by FilmInk Staff
There’s a tie!
The winners for the 2025 Auscritic Awards have been announced, with Danny Philippou & Michael Philippou’s Bring Her Back and Charles Williams’ Inside tying for the Best Australian Film award.
The awards were announced at the Backlot in Melbourne on Saturday 21 March 2026 with filmmakers and Auscritic members in attendance.
Bring Her Back finished the night with five awards, taking home Best Direction, Best Lead Performance for Sally Hawkins, Best Cinematography for Aaron McLisky, Best Editing for Geoff Lamb, and Best Film.
Charles Williams received the award for Best Screenplay for Inside, which also took home the Best Supporting Performance award for Cosmo Jarvis, and Best Film.
Constantine Costi’s The Golden Spurtle won the Best Documentary award.
On the international front, Sinners triumphed with the Best International Film award, Sentimental Value took home Best International Film Not in English, and Zodiac Killer Project won Best International Documentary.
The Auscritic awards also recognises the work in film criticism, honouring the best writing and broadcast work from Australian film critics.
Jake Wilson won The Ivan Hutchinson Award for Long Form Writing for his essay Remembering Corinne Cantrill. David Heslin took home the award for Best Review of an Australian Film for his piece on Wabi Sabi Rendezvous. Tansy Gardam triumphed again, winning the Jim Murphy Broadcast Award for her podcast episode on Ballerina. Virat Nehru took home the Best Review of an International Film for his piece titled Cast(e) Aside: Homebound. Nadine Whitney won the Lee Gambin Award for Repertory Criticism for her essay Steve Martin’s Body Eclectic.
Congratulations to all of the winners!
Best Film: Bring Her Back & Inside (tie)
Best Director: Danny Philippou & Michael Philippou – Bring Her Back
Best Screenplay: Charles Williams – Inside
Best Lead Actor: Sally Hawkins – Bring Her Back
Best Supporting Actor: Cosmo Jarvis – Inside
Best Cinematography: Aaron McLisky – Bring Her Back
Best Editing: Geoff Lamb – Bring Her Back
Best Documentary: The Golden Spurtle
Best International Film: Sinners
Best International Film Not in the English Language: Sentimental Value
Best Documentary: Zodiac Killer Project
The Ivan Hutchinson Award for Long Form Writing: Jake Wilson – Remembering Corinne Cantrill
The Jim Murphy Broadcast Award: Tansy Gardam – Ballerina
The Lee Gambin Award for Repertory Criticism: Nadine Whitney – Steve Martin’s Body Eclectic
Best Review of an Australian Film: David Heslin – Wabi Sabi Rendezvous
Best Review of an International Film: Virat Nehru – Cast(e) Aside: Homebound
