The Australian film industry has been voting on the country’s 'Best Feature’ since 1969. I’ve picked some of my favourites from the last 30 years for the home page.

The fun – and frustration – of following film awards is noting the times they get it wrong. How could Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) be nominated for seven awards and win nothing? Babe (1995) and Crocodile Dundee (1985) were not entered into the awards by the filmmakers so were not even eligible. The Castle (1997) was eligible, but was not nominated for Best Feature.

The winning films still make for an impressive list, charting the rebirth and ups and downs of the Australian feature film industry over four decades. See below for links to the films. (If there is no link, the film is not yet on the website, but most likely coming soon.) Which is your favourite?

On 31 January, the newly-formed Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) will crown one of the following six films Best Feature for 2011:

• The Eye of the Storm
• The Hunter
• Mad Bastards
• Oranges and Sunshine
• Red Dog
• Snowtown

It’s an exciting race this year as the winner is not a foregone conclusion (last year, you could bet the house on Animal Kingdom winning the top prize). Snowtown is the critics’ choice. The Hunter and The Eye of the Storm have top international casts, the most nominations and literary prestige (both are adapted from acclaimed novels). All three were solid but not spectacular art-house hits and each received two craft awards at the AACTA Awards Luncheon on 15 January. Red Dog has box-office success and widespread popular appeal on its side, and has already picked up the AFI Members’ Prize for Best Feature. Left off the Best Direction list, Mad Bastards and Oranges and Sunshine are probably long-shots for the win.

I think The Eye of the Storm could pull ahead of the pack if it wins Adapted Screenplay and the Academy welcomes Fred Schepisi back to Australian filmmaking with a Best Direction prize. But I would not be surprised to see any of the others triumph; each, in its way, would be a worthy winner.

What do you think will win Best Feature this year?

Learn more about the awards at the AACTA website.

Read our preview of the Best Actor and Best Actress cateogories.

The NFSA is an Official Partner of the Samsung Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards.

2010 – Animal Kingdom
2009 – Samson and Delilah
2008 – The Black Balloon
2007 – Romulus, My Father
2006 – Ten Canoes
2005 – Look Both Ways
2004 – Somersault
2003 – Japanese Story
2002 – Rabbit-Proof Fence
2001 – Lantana
2000 – Looking For Alibrandi
1999 – Two Hands
1998 – The Interview
1997 – Kiss or Kill
1996 – Shine
1995 – Angel Baby
1994 – Muriel’s Wedding
1993 – The Piano
1992 – Strictly Ballroom
1991 – Proof
1990 – Flirting
1989 – Evil Angels
1988 – The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey
1987 – The Year My Voice Broke
1986 – Malcolm
1985 – Bliss
1984 – Annie’s Coming Out
1983 – Careful, He Might Hear You
1982 – Lonely Hearts
1981 – Gallipoli
1980 – Breaker Morant
1979 – My Brilliant Career
1978 – Newsfront
1977 – Storm Boy
1976 – The Devil’s Playground
1974-75 – Sunday Too Far Away
1973 – 27A and Libido: The Child (tie)
1972 – Stork
1971 – Homesdale
1970 – Three to Go: Michael
1969 – Jack and Jill: A Postscript