musical theatre, contemporary music, comedy, opera, classical music, theatre, dance, contemporary music, physical theatre, children’s presentations, regional touring and cabaret.

The awards will also feature spectacular live performances and an array of Australia’s biggest stars with performances by the casts of Matilda the Musical, The Sound of Music, Ladies in Black and Singin’ in the Rain, with individual performances by Marina Prior and Mark Vincent, Sarah Blasko, as well as West Australian Ballet and the 1st prize winner of the Sydney International Piano Competition.

A total of 41 categories will be presented at the 2016 Helpmann Awards. In addition, the prestigious Sue Nattrass Award for outstanding service to the live performance industry will be presented to Michael Lynch CBE AM. The live performance industry’s foremost honour for outstanding contribution to live entertainment in Australia will be presented this year to Stephen Page, in his 25th year as Artistic Director of Bangarra Dance Theatre. This year an additional award will be presented to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival for ‘Outstanding Contribution to the Development of Comedy in Australia’.

Fiddler on the Roof, Ladies in Black, Matilda the Musical and The Sound of Music have all been nominated in the ‘Best Musical’ category.

Nominees for ‘Best Male Actor in a Musical’ are Anthony Warlow (Fiddler on the Roof), Brent Hill (Little Shop of Horrors), James Millar (Matilda the Musical) and Rob Mills (Ghost The Musical). Nominees for ‘Best Female Actor in a Musical’ are Amy Lehpamer (The Sound of Music), Antoinette Halloran (Sweeney Todd), Esther Hannaford (Little Shop of Horrors), Molly Barwick, Dusty Bursill, Tiana Mirra, Alannah Parfett, Sasha Rose, Georgia Taplin, Bella Thomas and Ingrid Torelli (Matilda the Musical).

Piece for Person and Ghetto Blaster, Prize Fighter, North by Northwest and The Bleeding Tree have all been nominated for ‘Best Play’. Nominees for ‘Best Female Actor in a Play’ include Cate Blanchett (The Present), Catherine McClements (The Events), Noni Hazlehurst (Mother) and Paula Arundell (The Bleeding Tree). Nominees for ‘Best Male Actor in a Play’ include Dan Spielman (The Blind Giant is Dancing), Mark Leonard Winter (Birdland), Pacharo Mzembe (Prize Fighter) and Richard Roxburgh (The Present).

The complete list of 2016 nominations, further information and other news about The Helpmann Awards is available at www.helpmannawards.com.au

###Stage & Screen

Returns Wednesday 12 October at 8.00pm

Australia’s diverse and thriving arts scene will be covered in the returning weekly arts guide and review program STAGE & SCREEN hosted by Deborah Hutton. Produced exclusively by Foxtel Arts, Stage & Screen returns Wednesday October 12 at 8.00pm AEST*.

Each week Deborah is joined by regular presenters, Australian iconic movie reviewer Margaret Pomeranz, legendary television critic Graeme Blundell, Australian cultural figure Leo Schofield and one of the country’s foremost arts writers’ Chris Hook from the Daily Telegraph, who provide viewers a snapshot and their critical insights of what’s on show, where and when across theatre, music, opera, dance, visual art, film and television.

Stage & Screen also features unique interviews with arts luminaries and the star performers of cinema, television and the live performing arts, offering insight into the diverse offerings and talent that exists right across the Australian arts and culture landscape.

The return episode features Deborah taking viewers around the country with the latest gig guide of stage, theatre, visual arts, cinema, music and dance while Arts reviewer Chris Hook presents a round-up of musicals including My Fair Lady, Dream Lover and Aladdin. Stage & Screen goes behind the scenes of Aladdin with local boy Ainsley Melham who shines as Aladdin and Michael James Scott as the Genie.

Margaret Pomeranz interviews director Sotiris Dounoukos and lead actor Jerome Meyer of the new Australian film, Joe Cinque’s Consolation and reviews Inferno, the third in the Da Vinci Code franchise and the latest feature documentary Zero Days.

Margaret joins Graeme Blundell to talk television with the much awaited new HBO sci-fi drama West World on showcase, Robert Redford’s American West series on History channel and Deep Water: The Real Story on SBS.

Leo Schofield joins the team in the second episode of Stage & Screen, Wednesday October 19 where he interviews Pumeza, a rising opera star from South Africa who has performed in just about every major venue in the world and Chris Hook gives us a rundown of what we can look to next year in theatre with a look at the 2017 season announcements.

Foxtel Arts, Foxtel’s High Definition dedicated arts channel continues to bring Foxtel subscriber’s extraordinary experiences in Australian arts and the world’s finest performing artists from the greatest opera houses, concert halls and festival stages.

Throughout the week you will find your story, find your vision, find your beat, and find yourself on Foxtel Arts (Channel 133).

  • I think this should be AEDT

###THE ARCHIBALD

Foxtel commissions new local production for Foxtel Arts

A four-part documentary series for 2017

Foxtel announced today the commissioning of a new local production, The Archibald, a four-part documentary series with a distinct visual style that showcases the largest and most popular portraiture competition in the country.

To be screened on Foxtel Arts channel in 2017, The Archibald will take viewers behind the scenes and away from the media front-line, as the series follows the artists and their sitters on their journey as they strive to win this iconic annual prize.

Foxtel Arts continues to bring Foxtel subscribers extraordinary experiences in Australian arts and the world’s finest performing artists from the greatest opera houses, concert halls and festival stages.

