October 17, 2019
Australians in Film (AiF) today announced that Australian director Rachel Perkins will receive the inaugural Animal Logic Entertainment Illuminate Award as part of the 8th AiF Awards Gala and Benefit. The critically acclaimed Australian director will receive the first-ever award for excellence behind the camera, in recognition of her incredible body of work including Total Control starring Deborah Mailman and Rachel Griffiths and AACTA Award-winning TV mini-series Mystery Road.
Animal Logic CEO Zareh Nalbandian said: “As both an animation studio and production company, we are always looking for ways to celebrate the incredible and often unsung talent that exists behind the camera … her commitment to telling bold Australian stories that support the growth and sustainability of the local industry is a testament to her passion for Australian film and television. Rachel’s continued innovation across the full spectrum of filmmaking embodies the spirit of this award: lighting a path for a new era of screen content and the people who make it possible.”
Trained in the desert of Alice Springs, Perkins’ diverse filmmaking career has evolved across multiple feature films, telemovies, documentary series and more recently television drama. In the process she has collaborated with some of Australia’s greatest actors including Judy Davis, Geoffrey Rush, Rachel Griffiths, Deborah Mailman, Toni Collette and Hugo Weaving.
Perkins will be joined at the Awards by various previously announced honorees such as Two-time Academy Award nominee Naomi Watts (The Loudest Voice) and Ruby Rose (The CW’s Batwoman). The Awards Ceremony will be hosted by Australian singer-songwriter, comedian, writer and actor, Eddie Perfect, best known for his performance in the critically acclaimed series Offspring and more recently for his Tony-nominated work on Broadway, writing the score for Beetlejuice.
Read the full media release