Bharat Nalluri, the BAFTA- and Emmy-nominated filmmaker who has settled in Newcastle, has added another accolade to his mantle for Boy Swallows Universe.
His hit Netflix adaptation of Trent Dalton's novel swept this week's national round of the Asian Academy Creative Awards (AACA), where he was named Best Director in a Fiction Film.
The series will represent Australia at the AACA finals in Singapore in December.
Nalluri became an Australian citizen in Newcastle earlier this month, and said he fell in love with the city after moving here shortly before the COVID pandemic descended in 2019.
"COVID kept us here possibly longer than we were expecting, and it was an accidental thing to start with, but then we've kind of fallen in love with being here," Nalluri told the Newcastle Herald.
"I have anyway, and the kids feel really at home here. It feels like where they belong, so it's made me want to become an Australian.
"I'm the last one of the family. My kids were born into being Australian with their mother and, so I always felt like a slight outsider, but it's just fantastic really.
"It just happened so quickly. It's the last thing I was expecting maybe four or five years ago, but now it's arrived, I'm kind of thrilled."
Boy Swallows Universe was announced in 2019 and screened its first episode in January, based on the 2018 novel by Dalton of the same name.
Fresh from his Logie Award win in July, young star Felix Cameron continues to build momentum. His portrayal in Boy Swallows Universe earned him the AACA's Best Actor in a Leading Role, positioning him as a contender for an acclaimed international accolade in December. Cameron's riveting performance as a young boy navigating difficult circumstances has captivated Australian and global audiences.
Cannes Chopard Trophy winner Sophie Wilde's role as a journalist in the series earned her Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Simon Baker, best known for his role in The Mentalist, who also appears in the series, won Best Supporting Actor.
Boy Swallows Universe also won the award for Best Drama Series, capping Nalluri's Best Director win for six accolades for the round.
The Grand Awards and Gala Finals of the Asian Academy Creative Awards will be held on December 3 and 4 in Singapore.
