Ten Canoes completely dominated the AFIs last night in Melbourne by winning six awards out of the seven for which it was nominated, including the big one, Best Picture. The others were Direction, Original Screenplay, Cinematography, Editing and Sound.

I suspect it would have taken out Best Music and Costume too, had there actually been any music or costumes.

Co-Director Peter Djigirr managed to cram a little bit of Yolŋu Matha into the speeches – unlike at the recent IF awards apparently. Djigirr gave his speech in Matha and Rolf de Heer translated (I suspect it was pre-rehearsed, but don’t tell anyone).

In other news, Ten Canoes has just opened in cinemas in Norway and the UK and will open in US cinemas in January 2007 (I heard this on the radio this morning but I can’t substantiate it). The DVD is due out in late January.