The 2020 AACTA Awards will go ahead despite the coronavirus pandemic

The 2020 AACTA Awards will go ahead in November, with some notable adjustments to ensure the event complies with COVID-19 health restrictions.

While both the Logie Awards and Helpmann Awards were cancelled as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, organisers are determined for the show to go ahead. 

The Australian Academy of Cinema Arts have revealed this year’s awards ceremony will be ‘reimagined’ and run across two sittings in the interest of guest safety.

The awards will include a limited audience due to The Star Event Centre’s limited capacity, while this year’s industry luncheon will be presented online.

In a statement to media, AACTA CEO Damian Trewhella, said: ‘We are excited to bounce forward and find a way to celebrate all the amazing work of the last year on screen and behind the scenes and look forward to creating a slightly different Awards show this year that will also pay tribute to all we have achieved locally and internationally across the last decade. 

‘2020 has been an incredibly challenging year for our creative screen industry. As the world ground to a halt with COVID-19 so too did many sections of our thriving community.’ 

Organisers have also introduced an AACTA Audience Choice Awards initiative which will see audiences cast their vote on Australian screen achievements across the past decade.

Free online festival, ScreenFest, will also run the entire week connecting the film industry with fans.

2020 AACTA Award nominees will be announced from October 5 and the ceremony will take place on November 30.

It comes just two weeks after it It was announced the ARIA Awards will also go ahead next month, audience-free.

The awards ceremony will have a combination of both live presentations and pre-recorded performances on stage.

The event will also feature live crosses to those celebrities who can’t make it on the night.