Australians in Film to Honor Jai Courtney and Director Garth Davis

Press release:

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,” saidKate 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.

ABOUT AUSTRALIANS IN FILM

Australians in Film is a Los Angeles based film, television and digital content non-profit foundation with a mission to connect the Australian industry to the international market. Founded in May 2001, AiF serves as the industry organization for Australian entertainment professionals in Los Angeles, holding regular screenings, career development programs, seminars and labs, and currently has over 600 members. For more information on AiF, please visit australiansinfilm.org.

ABOUT FOXTEL

Foxtel is one of Australia’s most progressive and dynamic media companies, directly employing around 2,800 people and delivering a diverse subscription television service over cable, satellite and broadband distribution. We offer a better entertainment experience every day to each one of our 2.8 million subscribing homes through delivery of new and inspiring programming across all genres, the world’s most popular channel brands, and investment in high quality local content. As constant champions of innovation we have brought customers the iQ personal digital recorder, Australia’s largest HD offering, the Foxtel Go App for tablets and mobile devices, internet TV service, Foxtel Play, subscription on demand (SVOD) entertainment service, Presto and television, broadband and home phone bundles with Foxtel internet and voice services delivered over Australia’s largest telecommunications network. Foxtel is owned by Telstra Corporation Limited ACN 051 775 556 (50%) and News Corporation (50%). foxtel.com.au

ABOUT AUSFILM

Ausfilm connects the international film community with Australia’s screen incentives, talent and facilities. Ausfilm markets Australia’s Screen Production Incentive Scheme which comprises the Location, PDV (post, digital and visual effects) and Producer Offsets. Ausfilm is an Australian industry – government partnership. It comprises Australia’s Federal and State Governments and the major studios and the leading post and digital effects facilities and production service providers. www.ausfilm.com.au

ABOUT FOX STUDIOS AUSTRALIA

Fox Studios Australia is the largest end-to-end production facility in the southern hemisphere, featuring eight sound stages, including 2 MEGA stages at 3,535sqm (38,000 sq ft) each and 6 stages ranging from 705sqm (7,586 sq ft) to 3,005sqm (32,355sq ft). The stages are supported by production offices, construction workshops, art department craft shops, make-up and dressing rooms, storage, screening rooms, parking and 24-hour security. The studio also hosts over 70 screen production businesses including Fox Production Services, Fox Lighting and Fox Textiles. foxstudiosaustralia.com

ABOUT VILLAGE ROADSHOW

Village Roadshow Entertainment Group is a leading global entertainment company building premier, content-rich businesses in the entertainment industry. VREG employs innovative strategies to produce, acquire and deliver intellectual properties with timeless appeal, while maximizing group-wide strategic and operational efficiencies. VREG is the holding company of Village Roadshow Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures Asia.
vreg.com