Foxtel Arts & Music Group Channel Manager, Fraser Stark said: “What better commission could there be to report than this four-part ‘blue ribbon’ documentary series. Already Foxtel Arts’ audience enjoys watching portraiture competitions in the very popular series, ‘Portrait Artist of the Year’ and this local commission will further satisfy that curiosity and taste. It’s a privilege to see inside the workings of one of the world’s most competitive art prizes and this landmark series offers to extend the channel’s commitment to deep engagement with Australian arts communities and organisations. Naturally we are thrilled to be working with Mint Pictures and the Art Gallery of New South Wales.”

Jacquie Riddell, director of public engagement at the Art Gallery of New South Wales said: “The high profile, eagerly anticipated and often controversial Archibald Prize has captured the imagination of Australians for 96 years, and shows no signs of abating. The Archibald Prize enjoys enduring relevance because it chronicles the changing face of Australia and every year the Archibald Prize tells us new stories that resonate right across the country.

“We’re very pleased to be inviting the cameras behind the scenes at the Art Gallery of New South Wales so we continue to share the captivating stories of the Archibald Prize.”

Produced by Mint Pictures exclusively for Foxtel with major investment from Screen Australia, The Archibald will air on Foxtel Arts in 2017.

Adam Kay, Managing Director of Mint Pictures, said: “Hundreds of thousands of Australians view the Archibald every year, but they only see the end result. We are thrilled to be able to take viewers on the journey to witness the transition from blank canvas to final portraits.”

FOXTEL ARTS ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH SYDNEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Foxtel Arts, Foxtel’s High Definition dedicated arts channel is delighted to announce its new partnership with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra as part of its commitment to the Australian arts community and to bringing the best in Australian fine music performance to Australian screens.

Specifically, the Foxtel Arts partnership with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra will deliver locally-produced orchestral content made for Foxtel in high-definition which will complement the rich international orchestral programming that already plays each week on the channel.

Founded in 1932 by the Australian Broadcasting Commission, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO) is an orchestra of world standing and a significant thread in the cultural fabric of our nation. One of the seven resident companies of the iconic Sydney Opera House, the orchestra performs approximately 150 concerts each year to an annual audience of over 350,000. As a state symphony orchestra and custodian of orchestral music, the SSO not only performs core symphonic repertoire but commissions new works by Australian and international composers to ensure the vibrancy of the art-form for generations to come.

In April 2017 audiences will be able to watch the SSO under the baton of David Robertson in The Desert Music by renowned American composer Steve Reich and Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring, in the first broadcast under this new partnership. Robertson said the orchestration of Desert Music is “just sensational”.

“When you have a 90-piece orchestra on stage, man this piece is gorgeous! It is just out of this world,” he said. “Desert Music and The Rite of Spring say some very fascinating things about people and how we work as a species.”

Foxtel Arts & Music Channels Manager, Fraser Stark said: “Having experienced David Robertson conducting the Stravinsky/Reich programme I am very happy indeed that Foxtel Arts’ audience will be brought to the concert hall via the channel. After recently establishing a number of Australian orchestral broadcast partnerships it is most pleasing indeed that our offering will now include concerts from the great Sydney Symphony Orchestra.”

Rory Jeffes, Managing Director of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Foxtel Arts. Together we will offer audiences around Australia the opportunity to see our orchestra performing at its home, the Sydney Opera House, with our Chief Conductor David Robertson and some of the world’s best classical music soloists.”

###6th AACTA INTERNATIONAL AWARDS

Sunday 8 January at 7.30pm at AEDT

HOSTED BY DANIEL MACPHERSON

Australian Academy announces Nominees for 6th AACTA International Awards

Foxtel Arts (Channel 133) Foxtel’s High Definition dedicated arts channel is proud to exclusively broadcast the 6th AACTA International Awards hosted by Australian actor and presenter Daniel MacPherson on Sunday January 8 at 7.30pm followed by an encore on Arena at 9.30pm and further encores the following day on Foxtel Arts.

Foxtel Arts is the home to major Australian and International awards shows including Broadway’s coveted Tony Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards® and the Helpmann Awards all broadcast live and in HD. Foxtel Arts continues to support and participate in Australia’s creative industries and arts organisations and as part of this role the channel is proud to add the 6th AACTA International Awards to the prestigious list of awards broadcast.

The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA), today announced the twelve films nominated for the 6th AACTA International Awards across seven categories – Best Film, Best Direction, Best Screenplay, Best Lead Actor, Best Lead Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress.

MANCHESTER BY THE SEA leads the way with six nominations, followed closely by LA LA LAND and Australian films LION and HACKSAW RIDGE (fresh from receiving nine Awards at the 6th AACTA Awards presented by Foxtel in Sydney last week), with five nominations each.

LION and HACKSAW RIDGE will compete alongside ARRIVAL, LA LA LAND and MANCHESTER BY THE SEA for both Best Film and Best Direction.

Mel Gibson’s Best Direction nomination follows his win at the Sydney hosted AACTA Awards last week and marks his return to the international Awards circuit, 20 years after winning an Oscar® and Golden Globe for BRAVEHEART.

Following their nominations for Golden Globe Awards yesterday, Australian actors Joel Edgerton (LOVING) and Nicole Kidman (LION), received International AACTA Award nominations for Best Lead Actor and Best Supporting Actress respectively.

