Underbelly: articles


Underbelly nominated for 8 AFIs

GANGLAND TV drama Underbelly has picked up eight AFI nominations, proving it is a clear winner among television audiences.

Underbelly is the year's biggest selling DVD with more than $15 million in sales so far.

By itself, the DVD has raked in six times as much as the year's most popular Australian film, The Black Balloon (which took $2.3 million at the box office) and almost four times the combined grosses of the four best feature nominees.

AFI general manager Damian Trewhella said local TV drama was of higher quality than it had been for years and was outshining its cinematic cousin.

"Some people say that when you have a particularly strong show on one channel it sets the bar high and other people try and jump over it - and Underbelly has been a leader in that sense."

He said the AFI broadcast would feature many of the TV categories controversially dropped last year, in recognition that, "television has really achieved new heights this year".

Underbelly will go up against City Homicide, Rush and Satisfaction for best TV drama, and The Hollowmen, The Librarians , Summer Heights High and Chandon Pictures will vie for Best TV Comedy.

By Andrew Fenton
October 29, 2008
The Advertiser