ABC TV’s gripping, award-winning drama Redfern Now is a multiple finalist across the acting and television categories in the 2013 Deadly Awards, with award-winning director Ivan Sen’s Mystery Road and Satellite Boy starring the iconic David Gulpilil.

These were some of the big names in television and film announced at the launch of the 2013 Deadlys® today, at SBS headquarters in Sydney, joining plenty of talent, achievement and contribution across all the award categories.

Male Artist of the Year, which recognises the achievement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians, will be a difficult category for voters to decide on given Archie Roach, Dan Sultan, Troy Cassar-Daley, Gurrumul and Frank Yamma are nominated.

Similarly, Female Artist of the Year finalists include some big names: Jessica Mauboy, Shellie Morris, Christine Anu, Casey Donovan and a surprise finalist Simone Stacey, the former Shakaya singer who returned to the spotlight this year with a run on Channel 9’s The Voice.

Reflecting on the year that was in sport, AFL powerhouse Adam Goodes gets a guernsey as does his talented Swans team-mate Lewis Jetta. They’re joined by Cyril Rioli, Eddie Betts and the indomitable Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin – which should keep Hawthorn supporters happy.

There were no surprises in the NRL Player of the Year category, with 2013 NAIDOC Sportsperson of the Year Johnathan Thurston a finalist, joining Rabbitohs’ Nathan Merritt and league legend Greg Inglis. Sam Thaiday from Brisbane and the Bulldogs’ Ben Barba are also finalists.

Homegrown sportstars doing well in the US, NFL draftee Jesse ‘Tha Monster’ Williams and the first Indigenous basketballer to play in the NBA finals, Patrick Mills, are finalists in the Male Sportsperson of the Year category, joining two-time world champion boxer Daniel Geale, rugby union’s Kurtley Beale and soccer’s Jade North.

Across the arts, Australia’s best Indigenous dancers, artists and writers are well represented. Ali Cobby Eckermann, the SA writer who brought us the beautiful story Ruby Moonlight in poetry, is a finalist with her haunting memoir Too Afraid to Cry, which tells her story as a Stolen Generations’ survivor. Pioneering Indigenous award-winning writer Bruce Pascoe is also a finalist with his inspiring story for lower primary-school readers, Fog a Dox – a story about courage, acceptance and respect.

The Deadly Award categories of Health, Education, Employment, Broadcasting, Science, Journalism and Cultural Advancement are packed with the unsung heroes – the achievers who go quietly about their business, making a real difference each day in the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Voting is open now and to lodge your vote, head to

deadlys.com.au/vote

Voting is open until 18 August 2013 and winners will be announced at the Deadlys® on 10 September 2013 at the Sydney Opera House.