NZ actress Emily Barclay nominated for Australian film award

Emily Barclay. Kristian Dowling / Getty Images

SYDNEY - New Zealand actress Emily Barclay has been nominated for best lead actress at the Australian Film Institute Awards for her role in black comedy Suburban Mayhem.

The film will lead the charge at Australian film's night of nights, after it today secured a total of 12 AFI Award nominations.

Suburban Mayhem will vie for awards in categories ranging from best direction to original screenplay, cinematography, editing, sound, original music score, production design and costume design.

It missed out on nomination for best film, with Candy, Jindabyne, Kenny and Ten Canoes competing in that category.

The annual Australian Film Institute Awards will be held over two nights on December 6 and 7 at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.

Barclay, who earned recognition from her leading role in New Zealand film In My Father's Den, secured her nomination for best lead actress for her portrayal of a rebellious teenager in Suburban Mayhem, which goes on general release next week.

She is up against Abbie Cornish for Candy, Laura Linney for Jindabyne and Teresa Palmer for 2:37.

"I can't believe it," Barclay said in Sydney today.

"It is really overwhelming."

Up for best actor are Heath Ledger for Candy, Gabriel Byrne in Jindabyne, Shane Jacobson in Kenny and Steve Le Marquand for Last Train to Freo.

Suburban Mayhem's Paul Goldman also scored a nomination for best direction. He's up against Kenny's Clayton Jacobson, Ten Canoes' Rolf de Heer and Peter Djigirr, and Jindabyne's Ray Lawrence.

- AAP