Low-budget drama The Black Balloon and romance thriller Unfinished Sky look set to dominate this year's AFIs after scoring the most nominations for the prestigious film awards.
Starring Rhys Wakefield and Gemma Ward, The Black Balloon scored an impressive 11 nods when nominations were announced at the Sydney Theatre Company today.
Unfinished Sky, starring William McInnes, was close behind with 10 nominations.
Both movies will face off in the best film category at the December awards, along with thrillers The Jammed and The Square, which received seven nominations each.
In the best lead actor category, Wakefield will compete against against McInnes, Guy Pearce and David Roberts.
Noni Hazlehurst (Bitter and Twisted), Monic Hendrickx (Unfinished Sky), and Emma Lung and Veronica Sywak, both from The Jammed, are nominated in the best lead actress category.
Among those nominated for the international AFI award are Heath Ledger for the Dark Knight, Eric Bana for The Other Boleyn Girl and Nicole Kidman and Cate Blanchett.
The nominations are the latest recognition for The Black Balloon, a semi-autobiographical movie by first-time feature film director Elissa Down, after it recently dominated the Inside Film (IF) Award nominations.
The film is a coming-of-age story about a family dealing with an autistic son and has already received many accolades including a Crystal Bear award at the Berlin Film Festival.
In Unfinished Sky, McInnes plays a farmer who takes in an Afghan woman after she flees from a brothel in outback Queensland.
Meanwhile, in the TV category, hit gangland series Underbelly looks also set to be a star on awards night.
The series is up for eight awards, including best TV drama series.
It will be up against City Homicide, Rush and Satisfaction.
The 50th anniversary AFI celebration will be held at Melbourne's Princess Theatre on Saturday, December 6.
