FCCA SHELL OUT TOP TROPHIES FOR MEMOIR OF A SNAIL

Oscar-winner Adam Elliott can now add three Film Critics Circle of Australia gongs to his trophy cabinet after his latest stop-motion gem Memoir of a Snail topped the winner’s list at the 2024 FCCA Awards ceremony last night.

Despite not being able to attend, Elliott expressed his gratitude via two separate pre-recorded video messages as his film’s dominance became apparent, ultimately earning Best Film, Best Director and Best Screenplay honours. He pointed out that award recognition represented “crowbars” for independent filmmakers, opening doors to financing and distribution opportunities.

Other category winners represented an even spread across the best of Australian filmmaking in 2024. Best Actor went to industry veteran Hugo Weaving for his role as a bushland hermit in Mark Leonard Winter’s The Rooster (pictured, right). Lenser Andrew Commis, a previous FCCA winner for High Ground (2022), took Best Cinematography for Robert Connolly’s Force of Nature: The Dry 2.

Up against a star-studded list of Best Actress nominees including Sarah Snook and Anna Torv, Phoebe Tonkin triumphed for her portrayal of a tough-as-nails single mom in Paul Goldman’s Kid Snow (pictured, below); the director accepted on the actress’ behalf. Supporting performances to feel FCCA member’s love were Damon Herriman for Michael Gracey’s Better Man and Ingrid Tonelli for Colin and Cameron Cairnes’ Late Night with The Devil.

In the most dramatic moment of the night’s pacey proceedings, the Best Documentary Feature prize was split amongst dual winners. First announced was James Bradley’s Welcome to Babel, a profile of Chinese-Australian artist Jiawei Shen's creative process, followed by Matty Hannon’s The Road to Patagonia, an epic romantic adventure that unfolds across continents. Both filmmakers were present to give detailed accounts of their respective film’s journeys. 

Pushed to mid-May by some organizational issues, the ceremony, hosted by FCCA President Rod Quinn, served as a fitting reminder of the quality cinema that came from Down Under last year. Guests included actress Kate Fitzpatrick, who recounted her adventures on the recent New Zealand shoot of Renny Harlin’s Deep Water; veteran actor Nicholas Hope, best known for the cult shocker Bad Boy Bubby; and, documentarian and former FCCA winner Tom Zubrycki. Also attending were dignitaries from FCCA supporters Bunya Productions, See Saw Films and Madman Films.