Big and small films to face off at AFIs (AAP)

Hollywood hit Death Defying Acts and a small production of Hamlet made for just $20,000, are among a broad range of Australian films in contention for this year's AFI Awards. Twenty-five films are under consideration for nomination - 10 more than last year. Thanks to a broadening of criteria, for the first time many low budget films have made the cut. They include The Tragedy of Hamlet Prince of Denmark, thriller The Jammed, Bitter and Twisted, Men's Group and comedy Rats and Cats. On the big budget production end are period epic Children of the Silk Road and Gillian Armstrong's Death Defying Acts, which stars Catherine Zeta-Jones and Guy Pearce and cost nearly $20 million to make. AFI general manager Damian Trewhella said this year's films were more diverse than ever and included dramas, comedies and thrillers. The 2008... [read full story]