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LITTLE Fish will lead the charge at Australian film's night of nights, after the movie today secured a total of 13 AFI award nominations.

Little Fish will vie for awards in categories ranging from best film, best lead actor, best direction and best original screenplay at the Australian Film Industry awards on November 26 in Melbourne.

Nominees were unveiled in Sydney today with The Proposition garnering 12 nominations, Look Both Ways securing 11 and horror flick Wolf Creek up for seven awards.

This year 36 awards will be handed out, covering feature films, documentaries and television.

Battling it out for best film will be Little Fish, Look Both Ways, Oyster Farmer and The Proposition.

"The AFI Awards provide a particular focus on the Australian film industry," Australian Film Institute chairman Denny Lawrence said.

"The rich and diverse variety of features up for nomination in 2005 should encourage and enthuse us all regarding our courageous screen culture."

Nominated for best actor are Hugo Weaving for Little Fish, William McInnes for Look Both Ways and Guy Pearce and Ray Winstone for The Proposition.

Best actress nominees include Saskia Burmeister for Hating Alison Ashley, Cate Blanchett for Little Fish, Justine Clarke for Look Both Ways and Frances O'Connor for Three Dollars.

Little Fishdirector Rowan Woods is up for best direction, as is Greg McLean for Wolf Creek, Sarah Watt for Look Both Ways and John Hillcoat for The Proposition.

Supporting actress nominees include Noni Hazlehurst for Little Fish, Tracy Mann for Hating Alison Ashley, Daniela Farinacci for Look Both Ways and Kestie Morassi for Wolf Creek.

Up for best supporting actor are Martin Henderson for Little Fish, Look Both Ways' Anthony Hayes, The Proposition's John Hurt and Robert Menzies for Three Dollars.

The 47th annual AFI Awards will be held at Melbourne's Waterfront City Pavilion on November 26, with a smaller AFI Craft Awards held the previous night.

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