It’s set to be a big year for the Stan Original film Nitram, as it was announced yesterday that it’s picked up seven nominations for the 2021 AACTA awards.
Not only has it picked up a nod for Best Film, its all-star cast has been recognised with nominations including Best Lead Actor for Caleb Landry Jones, Best Lead Actress for Judy Davis, Best Supporting Actor for Anthony LaPaglia, Best Supporting Actress for Essie Davis. On top of that, director Justin Kurzel is up for Best Direction, and writer Shaun Grant is nominated for Best Original Screenplay.
The film is a psychological drama and a biopic of Martin Bryant, and focuses on the events leading up to the Port Arthur Massacre.
After screening in the Official Selection for Competition at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival in July, Caleb Landry Jones recognised with Best Actor honours. He plays Nitram (or “Martin”, backwards), and you might remember him from his work in Get Out, The Florida Project or Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. 2017 was a big year for him!
Meanwhile, Aussie icons Judy Davis and Anthony LaPaglia play his parents, as the film tries to make sense of one of the darkest days in recent Australian history. The film also stars Essie Davis, who you’ll recognise from cult classic The Babadook.
Nitram was also the first Aussie film to compete for the Palme D’Or in a decade, and went on to win the CinefestOZ Film Prize in August.
The film reunites the writer/director duo of Shaun Grant and Justin Kurzel, who brought us Snowtown back in 2011.
If you’re hoping to catch Nitram on the big screen, it’s playing in select cinemas now. Otherwise, mark your calendars for Wednesday, November 24, when it will drop on Stan.