Fellow Australian’s also receiving nominations are: Teresa Palmer (HACKSAW RIDGE), who is nominated alongside Nicole Kidman for Best Supporting Actress; Luke Davies (LION) who is nominated for Best Screenplay; Andrew Knight (HACKSAW RIDGE) also nominated for Best Screenplay; and Garth Davis (LION) who is nominated alongside Mel Gibson for Best Direction.

NOMINEES

AACTA International Award for Best Film
• ARRIVAL
• HACKSAW RIDGE
• LA LA LAND
• LION
• MANCHESTER BY THE SEA

AACTA International Award for Best Direction
• ARRIVAL – Denis Villeneuve
• HACKSAW RIDGE – Mel Gibson
• LA LA LAND – Damien Chazelle
• LION – Garth Davis
• MANCHESTER BY THE SEA – Kenneth Lonergan

AACTA International Award for Best Screenplay
• HACKSAW RIDGE – Andrew Knight, Robert Schenkkan
• HELL OR HIGH WATER – Taylor Sheridan
• LA LA LAND – Damien Chazelle
• LION – Luke Davies
• MANCHESTER BY THE SEA – Kenneth Lonergan

AACTA International Award for Best Lead Actress
• Amy Adams – ARRIVAL
• Isabel Huppert – ELLE
• Ruth Negga – LOVING
• Natalie Portman – JACKIE
• Emma Stone – LA LA LAND

AACTA International Award for Best Lead Actor
• Casey Affleck – MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
• Joel Edgerton – LOVING
• Andrew Garfield – HACKSAW RIDGE
• Ryan Gosling – LA LA LAND
• Denzel Washington – FENCES

AACTA International Award for Best Supporting Actress
• Viola Davis – FENCES
• Naomie Harris – MOONLIGHT
• Nicole Kidman – LION
• Teresa Palmer – HACKSAW RIDGE
• Michelle Williams – MANCHESTER BY THE SEA

AACTA International Award for Best Supporting Actor
• Mahershala Ali – MOONLIGHT
• Jeff Bridges – HELL OR HIGH WATER
• Lucas Hedges – MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
• Dev Patel – LION
• Michael Shannon – NOCTURNAL ANIMALS

Winners of the 6th AACTA International Awards will be announced in Los Angeles on Friday 6 January 2017 at an exclusive ceremony telecast on Foxtel Arts on Sunday January 8 at 7.30pm.

Held at The Avalon Hollywood the event will be hosted by Australian actor and presenter Daniel MacPherson. Best known for his roles in THE SHANNARA CHRONICLES, THE BILL, CITY HOMICIDE and features INFINI and Simon Wincer’s THE CUP, Daniel is also one of Australia’s most highly regarded television presenters, hosting seven series of DANCING WITH THE STARS as well as the first season of X-FACTOR AUSTRALIA.

Daniel will also be seen on Fox’s new US hi-tech crime series APB which will air on Foxtel’s FOX8 in February 2017.

Daniel MacPherson’s upcoming features include Disney’s highly anticipated epic A WRINKLE IN TIME directed by Ava DuVernay, Shane Abbess’ SCIENCE FICTION VOLUME ONE: THE OSIRIS CHILD, and the lead in the US independent feature GENERATIONAL SINS as well as the lead role in the sixth season of the action series STRIKE BACK for Cinemax.

Foxtel Executive Director of Television Brian Walsh said: “Foxtel’s exclusive broadcast of the AACTA International Awards on our Foxtel Arts channel outlines our ongoing commitment to supporting the Australian film and television industry on a global scale. Our sponsorship further extends our support of the domestic AACTA Awards and the governing body of the Academy.”

Of the announcement today, AFI | AACTA CEO Damian Trewhella said: “Australian performers, practitioners and productions are consistently acknowledged among the world’s best screen talent by international screen organisations. The AACTA International Awards give Australian filmmakers the opportunity to participate in the global conversation of screen excellence and allows us to honour the world’s best, regardless of geography.

“This year’s Nominees include actors, directors and screenwriters who truly represent international excellence, and it’s brilliant to see Nicole Kidman, Joel Edgerton, Garth Davis, Mel Gibson and home-grown productions LION and HACKSAW RIDGE nominated alongside international talent for the Awards.

71st ANNUAL TONY AWARDS

Live Monday 12 June at 10am

Foxtel Arts channel will broadcast Broadway’s ultimate night of nights the 71st Annual Tony® Awards live and exclusive from Radio City Music Hall in New York City on Monday June 12 from 10am.

Marking 71 years of excellence on Broadway, The Tony Awards honour theatre professionals for distinguished achievement on Broadway and has been broadcast on CBS since 1978 and are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing.

For the first time, Tony Award winner Kevin Spacey will host the Tony’s. Spacey won a Tony Award in 1991 for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance in “Lost in Yonkers.” The Award-winning producer and actor, has also starred in the Broadway and West End productions of “Long Day’s Journey into Night,” opposite his mentor Jack Lemmon; as well as the title role in the Sam Mendes production of “Richard III”.

Spacey has been nominated for multiple Emmys and has won both Golden Globe and SAG Award for his performance as Frank Underwood in “House of Cards”. He has also won Academy Awards for his performances in “The Usual Suspects” and for “American Beauty”. He was most recently seen opposite Michael Shannon in “Elvis & Nixon” and will next be seen in “Billionaire Boys Club”, Edgar Wright’s “Baby Driver,” and "Rebel In The Rye”.

