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Mel Gibson sweeps Australian film awards

Mel Gibson with his ACTA Award for Best Direction for Hacksaw Ridge.

Mel Gibson with his ACTA Award for Best Direction for Hacksaw Ridge.

He may be in the Hollywood wilderness, but Mel Gibson last night showed he had been welcomed back into the Australian film fold with a triumphant sweep of awards at the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards in Sydney.

Hacksaw Ridge won Best Film and Gibson won Best Direction, while the film’s lead and supporting actors, Andrew Garfield and Hugo Weaving, were also honoured for their work.

“I need to thank Australia for making this film, all the way up and down it’s a homegrown film,” Gibson told the audience about the movie which was made in NSW.

It was Gibson’s first AACTA award and he thanked Australia for its formative influence on his career.

“I saw faces here that I saw when I was a kid,” he said, choking back tears.

Screenwriter Andrew Knight won the film’s fifth award of the night for Best Original Screenplay bringing the film’s total AACTA tally to nine – at the AACTA industry luncheon on Monday, the film was also awarded Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Sound and Best Production Design.

The film, which tells tale of an American decorated for bravery in World War II despite being a conscientious objector, is set in the US and Japan but filmed entirely in Australia.

The film’s lead actress Teresa Palmer missed out on the gong which went to 18-year-old star of The Daughter, Odessa Young who admitted it was her first awards ceremony.

AACTA Paul Hogan

Paul Hogan accepts his award for his outstanding contribution to the screen.

Australia’s exported comedic talent was honoured with Crocodile Dundee star Paul Hogan winning the Longford Lyell Award for his outstanding contribution to the screen, while Isla Fisher won the Trailblazer Award.

The Wedding Crashers actress stayed true to form with a hilarious speech that mostly poked fun at herself.

“I’ve got to thank Donald Trump because I don’t think I’d be here if he wasn’t showing the world that it’s OK for unqualified orange people to be here,” she told the audience.

Isla Fisher AACTA

Isla Fisher and husband Sacha Baron Cohen.

Fisher also drew plenty of attention on the red carpet alongside husband, Ali G actor Sacha Baron Cohen.

“He loves it (in Australia). You know we came here for Great Gatsby and we actually met here in Sydney 15 years ago so it’s our anniversary,” Fisher said,

Being back in Sydney reminded Fisher of her beginnings on the small screen in soapie Home & Away.

“It’s such an honour. I feel like not that long ago I was holding a hamburger phone to my ear in the Summer Bay diner and now I’m here on the red carpet beside such accomplished actors as Geoffrey Rush and Paul Hogan so it’s phenomenal,” she said.

Jessica Mauboy opened the awards ceremony with a doo-wop version of Soft Cell’s Tainted Love and British pop legends Culture Club performed a medley of hits.

But Dami Im’s piano duet with a scene from the 20-year-old movie Shine stole the show.

The Eurovision star didn’t sing and instead played Rimsky-Korsakov’s Flight of the Bumblebee behind a sheet of rain, in a duet with scenes of actor Geoffrey Rush playing the same piece in the film.

All the stars on the red carpet

dami im

Singer Dami Im’s look was all about the shoulders.

alex nation

The Bachelor‘s Richie Strahan (left) and Alex Nation were contrasting in all black and vibrant red.

shaynna blaze

The Block’s Shaynna Blaze was a high-shine affair.

aactas red carpet

Sophie Hensser showed off her shoulders in an elegant black gown.

erin connor aactas

Erin Connor opted for a very pale shade of pink.

miranda tapsell aactas

Miranda Tapsell swapped a skirt for pants.

sacha baron cohen isla fisher

International celebrity guest Sacha Baron Cohen (aka Borat, Bruno and Ali G) accompanied his Australian wife, actress Isla Fisher.

marta dusseldorp

Marta Dusseldorp was the most creatively dressed attendee.

melina vidler

Melina Vidler wore a gown worthy of a wedding.

kerri anne

Kerri-Anne Kennerley chose bright blue for her red carpet appearance.

natalie bassingthwaighte

Natalie Bassingthwaighte’s gown was business at the top, party at the bottom.

jessica mauboy

Jessica Mauboy was one of the best dressed of the evening in this floaty, feminine gown.

Silvia Colloca went dramatic in this black statement number.

Silvia Colloca went dramatic in this black statement number.

pamela rabe

Pamela Rabe’s subtly gothic look was a departure from the jewel-toned gowns of the carpet.

prinnie stevens

Prinnie Stevens showed off her legs in this emerald green number.

red dog

Phoenix, aka Red Dog, stole the show.

mel gibson

Mel Gibson kept it classic in a tuxedo.

Photos courtesy of Getty Images.

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