Actors win top film awards - without being on screen

Robbie Williams' biopic Better Man has won a swag of gongs at the AACTA Awards, including best lead actor in film for Jonno Davies.

He portrayed the British pop star as a monkey through the use of motion capture technology, with the 2025 the first time motion capture performances and voice acting have been recognised at the awards.

"Thank you AACTA not only for this award, but for celebrating motion capture in the way that you have, for putting it in the same spotlight as more traditional methods of acting," Davies said.

The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards, Australia's answer to the Golden Globes, was held at the Home of the Arts on the Gold Coast on Friday night.

Better Man won nine AACTA Awards, including best film, with best director going to Michael Gracey.

Robbie Williams, who got a standing ovation earlier in the night for a rendition of his hit Angels, joined the filmmakers onstage to accept the gong for best film.

He thanked a long list of problems including drugs, ADHD, depression, addiction and alcoholism.

"And a lower than average sized penis, without which none of this film would be possible," he joked.

As for award-winning voice actors, Sarah Snook won best lead actress in film and Jacki Weaver won best supporting actress, for their work on Adam Elliot's animated feature Memoir Of A Snail.

Netflix series Boy Swallows Universe was the other big winner at the AACTA Awards, winning 12 gongs including best lead actor in a drama for 15-year-old Felix Cameron.

Production outfit Working Dog, which is behind classics such as The Castle, Frontline, and Utopia, was recognised with the Longford Lyell Award for advancing excellence in screen culture.

Musician Paul Kelly was also recognised with an outstanding contribution award for his work scoring films, and played his classic song How To Make Gravy, which inspired a film directed by Nick Waterman.