Leading Australian Oscars hopeful Margot Robbie may not have won for her mesmerising performance in I, Tonya, but at least we didn’t come away from this year’s ceremony empty-handed. Sydney-born editor Lee Smith won best editing for Dunkirk, director Christopher Nolan’s WWII film.
Smith and Nolan are long-time collaborators. Smith edited Batman Begins, The Prestige, The Dark Knight, Inception and Interstellar. He has previously received Oscar nominations for The Dark Knight and Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World.
The other Australian hopefuls this year were Derin Seale and Josh Lawson, who were nominated (but didn’t win) for best short film, for The Eleven O’Clock. The film, about a delusional man who believes he is a psychiatrist, is now available to watch on ABCiview.
This has been a disappointing year for Australians at the Oscars, particularly given our recent success. Last year two Australian films contended for Best Picture (Lion and Hacksaw Ridge) and the year before that, Mad Max: Fury Road scored six Academy Awards.
How will we go next year? Only time will tell. Here’s hoping that Sweet Country delivers the goods. And also…congratulations to Lee Smith!
Visit this page for a full list of results. The big winners this year include The Shape of Water (with four Oscars including best film), Gary Oldman (best actor, for Darkest Hour) and Frances McDormand (best actress, for Three Billboard Outside Ebbing, Missouri).
Dunkirk is currently available to watch on VOD and DVD.
