On Wednesday the nominees for the 2009 Samsung Mobile AFI Awards were announced. Capping off a bumper year for Australian cinema, it is an impressive list. Here they are. More commentary to follow. Visit here to view all the nominees.

2009 SAMSUNG MOBILE AFI AWARDS

NOMINEES – THE HIGHLIGHTS

AFI YOUNG ACTOR AWARD

* Brandon Walters, Australia
* Sebastian Gregory, Beautiful
* Tom Russell, Last Ride
* Toby Wallace, Lucky Country
* Marissa Gibson, Samson & Delilah
* Rowan McNamara, Samson & Delilah

AFI MEMBERS’ CHOICE AWARD
* Australia, Baz Luhrmann, G. Mac Brown, Catherine Knapman
* Balibo, John Maynard, Rebecca Williamson
* Beautiful Kate, Leah Churchill-Brown, Bryan Brown
* Mao’s Last Dancer, Jane Scott
* Mary and Max, Melanie Coombs
* Samson & Delilah, Kath Shelper

SAMSUNG MOBILE AFI AWARD FOR BEST FILM
* Balibo, John Maynard, Rebecca Williamson
* Beautiful Kate, Leah Churchill-Brown, Bryan Brown
* Blessed, Al Clark
* Mao’s Last Dancer, Jane Scott
* Mary and Max, Melanie Coombs
* Samson & Delilah, Kath Shelper

AFI AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTION
* Balibo, Robert Connolly
* Beautiful Kate, Rachel Ward
* Mao’s Last Dancer, Bruce Beresford
* Samson & Delilah, Warwick Thornton

AFI AWARD FOR BEST LEAD ACTOR
* Anthony LaPaglia, Balibo
* Ben Mendelsohn, Beautiful Kate
* Hugo Weaving, Last Ride
* Rowan McNamara, Samson & Delilah

AFI AWARD FOR BEST LEAD ACTRESS
* Sophie Lowe, Beautiful Kate
* Frances O’Connor, Blessed
* Sacha Horler, My Year Without Sex
* Marissa Gibson, Samson & Delilah

AFI AWARD FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
* Brandon Walters, Australia
* Damon Gameau, Balibo
* Oscar Isaac, Balibo
* Bryan Brown, Beautiful Kate

AFI AWARD FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
* Bea Viegas, Balibo
* Maeve Dermody, Beautiful Kate
* Rachel Griffiths, Beautiful Kate
* Mitjili Gibson, Samson & Delilah