The acclaimed second season of Mystery Road, lockdown-filmed-at-home comedy Retrograde and compelling thriller Hungry Ghosts have won the 11th annual Equity Ensemble Awards.
The actors who starred in these three programs were recently voted the most outstanding Australian small screen ensembles in their respective categories by the MEAA Equity National Performers’ Committee (NPC).
The Equity Ensemble Awards were established in 2011 to celebrate Australian stories and the Australian actors who bring them to life. These peer-judged Awards recognise the truly collaborative process that leads to great viewing and powerful storytelling.
Equity president Jason Klarwein says: “There’s never been a more important time to celebrate Australian stories and the talented MEAA members who bring them to life. As our industry begins to recover from the last 12 months we must stand together and campaign for more quality local productions like our finalists and winners across every platform”.
Of Comedy winner, Retrograde, the judges said: “Through their zoom the characters negotiate their friendships, unemployment, dating and being in lockdown. In fact, this whole series was shot and edited entirely in lockdown. The actors worked well together as an ensemble even though they were not in the same location. The humour was light and within keeping of the characters truths and relationships. This ambitious project hit all the marks.”
Of Drama winner, Mystery Road S2, the judges said: “Mystery Road is a perfect example of an ensemble piece of television. It successfully had a variety of characters who all performed with nuance but collectively tell a uniting story”
Of Miniseries winner, Hungry Ghosts, the judges said: “With a cast including more than 30 Asian Australian actors and 325 Asian Australian extras, Hungry Ghosts was a first for Australian television. The cast worked cohesively in this high-concept, genre-bending and ambitious series. They convincingly straddled horror tropes as well as themes of generational trauma, family bonds and the blowback from suppressing the history and identity that makes you who you are.”
The Equity Foundation warmly congratulates all finalists and winners. An awards ceremony will be held to honour our 2020 and 2021 winners in June in Sydney.
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A MINI-SERIES/TELEMOVIE
This award is proudly sponsored by MEAA
HUNGRY GHOSTS (Matchbox Pictures)
Catherine Văn-Davies, Jillian Nguyen, Ferdinand Hoang, Suzy Wrong, Gabrielle Chan, Bryan Brown, Clare Bowen, Ryan Corr, Gareth Yuen, Lap Phan, Justine Clarke, Oakley Kwon, Susan Ling Young, Linda Hsia, Hoa Xuande, Vico Thai and Susie Porter.
Finalists:
A Sunburnt Christmas
Stateless
Hungry Ghosts
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A COMEDY SERIES
This award is proudly sponsored by ABC Television
RETROGRADE (Unless Pictures & Orange Entertainment)
Pallavi Sharda, Ilai Swindells, Esther Hannaford, Maria Angelico, Nicholas Boshier, Max Brown
Finalists:
Retrograde
Black Comedy S4
Rosehaven S4
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A DRAMA SERIES
This award is proudly sponsored by Media Super
MYSTERY ROAD S2 (Bunya Productions)
Aaron Pedersen, Jada Alberts, Tasma Walton, Callan Mulvey, Rob Collins Gary Sweet, Ursula Yovich, Tasia Zalar, Sofia Helin, Ngaire Pigram, Stan Yarramunua, Mark Mitchinson, Rhimi Johnson, Keith Robinson, Kirk Page.
Finalists:
The Heights S2
Wentworth S8
Mystery Road S2