“I was their 2nd choice for Usual Suspects, 4th choice for America Beauty and 15th choice to host this year’s Tony Awards. I think my career is definitely going in the right direction,” said Spacey. “Maybe I can get shortlisted to host the Oscars if everyone else turns it down.”

Nominations were announced overnight with musical Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 earning 12 nominations more than any other show. An offbeat pop opera, based on a slice of Tolstoy’s “War and Peace”, it stars Josh Groban and leads the nominations in the category for Best Musical alongside Come From Away, about a Canadian town that sheltered travellers after the terrorist attacks of 2001, Dear Evan Hansen, about an anxiety-ridden adolescent who insinuates himself into the life of a grieving family and Groundhog Day The Musical, an adaptation of the Bill Murray Film.

Hello, Dolly! scored 10 nominations, including for its stars Bette Midler and David Hyde Pierce and for Best Revival of a Musical, against Falsettos and Miss Saigon.

In addition to Bette Midler and David Hyde Pierce, Tony Awards were given to other known performers including our very own Cate Blanchett for The Play “The Present”, Josh Groban for “Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812”, Kevin Kline for the Play “Present Laughter”, Laurie Metcalf for the Play “A Doll’s House”, as well as Sally Field for the Play “The Glass Menagerie”, Danny De Vito for the Play “The Price”, Nathan Lane for the Play “The Front Page” and Laura Linney and Cynthia Nixon for the play “Lillian Hellman’s The Little Foxes”.

Best performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play nominations are Denis Arndt (Heisenberg), Chris Cooper (A Doll’s House, Part 2), Corey Hawkins (Six Degrees of Separation), Kevin Kline (Present Laughter) and Jefferson Mays (Oslo).

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play is our very own Cate Blanchett (The Present), alongside Jennifer Ehle (Oslo), Sally Field (The Glass Menagerie), Laura Linney (Lillian Hellman’s The Little Foxes) and Laurie Metcalf (A Doll’s House, Part 2).

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical are Christian Borle, (Falsettos), Josh Groban (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812), Andy Karl (Groundhog Day The Musical), David Hyde Pierce (Hello, Dolly!) and Ben Platt (Dear Evan Hansen).

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical are Denee Benton (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812), Christine Ebersole (War Paint), Patti LuPone (War Paint),
Bette Midler (Hello, Dolly!) and Eva Noblezada (Miss Saigon).

Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre are James Earl Jones and the Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre to Nina Lannan and Alan Wasser.

For more information on the Tony Awards, visit TonyAwards.com and Facebook.com/TheTonyAwards and follow @TheTonyAwards on Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat.

THE 71st ANNUAL TONY AWARDS, LIVE and ONLY on Foxtel Arts, Monday, June 12 from 10am AEST
With a special encore screening Monday June 12 at 8.30pm AEST.

###2017 HELPMANN AWARDS

Monday 24 July

Foxtel Arts is proud to honour excellence in Australia’s vibrant live performance industry in its LIVE broadcast of the prestigious and glamorous 2017 Helpmann Awards, direct from the set of Kinky Boots at the Capitol Theatre on Monday July 24 at 7.30pm.

The Helpmann Awards, now in its 17th year, will be hosted by some of Australia’s most dynamic performers including Queenie van de Zandt, Brooke Satchwell, Trevor Ashley, Garry Stewart, David McAllister AM, Stephen Page AM, Richard Mills AM, Emma Mathews, Lyndon Terracini AM, Charles Edwards, Jimmy Barnes AO and Foxtel stars Tim Draxl (A Place To Call Home), Deborah Hutton (Foxtel Arts host) and Kate Mulvany (Fighting Season).

The Helpmann Awards are the premier celebration of Australia’s vibrant live performance industry and recognise distinguished achievement and excellence in Australia’s live performance sectors including musical theatre, contemporary music, comedy, opera, classical music, theatre, ballet, dance and physical theatre, presentation for children, regional touring and cabaret.

The awards will also feature spectacular live performances and an array of Australia’s biggest stars with performances by the casts of musicals ‘My Fair Lady’ with Reg Livermore, ‘Kinky Boots’, ‘Disney’s Aladdin’, ‘The Book of Mormon’ and ‘Beautiful: The Carole King Musical’ featuring Dami Im and the star of the show Esther Hannaford.

The Living End’s Chris Cheney and Grinspoons’ Phil Jamieson are joined by the cast of Green Day’s ‘American Idiot’ to perform “21 Guns”.

Australian Dance Theatre performs a tribute to choreographer Tanja Liedtke with her International success ‘Construct’.

The Sydney Children’s Choir present a piece by Sally Whitwell ‘Lux Aeterna’ for the In Memoriam and the cabaret circus hit ‘Velvet’ starring Foxtel Smooth host Marcia Hines closes the night.

A total of 42 categories will be presented at the 2017 Helpmann Awards. Richard Tognetti AO, Artistic Director of the Australian Chamber Orchestra, will be the recipient of the 2017 JC Williamson Award. This award is bestowed on an individual who has made a truly outstanding contribution to the enrichment of Australia’s live performance culture and shaped the future of the industry for the better. Additionally, Rob Brookman AM will be the recipient of this year’s Sue Nattrass Award which honours an exceptional individual in a service role that supports the industry.

