Australia's award season kicked off this week withnominations announced for both the Inside Film Awards and the Film CriticsCircle of Australia Awards.

The people's choice IF Awards revealedtheir nominations on Oct 4. The three films up for best film are: Kenny, a low-budget, privately financeddocumentary-style drama made by debut director Clayton Jacobson; Cannes special jury prize-winner Ten Canoes, a tale of Australia's indigenous past made by prolificauteur director Rolf de Heer and his collaborator Peter Djigirr; and PaulGoldman's Suburban Mayhem, about anout-of-control 19-year-old who murders her father.

Up for best direction areRay Lawrence, for Jindabyne, ClaytonJacobson, for Kenny, Paul Goldman,for Suburban Mayhem and Rolf de Heer andPeter Djigirr for Ten Canoes. Thebest actor category is made up of Heath Ledger for Candy, Gabriel Byrne for Jindabyneand Crusoe Kurddal for Ten Canoes.

The Film Critics Circle of AustraliaAwards shortlist was announced on Oct 3. Critics nominated the heroin-fuelledlove story Candy, Ray Lawrence's Jindabyne, Kenny and Ten Canoes inthe best film category.

FCCA bestdirector nominees are: Neil Armfield for Candy,Rolf De Heer and Peter Djigirr for TenCanoes, Clayton Jacobsen for Kennyand Ray Lawrence for Jindabyne.

Up for best actress are: Abbie Cornish for Candy, Gigi Edgley for LastTrain To Freo, Laura Linney for Jindabyneand Victoria Thaine for The CaterpillarWish. The best actor shortlist is: Colin Friels for Solo, Shane Jacobson for Kenny,Steve Le Marquand for Last Train to Freoand Heath Ledger, for Candy.

Nominations for both awards clearly reflect the filmsthat have done well in the Australian box office. As of Oct 4, Jindabyne had grossed A$4.9million, Kenny A$4.1 million and Ten Canoes A$3.2 million. All three arestill in cinemas. Candy, whichgrossed A$1.6 million, and Kokoda, which grossed A$3.1 million and only earned nominations inthe craft categories, are also among the top-five box-office hits.

The Film Critics Circle of Australia (FCCA) annual awardsare being held on October 28. The IF Awards are being held on November 17.

TheAFI (Australian Film Institute) Awards are being held on December 6 and 7 withOscar-winning actor Geoffrey Rush as host. The AFI announces its nominations onOctober 19.