Australians in Film to Honor
Actor Jai Courtney and Director Garth Davis
with FOXTEL Breakthrough Awards
at the 2016 AiF Awards and Benefit Dinner in Los Angeles
Tim Minchin will host the annual awards presentation at NeueHouse Hollywood
on Wednesday, October 19, 2016
HOLLYWOOD, CA – SEPTEMBER 20, 2016 - The Fifth Annual Australians in Film Awards (AiF) and Benefit Dinner has set musician/actor/comedian/director Tim Minchin as host for the celebration event on Wednesday, October 19, 2016 at NeueHouse Hollywood (6121 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90028).
Initial honorees include Suicide Squad actor Jai Courtney and acclaimed filmmaker Garth Davis, who will receive the FOXTEL Breakthrough Awards at the gala event next month. The FOXTEL Breakthrough Award recognizes and celebrates rising Australian talent in the entertainment industry. Previous FOXTEL Breakthrough Awards honorees include fellow Suicide Squad actress Margot Robbie, Liam Hemsworth, Chris Hemsworth, Elizabeth Debicki, Jacki Weaver, Teresa Palmer, Joel Edgerton, James Wan and Ryan Kwanten.
“The AiF Awards began as the Breakthrough Awards in 2005. It was a very intimate affair in Beverly Hills where we honoured Melissa George and Robert Luketic. The awards and the organization have grown considerably since then, and this year is going to be another terrific year with Tim Minchin hosting at the old CBS broadcasting studios – which is now the gorgeous new club, NeueHouse Hollywood,” said Kate Marks, President of Australians in Film.
Marks continued, “Jai and Garth are worthy honorees of the FOXTEL Breakthrough Award. Both are incredibly talented and in demand, both internationally and in Australia. We look forward to celebrating their achievements. We are also excited to welcome back FOXTEL as a Title Sponsor of the AiF Awards this year. Along with their premier content, this award further exemplifies their commitment to supporting Australian talent.”
Jai Courtney began his career on Australian TV shows Packed to the Rafters and All Saints, before being cast in Spartacus: Blood and Sand. He went on to star in Jack Reacher alongside Tom Cruise and Werner Herzog and A Good Day to Die Hard with Bruce Willis. His other acting credits include: Felony with Joel Edgerton, Divergent alongside Shailene Woodley and Kate Winslet; Unbroken directed by Angelina Jolie; The Water Diviner directed by Russell Crowe; Terminator: Genisys; and Suicide Squad. Upcoming Jai stars in Man Down with Shia LaBeouf and The Exception which premiered this month at the Toronto Film Festival. 
Filmmaker Garth Davis just made his directorial debut to great fanfare and critical and audience acclaim at the Toronto International Film Festival with The Weinstein Company’s LION. Additionally, he is an Emmy nominated television director (Top of the Lake) and began his career in commercials, where he made a significant name for himself. LION, starring Dev Patel, Nicole Kidman and Rooney Mara, was shot in Australia and India. Davis is currently in production on Mary Magdalene for The Weinstein Company and Universal Pictures International, starring Rooney Mara, Joaquin Phoenix and Chiwetel Ejiofor.
The multi-talented Tim Minchin is currently directing his first feature for DreamWorks, Larrikins and whose new musical Groundhog Day has just opened to rave reviews at the Old Vic in London.
The AiF Awards and Benefit Dinner is aimed at supporting the organization’s mission to usher Australian filmmakers into the international market and to provide educational and career development programs including the establishment of the new creative work sharing space, Charlie’s in Hollywood.
Australians in Film proudly acknowledge the wonderful support of the Title Sponsors of the 2016 AiF Awards: Ausfilm, Village Roadshow, FOXTEL and Fox Studios Australia.
Our event could not have gone more smoothly. Huge thanks to the amazing managers from the venues for their consummate professionalism and outstanding hospitality. We look forward to many more years at this lovely place.
ReplyDeleteIt was a great event and I am looking forward to next years.
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