Aladdin, Kinky Boots, My Fair Lady and The Book of Mormon have all been nominated in the ‘Best Musical’ category.

Nominees for ‘Best Male Actor in a Musical’ are Ainsley Melham (Aladdin), AJ Holmes (The Book of Mormon), Callum Francis (Kinky Boots) and Charles Edwards (My Fair Lady).

Amy Lehpamer (DUSTY), Anna O’Byrne (My Fair Lady), Sophie Wright (Kinky Boots) and Zahra Newman (The Book of Mormon) have all been nominated for ‘Best Female Actor in a Musical’.

Jasper Jones, Once In Royal David’s City, The Drover’s Wife and Things I Know To Be True have all been nominated for ‘Best Play’.

Nominees for ‘Best Female Actor in a Play’ include Alison Whyte (Faith Healer), Helen Morse (John), Kate Mulvany (Richard 3) and Leah Purcell (The Drover’s Wife).

Nominees for ‘Best Male Actor in a Play’ include Colin Friels (Faith Healer), Jason Chong (Chimerica), Jason Klarwein (Once In Royal David’s City) and Mark Cole Smith (The Drover’s Wife).

The complete list of 2017 nominations, further information and other news about the Helpmann Awards is available at www.helpmannawards.com.au/mediaresources/.

###The Archibald Prize

Tuesday 12 September at 7.30pm

Features 2017 Archibald Prize finalists Nicholas Harding and Yvette Coppersmith

The Archibald Prize is Australia’s most popular and coveted art prize. Being awarded to portraits of prominent Australians the iconic prize is no stranger to intrigue and controversy across its 96-year history.

In 2017 the Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW) provided cameras unprecedented access to competitors, their work and the hidden internal processes by which the Archibald is judged, hung, announced and exhibited. The resulting four-part documentary series, The Archibald, will premiere on Tuesday September 12 at 7.30pm on Foxtel Arts.

Following the announcement today of the 2017 Archibald Prize finalists by the AGNSW, two of the eight artists featured in the series have been selected in the Archibald Prize – former Prize winner Nicholas Harding and three-time finalist Yvette Coppersmith.

The Archibald will take viewers behind the scenes and away from the media front-line, as the series follows the artists and their sitters as they strive to win the most iconic prize in Australian arts.

The Archibald follows the highs and lows of a clutch of artists ranging from three former Archibald Prize winners, four former finalists and a newcomer to the scene all vying to have their portraits hung in the prestigious exhibition. Their complete journeys from the artists’ first approach to their sitters through to their final portraits are captured across Australia as well as overseas in Afghanistan, Hollywood, London, and Paris.

The Archibald has an all-access pass to the Art Gallery of NSW and for the first time, cameras capture the deliberations as the submissions pass the judges and they announce the final portraits. Following which, the 2017 Archibald Prize winner is revealed.

Fraser Stark, Group Channel Manager of Foxtel’s Arts & Music channels said: “Part of Foxtel Arts’ mission is to be an active participant in, and observer of, Australia’s arts communities and institutions. By opening up for our customers such an unprecedented look inside the journey to the Archibald Prize we are certainly hitting that mark squarely. Mint Pictures has produced an insightful and revealing documentary series of which the channel is proud. We thank the AGNSW for their willing collaboration and for their trust in the quality of our treatment.”

Artists featured in The Archibald are:

Dr George Gittoes AM
Art Style: Figurative Modernism
Archibald Finalist: 5 Times (1997 John Olsen, 1995 General John Sanderson, 1994 Self Portrait, 1993 Ronaldo Cameron, 1991/92 William Yang)
2017 Archibald Sitter: Julian Assange (Founder of WikiLeaks)
“I don’t think there’s anyone you’d ever want to paint that you’d take a bullet for – but I’d take one for Julian.”

Jason Phu
Art Style: Chinese Landscape
Archibald Finalist: 2 Times (2015 Lisa Havilah, 2014 Evan Hughes)
2017 Archibald Sitter: Lin Jong (AFL Player - Western Bulldogs)
“Sometimes you talk to artists, and they say they have to paint every single day, every minute. I think maybe that’s like a mental illness or something.”

Nicholas Harding
Art Style: Expressive Realism
Archibald Finalist: 17 Times (including 13 years in a row from 1994 to 2006)
Archibald Winner, 2001 (portrait of John Bell as King Lear)
People’s Choice Winner, 2005 (portrait of artist Robert Dickerson, Bob’s daily swim)
2017 Archibald Sitter: John Olsen (one of Australia’s greatest living artists)
“The thing about portraiture and painting… it’s a very difficult pleasure, as Brett Whiteley put it.”

Nick Stathopoulos
Art Style: Hyperrealism
Archibald Finalist: 5 Times (2016 Deng Adut, 2012 Fenella Kernebone, 2010 Geoff Ostling, 2008 David Stratton, 2003 Norman Hetherington)
People’s Choice Winner, 2016 (portrait of Deng Adut, Sudanese refugee and lawyer)
2017 Archibald Sitter: Isla Fisher (award-winning actress & children’s book author)
“I’ve been described as the Hillary Clinton of the Archibald – she won the popular vote, but didn’t win the election.”

