The 17th Australian Film Awards ceremony, presented by the Australian Film Institute

Australian Film Institute

The Australian Film Institute was founded in 1958 as a non-profit organisation devoted to developing an active film culture in Australia and fostering engagement between the general public and the Australian film industry...

 (AFI) honoured the best films of 1974

1974 in film

The year 1974 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*February 7 - Blazing Saddles is released in the USA.*August 7 - Peter Wolf, lead singer of The J...

 and 1975

1975 in film

The year 1975 in film involved some significant events, with Steven Spielberg's thriller Jaws topping the box office.-Events:*March 26 - The film version of The Who's Tommy premieres in London....

 and took place on 23 March 1975, at the Sydney Opera House

Sydney Opera House

The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...

, in Sydney

Sydney

Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...

, New South Wales

New South Wales

New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...

. Actress Glenda Jackson

Glenda Jackson

Glenda May Jackson, CBE is a British Labour Party politician and former actress. She has been a Member of Parliament since 1992, and currently represents Hampstead and Kilburn. She previously served as MP for Hampstead and Highgate...

 hosted the ceremony.

Winners

In the competition the Australian Film Institute

Australian Film Institute

The Australian Film Institute was founded in 1958 as a non-profit organisation devoted to developing an active film culture in Australia and fostering engagement between the general public and the Australian film industry...

 (AFI) presented awards across nine categories. The winners of the Golden Reel prize included feature film Sunday Too Far Away

Sunday Too Far Away

Sunday Too Far Away is an Australian feature film which was directed by Ken Hannam and released in 1975. It belongs to the Australian Film Renaissance which occurred during that decade....

 (which is considered the winner of the Best Film

Australian Film Institute Award for Best Film

This page lists the winners and nominees for the AACTA Award for Best Film since its institution in 1958. The award is presented annually by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts , an organisation which promotes the Australian film industry. Since the 1958 Australian Film Awards the...

 category), tele-movie Billy and Percy, and documetary Mr. Symbol Man; feature films Petersen

Petersen (film)

Petersen is a 1974 Australian drama film directed by Tim Burstall. Tony Petersen , a retired australian rules football star, enrolls at university to study for an arts degree...

 and The True Story of Eskimo Nell

The True Story of Eskimo Nell

The True Story of Eskimo Nell is a 1975 Australian comedy film produced, directed, and written by Richard Franklin, and starring Max Gillies as Deadeye Dick and Serge Lazareff as Mexico Pete...

 and documentaries A Steam Train Passes

A Steam Train Passes

A Steam Train Passes is an award winning Australian 1974 short film set in the 1940s, featuring the construction and operation of locomotive 3801.- Plot :...

 and Stirring won the Silver prize; and the film Between Wars

Between Wars

Between Wars is an Australian 1974 drama/war film released on 15 November 1974. It was directed by Michael Thornhill and written by Frank Moorhouse.-Awards:...

 won the Bronze prize. Awards were also handed out in feature film categories for Best Actor

Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role

The AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role is an award in the annual AACTA Awards, presented by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts...

, which went to Jack Thompson

Jack Thompson

Jack Thompson may refer to:*Jack Thompson , American boxer*Jack Thompson , Australian film and television star*Jack Thompson , disbarred Florida attorney...

 for Sunday Too Far Away

Sunday Too Far Away

Sunday Too Far Away is an Australian feature film which was directed by Ken Hannam and released in 1975. It belongs to the Australian Film Renaissance which occurred during that decade....

 and Petersen and Martin Vaughan for Billy and Percy; Julie Dawson for Best Actress

Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role

The Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role is an award presented annually at the Australian Film Institute Awards. The award has been presented annually since 1971.-History:...

, for Who Killed Jenny Langby?; Barry Humphries

Barry Humphries

John Barry Humphries, AO, CBE is an Australian comedian, satirist, dadaist, artist, author and character actor, best known for his on-stage and television alter egos Dame Edna Everage, a Melbourne housewife and "gigastar", and Sir Les Patterson, Australia's foul-mouthed cultural attaché to the...

 and Reg Lye for Best Supporting Actor

Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role

The Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role is an award in the annual Australian Film Institute Awards. It has been awarded annually since 1974.-Previous winners:*1974: Barry Humphries – The Great McCarthy...

, for The Great McCarthy and Sunday Too Far Away

Sunday Too Far Away

Sunday Too Far Away is an Australian feature film which was directed by Ken Hannam and released in 1975. It belongs to the Australian Film Renaissance which occurred during that decade....

 respectively; and John Power for Best Direction

Australian Film Institute Award for Best Direction

The Australian Film Institute Award for Best Direction is an award in the annual Australian Film Institute Awards.-Previous winners:*1971 – Homesdale *1972 – Stork...

, for Billy and Percy.

