Ava DuVernay to be honoured by Producers Guild

Frances McDormand’s drama won best film, best supporting actor for Sam Rockwell and best screenplay for Martin McDonagh

The horror film and industry multitasker Ava DuVernay will receive special honours at the Producers Guild of America awards, the group announced on Friday. The movie is among 11 film nominees. It was picked for the guild’s Stanley Kramer Award. DuVernay, a producer, director and screenwriter, will receive the Visionary Award, according to a guild statement. Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman Nicole Kidman accepts an award from Phillip Noyce Mallory Jansen he Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (Aacta) handed out its awards on Friday night at the Avalon Hollywood in Los Angeles.

Frances McDormand’s drama Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, continued its winning streak with three awards, including best film, best supporting actor for Sam Rockwell and best screenplay for Martin McDonagh.

Australian actress Margot Robbie won the best actress award for and co-star Allison Janney won best supporting actress.

Gary Oldman was best actor for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in

while Christopher Nolan won the best director award for

Celebrities who attended the event, in its seventh year, included Oldman, Rockwell, along with Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, Keith Urban, Abbie Cornish, Samara Weaving and Radha Mitchell.

“On behalf of the Australian Academy, I congratulate all our winners tonight. We have again seen a dynamic mix of international and Australian screen achievement honoured, celebrating some of the world’s biggest names in film, including Australian actress Margot Robbie who we’re very proud to count among tonight’s winners,” Damian Trewhella, CEO of the Australian Film Institute and Aacta, was quoted by as saying.

“The Aacta International Awards add a uniquely Australian voice to the global discussion of screen excellence, and have become an early forecaster of which performers, practitioners and productions will be recognised during the awards season.”

The Aacta awards are determined by the Aacta International Chapter, made up of 150 Australian screen professionals. Gary Oldman with his award Abbie Cornish