Wendy Sharpe
Art Style: Figurative / Expressionistic
Archibald Finalist: 6 Times
Archibald Winner, 1996 (Self Portrait – as Diana of Erskineville)
2017 Archibald Sitter: Elena Kats-Chernin (Award-winning Composer)
“I really am the quintessential romantic artist.”

Yvette Coppersmith
Art Style: Figurative / Abstract
Archibald Finalist: 3 Times (2016 self portrait, 2009 John Safran, 2008 Paul Capsis)
2017 Archibald Sitter: Prof Gillian Triggs (President, Australian Human Rights Commission)
“Portraiture is my first love.”
“That’s the problem with the Archibald – it’s kind of like asking a total stranger to marry you.”

Tessa McOnie
Art Style: Realism / Hyperrealism
Archibald Finalist: Never been a finalist before
2017 Archibald Sitter: Trevor Jamieson (Actor)
“When you’re just starting out, you think the Archibald is unreachable.”

Tim Storrier AM
Art Style: Genre Landscape
Archibald Finalist: 3 Times (2014, 2012, 2011)
Archibald Winner, 2012 (self portrait The histrionic wayfarer (after Bosch))
Packing Room Prize Winner, 2014 (The Member, Dr Sir Leslie Colin Patterson KCB AO)
2017 Archibald Sitter: McLean Edwards (Archibald-finalist Artist)
“A good portrait should give you a slight quiver… or maybe even a small shock as to recognition of this human being, even if you don’t know them.”

Following its broadcast on Foxtel Arts, The Archibald will be available to watch from Foxtel’s on demand library.

The Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes exhibition is at the Art Gallery of NSW from Saturday July 29 through to Sunday October 22.

The Archibald is produced by Mint Pictures exclusively for Foxtel with major investment from Screen Australia.

Foxtel Arts – throughout the week you will find your story, find your vision, find your beat, and find your self on Foxtel Arts, Channel 133. www.foxtelarts.com.au

7th AACTA International Awards

FOXTEL ARTS

Sunday 7 January at 8.30pm AEST

Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts announces Nominees for the 7th AACTA International Awards

Foxtel Arts, Foxtel’s High Definition dedicated arts channel is proud to exclusively broadcast the 7th AACTA International Awards on Sunday January 7 at 8.30pm followed by encores on Monday January 8 at 6pm and Wednesday January 10 at 7.30pm.

Foxtel Arts is the home to awards shows including Broadway’s coveted Tony Awards and Screen Actors Guild Awards® broadcast live and in HD. Foxtel Arts continues to support and participate in Australia’s creative industries and arts organisations and as part of this role the channel is proud to add the 7th AACTA International Awards to the prestigious list of awards broadcast, with winners being announced in Los Angeles on Friday 5 January at an exclusive ceremony held at The Avalon Hollywood.

The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA), has today announced the nominees for the 7th AACTA International Awards. A total of 15 films have received nominations this year, with CALL ME BY YOUR NAME, LADY BIRD and THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI leading the way with five nominations each.

Best Film nominations follow American Film Institute Movie of the Year acknowledgements for all five nominees: CALL ME BY YOUR NAME, DUNKIRK, LADY BIRD, THE SHAPE OF WATER and THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI.

Fresh from receiving two Awards at the Sydney-hosted AACTA Awards last week, Nicole Kidman continues an incredible year with her second consecutive AACTA International Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER. Nicole is chasing her second consecutive win, having won the Award earlier this year for LION.

This year also sees over three quarters of nominees receive their first AACTA nominations, including: Greta Gerwig (LADY BIRD), Christopher Nolan (DUNKIRK), Allison Janney (I, TONYA), Gary Oldman (DARKEST HOUR), Frances McDormand (THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI), Willem Dafoe (THE FLORIDA PROJECT) and Australian actress Margot Robbie, who follows her first Golden Globe nomination with her first AACTA International Award nomination for Best Lead Actress for I, TONYA.
Fellow Australians also receiving nominations are: Hugh Jackman (LOGAN), Ben Mendelsohn (DARKEST HOUR), Abbie Cornish (THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI) and Australian director Craig Gillespie (I, TONYA).

“Now in our seventh year, we are delighted to continue celebrating international excellence within the film industry, honouring the world’s best performers, practitioners and productions,” said AFI | AACTA CEO Damian Trewhella. “It’s great to see our International Chapter members adding their uniquely Australian perspective to the conversations, with a number of nominations for Australians who have excelled on the world stage. We are very proud to count these Australian filmmakers among our nominees and I congratulate all the nominees and wish them every success during the upcoming Awards season.”

Foxtel Executive Director of Television Brian Walsh said, “We are proud to partner with AACTA and bring our subscribers the official broadcast of the AACTA International Awards from Los Angeles on Foxtel Arts. This special event outlines our ongoing commitment to supporting the Australian film and television industry on a global scale.”