Category	Winners
Golden Reel Prize for Best Film Australian Film Institute Award for Best Film This page lists the winners and nominees for the AACTA Award for Best Film since its institution in 1958. The award is presented annually by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts , an organisation which promotes the Australian film industry. Since the 1958 Australian Film Awards the...	* Sunday Too Far Away Sunday Too Far Away Sunday Too Far Away is an Australian feature film which was directed by Ken Hannam and released in 1975. It belongs to the Australian Film Renaissance which occurred during that decade....
Golden Reel Prize for Best Documentary	* Mr. Symbol Man
Golden Reel Prize	* Billy and Percy
Silver Prize for Best Film Australian Film Institute Award for Best Film This page lists the winners and nominees for the AACTA Award for Best Film since its institution in 1958. The award is presented annually by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts , an organisation which promotes the Australian film industry. Since the 1958 Australian Film Awards the...	* Petersen Petersen (film) Petersen is a 1974 Australian drama film directed by Tim Burstall. Tony Petersen , a retired australian rules football star, enrolls at university to study for an arts degree...
Silver Prize for Best Documentary	* A Steam Train Passes A Steam Train Passes A Steam Train Passes is an award winning Australian 1974 short film set in the 1940s, featuring the construction and operation of locomotive 3801.- Plot :...
	* Stirring
Silver Medallion for Photography	* Vincent Monton – The True Story of Eskimo Nell The True Story of Eskimo Nell The True Story of Eskimo Nell is a 1975 Australian comedy film produced, directed, and written by Richard Franklin, and starring Max Gillies as Deadeye Dick and Serge Lazareff as Mexico Pete...
Bronze Prize for Best Film Australian Film Institute Award for Best Film This page lists the winners and nominees for the AACTA Award for Best Film since its institution in 1958. The award is presented annually by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts , an organisation which promotes the Australian film industry. Since the 1958 Australian Film Awards the...	* Between Wars Between Wars Between Wars is an Australian 1974 drama/war film released on 15 November 1974. It was directed by Michael Thornhill and written by Frank Moorhouse.-Awards:...
Best Direction Australian Film Institute Award for Best Direction The Australian Film Institute Award for Best Direction is an award in the annual Australian Film Institute Awards.-Previous winners:*1971 – Homesdale *1972 – Stork...	* John Power – Billy and Percy
Best Actor Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role The AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role is an award in the annual AACTA Awards, presented by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts...	* Jack Thompson Jack Thompson Jack Thompson may refer to:*Jack Thompson , American boxer*Jack Thompson , Australian film and television star*Jack Thompson , disbarred Florida attorney...  – Sunday Too Far Away Sunday Too Far Away Sunday Too Far Away is an Australian feature film which was directed by Ken Hannam and released in 1975. It belongs to the Australian Film Renaissance which occurred during that decade....  and Petersen Petersen (film) Petersen is a 1974 Australian drama film directed by Tim Burstall. Tony Petersen , a retired australian rules football star, enrolls at university to study for an arts degree...
	* Martin Vaughan – Billy and Percy
Best Actress Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role The Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role is an award presented annually at the Australian Film Institute Awards. The award has been presented annually since 1971.-History:...	* Sunday Too Far Away Sunday Too Far Away Sunday Too Far Away is an Australian feature film which was directed by Ken Hannam and released in 1975. It belongs to the Australian Film Renaissance which occurred during that decade....
Best Supporting Actor Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role The Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role is an award in the annual Australian Film Institute Awards. It has been awarded annually since 1974.-Previous winners:*1974: Barry Humphries – The Great McCarthy... (Honourable mentions)	* Barry Humphries Barry Humphries John Barry Humphries, AO, CBE is an Australian comedian, satirist, dadaist, artist, author and character actor, best known for his on-stage and television alter egos Dame Edna Everage, a Melbourne housewife and "gigastar", and Sir Les Patterson, Australia's foul-mouthed cultural attaché to the...  – The Great McCarthy
	* Reg Lye – Sunday Too Far Away Sunday Too Far Away Sunday Too Far Away is an Australian feature film which was directed by Ken Hannam and released in 1975. It belongs to the Australian Film Renaissance which occurred during that decade....
Best Screenplay Australian Film Institute Award for Best Screenplay The Australian Film Institute Award for Best Screenplay is an award in the annual Australian Film Institute Awards. It has been awarded annually since 1976 as a joint category until 1993 when the award was separated into Best Original Screenplay and Best Adapted Screenplay...	* David Williamson David Williamson David Keith Williamson AO is one of Australia's best-known playwrights. He has also written screenplays and teleplays.-Biography:...  – Petersen Petersen (film) Petersen is a 1974 Australian drama film directed by Tim Burstall. Tony Petersen , a retired australian rules football star, enrolls at university to study for an arts degree...
Best Original Music Score Australian Film Institute Award for Best Original Music Score The Australian Film Institute Award for Best Original Music Score is an award in the annual Australian Film Institute Awards.-Previous winners:*1974/5 – Bruce Smeaton *1976 – Not awarded....	* Bruce Smeaton Bruce Smeaton Bruce Smeaton is an Australian composer, well known for a variety of Australian film and television scores in all genres - features, shorts, television, documentaries and advertisements. His scores include Picnic at Hanging Rock, Seven Little Australians, Roxanne, Iceman, and Circle of Iron...  – The Cars That Ate Paris The Cars that Ate Paris The Cars That Ate Paris is a 1974 Australian horror comedy film. Directed by Peter Weir, it was his first feature film. Shot mostly in the rural town of Sofala, New South Wales, the film is set in the fictional town of Paris in which most of the inhabitants appear to be directly, or indirectly,...  and The Great McCarthy
Alan Stout Award for Best Short Film	* John Papadopoulos – Matchless
	* Ian Macrae – Love is Hate
	* Chris Noonan Chris Noonan Chris Noonan is a Sydney-based Australian filmmaker and actor best known for the pioneering live-action / CG film Babe, for which he received Academy Award nominations as both director and writer.-Biography:...  – Bulls
Media Department Award for a film depicting an aspect of Australian life and endeavor	* Sunday Too Far Away Sunday Too Far Away Sunday Too Far Away is an Australian feature film which was directed by Ken Hannam and released in 1975. It belongs to the Australian Film Renaissance which occurred during that decade....