The Code tops the AWGIE Awards

Shelley Birse has taken out the top prize at this year’s AWGIE Awards, winning the Major Award for the second season of ABC cyber-thriller The Code.

The first season of The Code also took out the Australian Writers’ Guild Major Award in 2014. This year’s award makes it the only series to have been recognised by two Major Awards for both of its seasons. The Code also received the AWGIE Award for the Television: Miniseries – Original category.

Overall, more than 25 Australian writers – from radio, television, film, theatre and interactive media – were honoured at this year’s AWGIE Awards, held in Sydney on Friday evening.

Andrew Knight and Osamah Sami’s Ali’s Wedding took out the award for most outstanding script for an original feature, while Shaun Grant and Craig Silvey received the award for most outstanding feature adaptation for Jasper Jones.

Samantha Strauss was honoured for her original telemovie, Mary: The Making of a Princess, and Barracuda’s Blake Ayshford and Belinda Chayko took out Television Miniseries – Adaptation category.

Andrew Knight also scored a second AWGIE Award for his work on Rake.

The 2016 Fred Parsons Award for outstanding contribution to Australian Comedy was presented to Barry Humphries. Humphries, whose career has spanned 60 years, was honoured for the contribution he has made to Australian and international comedy writing.

The AWG also honoured Craig Pearce – co-writer of Strictly Ballroom, Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge, Charlie St Cloud and The Great Gatsby – by awarding him the Australian Writers’ Guild Lifetime Achievement Award.

AWG president Jan Sardi said that, at a time when television is experiencing a global renaissance, the Annual AWGIE Awards are a way of honouring the world-class talent of Australian screenwriters and playwrights. “With the advent of streaming services such as Netflix and Stan revolutionising the way we all consume screen content, there is an undeniable buzz and energy around our film and TV industries in particular,” he said.

“This heralds exciting times ahead not only for Australian writers for performance, but for the millions of viewers hungry for top-notch content on their screens and stages,” he said.

The 2016 screen winners:

Major Award

The Code: Season 2 – Shelley Birse

Telemovie – Original

Mary: The Making of a Princess – Samantha Strauss

Television: Miniseries – Adaptation

Barracuda – Blake Ayshford and Belinda Chayko

Television: Miniseries – Original

The Code: Season 2 – Shelley Birse

Television – Series

Rake: Season 4, Episode 407 – Andrew Knight

Television – Serial

Neighbours: Episode 7202 – Jason Herbison

Comedy – Sketch or Light Entertainment

The Weekly with Charlie Pickering: ‘Halal Certification’ and ‘Stadium Naming

Rights’ – Gerard McCulloch with Charlie Pickering

Comedy – Situation or Narrative

Please Like Me: Season 3, ‘Pancakes with Faces’ –Josh Thomas and Liz Doran

Feature Film – Original

Ali’s Wedding – Andrew Knight & Osamah Sami

Feature Film – Adaptation

Jasper Jones – Shaun Grant & Craig Silvey

Short Form

Slingshot – David Hansen

Interactive Media

The Forgotten City – Nick Pearce

Animation

Beat Bugs: ‘Yellow Submarine’ – Josh Wakely

Documentary – Public Broadcast or Exhibition

Baxter and Me – Gillian Leahy

The Silences – Margot Nash

Documentary – Corporate & Training

Seven Women Nepal – The Birth of a Social Enterprise – Gaby Purchase and Claire

Stone

Children’s Television – P Classification

Sydney Sailboat: ‘Trash and Treasure’ – Rachel Spratt

Children’s Television – C Classification

Ready for This: ‘The Birthday Party’ – Leah Purcell

Special Awards

David Williamson Prize

Given in celebration and recognition of excellence in writing for Australian theatre

The Bleeding Tree – Angus Cerini

Richard Lane Award

For outstanding service and dedication to the Australian Writers’ Guild

Karin Altmann

Dorothy Crawford Award

For outstanding contribution to the profession

John Romeril

Fred Parsons Award

For outstanding contribution to Australian comedy

Barry Humphries

Hector Crawford Award

For outstanding contribution to the craft as a script producer, editor or dramaturge

Marcia Gardner

The Australian Writers’ Guild Lifetime Achievement Award

Craig Pearce

Unproduced Awards

Monte Miller Award – Long Form

Mary, Mary – Penelope Chai & Adam Spellicy

Monte Miller Award – Short Form

It Will Peck You – Katie Found
Media Release – Monday 17 October 2016

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