Honorees Announced For Fifth Annual Australians In Film Awards

American film and television boasts a wealth of Australian talent.  The annual Australians in Film Awards (AiF) recognizes deserving talent each fall.  Celebrating their fifth year, the AiF has anounced this year's award ceremony and benefit dinner will take place on Wednesday, October 19, 2016 at NeueHouse Hollywood. Musician/actor/comedian/director Tim Minchin will serve as host for the celebration event

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.

“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," said  Kate Marks, President of Australians in Film

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.

To learn more about the event, please visit:  http://australiansinfilm.org/