It was the box office smash for Australia last year and now Red Dog has continued its dream run, by scooping Best Film at the inaugural AACTA Awards.

The prize quashed any recent speculation that commercially successful movies like Red Dog, which raked in more than $21.3 million at the Australian box office, do not win major film awards.

Producer Nelson Woss brought the collar of the film's star - Koko the dog - along for good luck and it seemed to work, although he said the win was still a shock.

'We were knocked over. We had nothing prepared. The winds didn't seem to be blowing our way ... so we were bowled over,' he said backstage at the Sydney Opera House after the win on Tuesday night.

Director Kriv Stenders said it was a 'fantastic final full-stop to the whole adventure'.

'It's been like a wonderful rollercoaster ride that just kept on going, and sliding, moving and then this is just the most beautiful, perfect landing and ending,' he said.

Gritty drama Snowtown may have been beaten in the Best Film category, but it led the feature film awards on the night, taking home Best Direction for Justin Kurzel in his feature film debut, and Best Adapted Screenplay for Shaun Grant.

In addition, Daniel Henshall won Best Lead Actor for his turn in Snowtown as the serial killer John Bunting, while his co-star and first-time actor, Louise Harris, won Best Supporting Actress.

Henshall said he usually plays the 'affable loser' and was amazed to have been recognised amongst a pool of nominees that included the likes of Geoffrey Rush, Willem Dafoe and David Wenham.

'To win, I'm bamboozled and gobsmacked and can't stop saying cracker,' he said.

Meanwhile Kurzel said 'my night was done' when Harris won - a woman who told him to 'eff off' twice, after he saw her in an Adelaide mall and asked if she wanted to be in his movie.

Snowtown's four wins on Tuesday night brings its total to six, after it took home Best Sound and Best Editing at the AACTA Awards luncheon, an event that also handed out gongs for the short film and documentary sections.

The Hunter didn't take home any of the major awards on Tuesday, although it won two at the luncheon, while The Eye of the Storm which also previously won two AACTA Awards, added Best Lead Actress for Judy Davis to its achievements.

The AACTA Awards, which are the revamped AFI Awards, were launched last August by the Australian Film Institute (AFI) to improve recognition of Aussie films.

The changes included moving the ceremony to January to coincide with the international awards season, a new statuette, and a new president - Geoffrey Rush, or 'Pres' as he prefers to be known.

The ceremony was attended by some of the country's major celebrities, including Cate Blanchett, Rachael Taylor, Anthony LaPaglia and Mia Wasikowska.

Meanwhile Hollywood heavyweight Russell Crowe took to the stage to introduce performer Megan Washington and remember those in the industry who had passed away.

Crowe was also a presenter at the international awards section, which took place in Los Angeles on Saturday, along with Nicole Kidman and Liam Hemsworth.

In television, The Slap for ABC1 was awarded five AACTAs, including Telefeature, Mini Series or Short Run Series and Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama for Alex Dimitriades.

East West 101, Season 3 - The Heroes' Journey (SBS) won Best Television Drama Series, while The Gruen Transfer, Series 4 (ABC1) took home Best Light Entertainment Television Series.