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Simon Baker wins top gong at the ADG Awards for debut feature ‘Breath’

‘Breath’. 

Simon Baker’s feature debut Breath only hit cinemas last week, but the film has already rung up an accolade for the director, with the Australian Directors’ Guild (ADG) awarding Baker Best Direction of a Feature Film at its annual awards in Melbourne on Friday evening.

Baker was up against Tori Garrett for Don’t Tell, Jason Raftopoulos for West of Sunshine, Jeffrey Walker for Ali’s Wedding and Greg McLean for Jungle.

Other winners on the night included Larissa Behrendt, who was recognised with the award for Best Direction of a Documentary Feature for After The Apology, beating out Jen Peedom who was nominated for Mountain, Kriv Stenders for The Go-Betweens: Right Here and Sascha Ettinger Epstein for The Pink House. 

In television, Fiona Banks took home two awards  – Best Direction of TV or SVOD Drama series for Wentworth and the Esben Storm Award for Best Direction of Children’s TV or SOD Drama for Mustangs FC.

Daina Reid’s work on SBS mini Sunshine saw her win the ADG Award for Best Direction of TV or SVOD Mini Series, and Jonathan Brough took home the prize for Best Direction of a TV or SVOD Comedy Program for ABC series Rosehaven.

The full list of winners:

Best Direction of a Feature Film

Simon Baker for Breath

Best Direction of a Short Film

John Sheedy for Mrs McCutcheon

Best Direction of a Student Film

Lucy Knox for An Act of Love

Best Direction of a Documentary Feature Film

Larissa Behrendt for After the Apology

Best Direction of a Documentary Series

Alex Barry for The Surgery Ship

Best Direction of a Documentary Standalone Project

Sari Braithwaite for Paper Trails

High commendation: Jolyon Hoff for The Staging Post

Esben Storm Award For Best Direction of A Children’s TV or SVOD Drama

Fiona Banks for Mustangs FC (Series 1, Episode 13)

Best Direction of a TV or SVOD Drama Series

Fiona Banks for Wentworth (Series 5, Episode 5)

Best Direction of a TV or SVOD Drama Serial

Danny Raco for Home and Away (Episode 6756)

Best Direction of a TV or SVOD Mini Series

Daina Reid for Sunshine

Best Direction of a TV or SVOD Comedy Program

Jonathan Brough for Rosehaven (Series 2, Episode 4)

Best Direction of an Online Drama Project

Scott Mannion for The Defector

Best Direction of an Online Comedy Project

Henry Inglis for Small Town Hackers

Best Direction of an Animated Project

Steve Baker for This is Desmondo Ray!

High Commendation: Marieka Walsh and Larissa Behrendt for Barbara

Best Direction of Commercial Content

Paul Middleditch for Celebrate Australia

Best Direction of a Music Video

Nick Waterman for Edge of the Night

Artist: Sheppard

The Cecil Holmes Award

Ray Argall