NOMINEES

AACTA International Award for Best Film
• CALL ME BY YOUR NAME
• DUNKIRK
• LADY BIRD
• THE SHAPE OF WATER
• THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI

AACTA International Award for Best Direction
• CALL ME BY YOUR NAME – Luca Guadagnino
• DUNKIRK – Christopher Nolan
• I, TONYA – Craig Gillespie
• LADY BIRD – Greta Gerwig
• THE SHAPE OF WATER – Guillermo del Toro

AACTA International Award for Best Screenplay
• CALL ME BY YOUR NAME – James Ivory
• DUNKIRK – Christopher Nolan
• GET OUT – Jordan Peele
• LADY BIRD – Greta Gerwig
• THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI – Martin McDonagh

AACTA International Award for Best Lead Actress
• Judi Dench – VICTORIA & ABDUL
• Sally Hawkins – THE SHAPE OF WATER
• Frances McDormand – THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI
• Margot Robbie – I, TONYA
• Saoirse Ronan – LADY BIRD

AACTA International Award for Best Lead Actor
• Timothée Chalamet – CALL ME BY YOUR NAME
• Daniel Day-Lewis – PHANTOM THREAD
• Hugh Jackman – LOGAN
• Daniel Kaluuya – GET OUT
• Gary Oldman – DARKEST HOUR

AACTA International Award for Best Supporting Actress
• Mary J. Blige – MUDBOUND
• Abbie Cornish – THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI
• Allison Janney – I, TONYA
• Nicole Kidman – THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER
• Laurie Metcalf – LADY BIRD

AACTA International Award for Best Supporting Actor
• Willem Dafoe – THE FLORIDA PROJECT
• Armie Hammer – CALL ME BY YOUR NAME
• Tom Hardy – DUNKIRK
• Ben Mendelsohn – DARKEST HOUR
• Sam Rockwell – THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI

Update:

The 7th AACTA International Awards will be broadcast in Australia exclusively on Foxtel Arts on Sunday January 7 at 8.30pm, with encores on Monday January 8 at 6pm and Wednesday January 10 at 7:30pm. Following its broadcast on Foxtel Arts, the 7th AACTA International Awards will be available to watch from Foxtel’s on demand library on internet enabled iQ set top boxes.

Pointless event. The Academy Awards and The Golden Globes exquisitely honour achievement in western cinema. There are numerous other pointless cinema awards, why is AACTA bothering wasting money on another one.

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24TH ANNUAL SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS®

LIVE ON FOXTEL ARTS

Monday January 22 at 12pm AEDT

Foxtel Arts is proud to exclusively broadcast the 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards LIVE next Monday January 22 at 12pm followed by an encore at 7.30pm.

Foxtel is the home to major Australian and International awards shows including Broadway’s coveted Tony Awards and the International AACTA Awards on Foxtel Arts. The channel continues to support and participate in Australia’s creative industries and arts organisations and as part of this role the channel is proud to add the Screen Actors Guild Awards® to the prestigious list of awards broadcast.

The 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®, one of the awards season’s premiere events, the SAG Awards® annually celebrates the outstanding motion pictures and television performances from the previous calendar year.

Kristen Bell (The Good Place, Frozen) will host the 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®, the first time the Awards have had a host, breaking a long-standing custom by inviting the multi-faceted actor to fill this prestigious role.

Halle Berry, Dakota Fanning, Lupita Nyong’o, Emma Stone and Kelly Marie Tran have been announced as presenters at the 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®, as well as cast nominated in the category ‘Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture’ including Mary J. Blige, Jason Clarke, Woody Harrelson, Holly Hunter, Daniel Kaluuya, Zoe Kazan, Frances McDormand, Laurie Metcalf, Kumail Nanjiani, Sam Rockwell, Ray Romano, Saoirse Ronan and Allison Williams.

The SAG Awards, this year will honour Academy Award winning actor Morgan Freeman with a lifetime achievement award. Morgan Freeman is one of the most recognizable figures in American cinema. His works are among the most critically and commercially successful films of all time.

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri leads the film category nominations while HBO’s Big Little Lies, telecast on Foxtel’s showcase and on demand, leads the television category.

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri nominations include ‘Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture’ which includes Australian actresses Abbie Cornish and Samara Weaving, ‘Outstanding Performance by Female Actor in a Leading Role’ for Frances McDormand and ‘Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role’ for Woody Harrelson and Sam Rockwell.

Lady Bird follows with three nominations for ‘Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture’, ‘Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role’ for Saoirse Ronan and ‘Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role’ for Laurie Metcalf.

In the television field, Big Little Lies has scooped four nominations with three of the series’ actresses Laura Dern, Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon contenders for ‘Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series’ and leading man Alexander Skarsgard receiving a nomination for ‘Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series’.

Another Foxtel blockbuster in the television drama category is HBO’s Game of Thrones with three nominations including ‘Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series’.

SCREEN

with Margaret Pomeranz and Graeme Blundell

Premieres Wednesday 7 March at 7.30pm

Screen sees the return of Australia’s favourite and iconic film reviewer Margaret Pomeranz who joins forces with legendary actor, writer and national television critic for The Australian Graeme Blundell. The respected duo will do what they do best; critiquing cinema releases and television every week, Wednesdays from March 7 at 7.30pm on Foxtel Arts.

Screen, a Foxtel Original, will also feature unique and insightful interviews with creative talent from in front of and behind the camera. Arguably, the combined knowledge of Pomeranz and Blundell’s local and international entertainment industries is unmatched by any other program, bringing Foxtel viewers their un-rivalled expertise and insight of both the silver and television screen.
The first two episodes feature Margaret Pomeranz as she interviews Australian director Stephan Elliot, who talks about his recent film Swingin’ Safari and the challenges faced by the filmmaker and also takes a look at Best Foreign Film Oscar nominee The Square and Afghanistan set war drama 12 Strong starring Chris Hemsworth. On the small screen, Graeme takes a look at a new documentary on National Geographic, Jane which explores the legacy of scientist Jane Goodall and ABC’s Harrow and Here and Now on showcase.

