SYDNEY—Political thriller Balibo, gritty love story Samson & Delilah and urban drama Cedar Boys will vie for best film at the 2009 Inside Film (IF) Awards.
Samson & Delilah leads the charge with the highest number of nominations, which are voted on by the film-going public.
The love story about two Aboriginal teenagers living in central Australia is in the running in eight categories, including best script, best direction and best music.
Director Warwick Thornton attended the nominations announcement in Sydney on Monday morning and said he was thrilled with the film's success.
"The (nominations) all mean a lot to me," Thornton told AAP.
"The one I find hilarious is the music one - I've played guitar all my life but this is the first time I've ever recorded anything, so that's kind of really special."
The movie's young stars, Rowan McNamara and Marissa Gibson were also recognised in the best actor and best actress categories.
"That's so beautiful. It will do wonders for Rowan and Marissa," Thornton said.
In the best actor category, McNamara will be up against Hugo Weaving for Last Ride, and Anthony LaPaglia from Balibo.
Balibo picked up a total of seven nominations to come second in the nominations race.
Beautiful Kate, Blessed and Mary And Max were also among the films to pick up several nominations, while Cedar Boys' best film nod was its only entry.
Baz Luhrmann's much-hyped Australia claimed just two nominations, for best sound and best production design for Oscar-winner Catherine Martin.
Australia star David Wenham was on hand presenting the nominations, along with director Jeremy Sims and Packed To The Rafters actress Jessica McNamee.
"It's a really great year for Australian film," Sims told the crowd.
"Hopefully next year will be even better, from a personal point of view," added the director, whose film Beneath Hill 60 is due out in 2010.
The 2009 Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) nominations were also announced on Monday.
Samson & Delilah, Mary And Max and Gandhi's Children are the three Australian films in the running for the awards, which cover 16 countries and areas in the region.
Samson & Delilah is the only local film to compete in the best feature film category, which includes movies from China, Iran, and the Palestinian Territories.
It is the latest achievement for the low-budget feature, which was last month announced as Australia's official entry for nomination consideration for the Academy Awards.
Thornton said it was all a little overwhelming.
"That's one little step in a huge marathon I think, and I have no idea about any of that sort of stuff, this is my first feature film," he said.
"But that's incredibly beautiful recognition from Australia, and that is seriously looking to the stars and some kind of pie in the sky."
The IF Awards will be handed out at Sydney's Luna Park on November 18, while the APSA ceremony will be held on the Gold Coast on November 26.
The IF Awards Nominees
2009 Inside Film Awards nominees:
Best feature film:
* Balibo
* Cedar Boys
* Samson & Delilah.
Best actor:
* Anthony LaPaglia - Balibo
* Rowan McNamara - Samson & Delilah
* Hugo Weaving - Last Ride
Best actress:
* Marissa Gibson - Samson & Delilah
* Sasha Horler - My Year Without Sex
* Frances O'Connor - Blessed
Best script:
* Mary & Max - Adam Elliot
* Samson & Delilah - Warwick Thornton
* Balibo - Robert Connolly, David Williamson
Best music:
* Mary & Max - Dale Cornelius
* Balibo - Lisa Gerrard
* Samson & Delilah - Warwick Thornton
Best direction:
* Mary & Max - Adam Elliot
* Samson & Delilah - Warwick Thornton
* Beautiful Kate - Rachel Ward
Best sound:
* Australia - Andy Nelson, Anna Behlmer, Wayne Pashley, Guntis Sics
* Balibo - Sam Petty, Emma Bortignon, Phil Heywood, Ann Aucote
* Samson & Delilah - Liam Egan, David Tranter, Robert Sullivan, Tony Murtagh, Yulia Akerholt
Best editing:
* Balibo - Nick Myers
* Beautiful Kate - Veronika Jenet
* Blessed - Jill Bilcock
Best production design:
* Australia - Catherine Martin, Ian Gracie, Karen Murphy, Beverley Dunn
* Blessed - Simon McCutcheon
* Mary & Max - Adam Elliot
Best cinematography:
* Balibo - Tristan Milani
* Beautiful Kate - Andrew Commis
* Samson & Delilah - Warwick Thornton
Independent spirit award:
* Lake Mungo director Joel Anderson
* The 10 Conditions of Love director Jeff Daniels
* My Tehran for Sale director Granaz Moussavi
Rising talent award:
* Dominic Allen
* Darren Dale
* Rene Hernandez
Best short film:
* Aunty Maggie & The Womba Wakgun - directed by Leah Purcell
* Ralph - directed by Deborah Mailman
* Jacob - directed by Dena Curtis
Best animation:
* The Cat Piano - Eddie White and Ari Gibson
* Tin Can Heart - Rodney March
* Chicken of God - Frank Woodley
Best short documentary:
* Mankind Is No Island - Jason Van Genderen
* The Love Market - Shalom Almond
* Searching for Michael Peterson - Jolyon Hoff
Best documentary:
* The Last Confession of Alexander Pearce - Michael James Rowland
* Yes, Madam, Sir - Megan Doneman
* A Good Man - Safina Uberoi
Best music video:
* Sway Sway Baby by Short Stack - Dan Reisinger
* Sun Shower by The Little Stevies - Robin Geradts-Gill
* Wilf Eyed Boy by Birds of Tokyo - Josh Groom
Three other awards, for box office achievement, living legend, and best film festival, will be announced at the awards ceremony on November 18.
