54th AWGIE Awards

The 54th annual AWGIE Awards, presented by the Australian Writers' Guild, took place on 7 December 2021. It honoured the best writing in film, television, audio, stage, web series, and gaming of 2021. The nominations were announced on 26 October 2021.^[1]

Winners and nominees

Winners are listed first and highlighted in boldface.^[2]

Major AWGIE Award Cursed! – Kodie Bedford

Film

Feature Film – Original Nitram – Shaun Grant Falling for Figaro – Ben Lewin with Allen Palmer The Furnace – Roderick MacKay Here Out West – Nisrine Amine, Bina Bhattacharya, Matias Bolla, Claire Cao, Arka Das, Dee Duygu Dogan, Vonne Patiag, and Tien Tran
Feature Film – Adapted The Dry – Robert Connolly and Harry Cripps; based on the novel by Jane Harper Babyteeth – Rita Kalnejais; based on her play
Short Film The Last Elephant on Earth – Piri Eddy Ayaan – Alies Sluiter The Moogai – Jon Bell

Documentary

Documentary – Public Broadcast (Including VOD) or Exhibition Ablaze – Alec Morgan with Tiriki Onus Firestarter – Nel Minchin and Wayne Blair Playing With Sharks – Sally Aitken The Skin of Others – Tom Murray
Documentary – Community, Educational, and Training (Or Otherwise Commissioned to a Specific Brief) Water Safety with Kangaroo Beach – Tim Bain The Case for Group Work: Students Give Their Verdict – George Catsi with Ari Kwasner-Catsi and Zac Perry Small Changes – Peter Flynn

Television

Television – Serial Neighbours: "Episode 8367" – Peter Mattessi (10 Peach) Home and Away: "Episode 7433" – Andrew Gardner (Seven Network) Neighbours: "Episode 8328" – Jessica Paine (10 Peach) Neighbours: "Episode 8498" – Jason Herbison (10 Peach)
Television – Series or Miniseries (More than 4 Hours Duration) The Great: "The Beaver's Nose" – Tony McNamara (Hulu) Five Bedrooms: "Twenty-Seven Weeks" – Michael Lucas with Christine Bartlett (Network 10) The Great: "A Pox on Hope" – Tony McNamara and Gretel Vella (Hulu) Wakefield: "Episode 5" – Sam Meikle (ABC) Wentworth: "The Unknown Terrorist" – Kim Wilson (Fox Showcase)
Television – Telemovie or Miniseries (4 Hours or Less Duration) New Gold Mountain – Peter Cox, Yolanda Ramke, Benjamin Law, Greg Waters, and Pip Karmel (SBS) A Sunburnt Christmas – Elliot Vella, Gretel Vella, and Timothy Walker (Stan)
Comedy – Situation or Narrative Why Are You Like This: "The Pressures of Late Capitalism" – Mark Bonanno, Naomi Higgins, and Humyara Mahbub (ABC) Aftertaste: "The Beauty and the Terroir" – Matthew Bate (ABC) Fisk: "Portrait of a Lady" – Penny Flanagan with Kitty Flanagan (ABC) Retrograde: "Episode 3" – Declan Fay (ABC)
Comedy – Sketch or Light Entertainment The Feed: "Comedy Sketches, 2020" – Ben Jenkins, Alex Lee, Jenna Owen, and Victoria Zerbst (SBS) Gruen: "Tools and Boots for Tools" – James Colley and Sophie Braham (ABC) Reputation Rehab: "Nick Kyrgios – The Bad Boy of Tennis" – Sophie Braham with Kirsten Drysdale, Zoe Norton Lodge, and Melina Wicks (ABC)

Children's Television

Children's Television – 'P' Classification (Preschool – Under 5 Years) Pocoyo: "The Remote Control" – Lina Foti (ABC Kids) Kangaroo Beach: "The Shark Prank" – Simon Dodd and Tristan Dodd (ABC Kids) The Wonder Gang – Wendy Hanna (ABC Kids)
Children's Television – 'C' Classification (Children's – 5-14 Years) The Gamers 2037: "The Decision" – Hannah Fitzpatrick (9Go!) Hardball: "Matariki" – Amy Stewart (ABC Me) The Strange Chores: "Unmask a Shapeshifter" – John McGeachin (ABC Me) The Strange Chores: "Wear a Mech Suit" – Luke Tierney (ABC Me)

Stage

Stage Cursed! – Kodie Bedford Hecate – Kylie Bracknell [Kaarljilba Kaardn] with Clint Bracknell Sunshine Super Girl: The Evonne Goolagong Story – Andrea James Wonnangatta – Angus Cerini
Community and Youth Theatre Trackers – Donna Hughes
Music Theatre Notre-Dame – Alana Valentine
Theatre for Young Audience Claire Della and the Moon – Jamie Hornsby with Ellen Graham Magic Beach – Finegan Kruckemeyer

Other categories

Animation Space Nova: "Seaweed Samba" – John Armstrong (9Go!) Space Nova: "Pamela Barnacle is Alive and Well" – Melanie Alexander (9Go!)
Audio CrossBread: "In the Beginning" – Declan Fay with Chris Ryan and Megan Washington Performing the Past: "1919" – Kate Rice The Right Fit: Episodes 1-4 – Ross Mueller
Web Series and Other Non-Broadcast/Non-'Subscription Video on Demand' TV Short Works Ding Dong I'm Gay: "Easier Said Than Cum" – Tim Spencer and Zoe Norton Lodge The Tailings: "Episode 5" and "Episode 6" – Caitlin Richardson Love Bug – Imogen McCluskey

Special awards

The following special awards were presented at the ceremony:

David Williamson Prize for Excellence in Writing for Australian Theatre: Claire Della and the Moon – Jamie Hornsby with Ellen Graham
Australian Writers' Guild Life Membership: Rob George
Australian Writers' Guild Lifetime Achievement Award: Roger Simpson
Richard Lane Award for Outstanding Service and Dedication to the Australian Writers Guild: Jacqueline Elaine
Dorothy Crawford Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Profession and the Industry: Wesley Enoch
Fred Parsons Award for Outstanding Contribution to Australian Comedy: Tim Minchin

References

^ Slatter, Sean (26 October 2021). "Nominations announced for 54th AWGIE Awards". IF Magazine. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
^ Slatter, Sean (7 December 2021). "Wins for Shaun Grant, Tony McNamara, Harry Cripps at AWGIE Awards". IF Magazine. Retrieved 7 February 2026.

External links

Official website

[1] Slatter, Sean (26 October 2021). "Nominations announced for 54th AWGIE Awards". IF Magazine. Retrieved 9 February 2026.

[2] Slatter, Sean (7 December 2021). "Wins for Shaun Grant, Tony McNamara, Harry Cripps at AWGIE Awards". IF Magazine. Retrieved 7 February 2026.

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