To wrap up the first episode, Margaret and Graeme share their thoughts on this year’s Oscar nominees and Margaret reveals whether she believed there were any five-star contenders.

Margaret Pomeranz said: “I’m really excited to be part of a program where I can revel in my passion for film. It’s great to be teaming up with Graeme again and we’re really pleased to be contributing to conversations about events on the small screen and large.”

Graeme Blundell said: “I’ve been writing about film and TV for more than two decades and appearing on screen for more years than I can remember, without the aid of hypnosis. Nothing fills me with more pleasure than appearing with Margaret Pomeranz again for Foxtel Arts, looking at the ideas behind film and TV shows and how they entertain us. Or not.”

Fraser Stark, General Manager of Foxtel’s Arts & Music Channels said: “Who wouldn’t want to sit down for a clever conversation with Margaret Pomeranz and Graeme Blundell? They are utterly charming – their informed perspectives on film and TV, their spontaneous humour and warmth make them a treat for viewers and a coup for Foxtel Arts.”

Following its broadcast on Foxtel Arts, Screen will be available to watch from Foxtel’s on demand library on internet enabled iQ set top boxes. Screen will also be available as a podcast for fans to engage with across all podcast platforms.

How different is this to the original (messy) incarnation?

THE 72nd ANNUAL TONY AWARDS

Monday 11 June

Foxtel Arts channel will broadcast Broadway’s ultimate night of nights the 72nd Annual Tony Awards® live and exclusive from Radio City Music Hall in New York City on Monday June 11 from 10am and encored at 8.30pm that evening and also available On Demand*.

Marking 72 years of excellence on Broadway, The Tony Awards honour theatre professionals for distinguished achievement on Broadway and has been broadcast on CBS since 1978 and are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing.

Singer, songwriter and Tony nominee Sara Bareilles and Tony Award nominated actor, singer and songwriter Josh Groban will host together the 72nd Annual Tony Awards®. This will be both Bareilles and Groban’s first time hosting the show.

Nominations announced

Nominations in 26 competitive categories for the American Theatre Wing’s 72nd Annual Antoinette Perry “Tony” Awards® were announced overnight. Mean Girls and SpongeBob SquarePants come out on top with 12 nods each including Best Musical and The Band’s Visit with 11 nominations and Frozen which earned three nods.

Also earning 11 nominations were the Broadway revivals of Angels in America (becoming the most-nominated play in Broadway Tony history) and Carousel, with Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and My Fair Lady trailing closely behind with ten.
Five nominated performers represented the two leading shows: Mean Girls’ Taylor Louderman, Ashley Park, and Grey Henson, and SpongeBob SquarePants’ Ethan Slater and Gavin Lee.

It was also announced that a Special Tony Award will be presented to both John Leguizamo and Bruce Springsteen. Leguizamo will be recognised for his body of work and for his commitment to the theatre, bringing diverse stories and audiences to Broadway for three decades. Springsteen is receiving a Special Tony Award for his ongoing engagement “Springsteen on Broadway,” a once-in-a-lifetime theatre going experience for the Broadway stage, allowing fans an intimate look at a music idol.

As previously announced, the 2018 Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre will be presented to Andrew Lloyd Webber and Chita Rivera.

Best Play nominations are The Children, by Lucy Kirkwood, Farinelli and The King, by Claire van Kampen, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two, by Jack Thorne, Junk, by Ayad Akhtar and Latin History for Morons, by John Leguizamo.

Best Musical nominations are The Band’s Visit, Frozen, Mean Girls and SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical.

Best Revival of a Play nominations are Angels in America, Edward Albee’s Three Tall Women, Eugene O’Neill’s The Iceman Cometh, Lobby Hero and Travesties.

Best Revival of a Musical nominations are My Fair Lady, Once On This Island and Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel.

Best performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play nominations are Andrew Garfield (Angels in America), Tom Hollander (Travesties), Jamie Parker (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two), Mark Rylance (Farinelli and The King) and Denzel Washington (Eugene O’Neill’s The Iceman Cometh).

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play nominations are Glenda Jackson (Edward Albee’s Three Tall Women), Condola Rashad (Saint Joan), Lauren Ridloff (Children of a Lesser God) and Amy Schumer (Meteor Shower).

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical nominations are Harry Hadden-Paton, (My Fair Lady) Joshua Henry (Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel), Tony Shalhoub, (The Band’s Visit) and Ethan Slater (SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical).

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical nominations are Lauren Ambrose, (My Fair Lady) Hailey Kilgore, (Once On This Island), LaChanze, (Summer: The Donna Summer Musical), Katrina Lenk (The Band’s Visit), Taylor Louderman (Mean Girls) and Jessie Mueller (Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel).

For the full list of nominations visit TonyAwards.com.

The 72nd Annual Tony Awards® LIVE and ONLY on Foxtel Arts, Monday, June 11 from 10am AEST, with a special encore screening Monday June 11 at 8.30pm AEST. Also available to stream *On Demand on internet-connected iQ set-top-boxes.

So I was watching the Tonys today on Foxtel’s Arts channel and following a US based reaction topic. Robert de Niro clearly said “Fuck Trump” when introducing Springsteen, but the US viewers had no idea what he had said. I thought we would have had the same feed as CBS.