The Ruby Awards have been honouring what makes SA’s arts scene sparkle for 20 years – including some standout creatives who’ve gone on to shine on the global stage.
Over the past 20 years, the Ruby Awards have celebrated South Australians at every level of the arts – from Northern Sound System, the youth music hub that helped launch the Hilltop Hoods, to the RackaRacka brothers, the horror filmmakers shaking up global cinema.
They’ve also honoured local icons who have helped shape our industry, like Shine director Scott Hicks, visionary artist Hossein Valamanesh, and the great Yolŋu actor David Gulpilil – proof that these awards recognise creativity in all its forms.
But while the Rubys have celebrated many legends, they’ve also helped spotlight a new generation of talent.
This milestone year is the perfect moment to celebrate the young artists whose Ruby wins have helped launch them onto bigger stages – here in SA and beyond.
What are the Ruby Awards?
Named in honour of arts patron Dame Ruby Litchfield, the Ruby Awards have been celebrating South Australia’s creative excellence since 2006.
Led by CreateSA, these prestigious awards recognise outstanding artists, performances, exhibitions, festivals, organisations and community events across 11 categories – from innovation and leadership to collaboration and community involvement.
Over the years, they’ve gone to the big names and the behind-the-scenes heroes – from internationally renowned festivals like WOMADelaide and Illuminate Adelaide to the makers behind costumes, sets, lighting and sound who rarely take centre stage.
The Rubys also shine a spotlight on grassroots brilliance: a disability-inclusive dance club (The Heart Beat Club by Access2Arts), a cultural mapping project conceived by regional young people (Area 53 by D’faces), an open access studio project, An Encounter of Strangers, at U City Art Project, and a collaboration between narrative therapy and arts (Barngarla Stories of Resilience, Nexus Arts).
Whether it’s a career-defining moment or quiet excellence being recognised, the Rubys honour the full spectrum of South Australia’s creative life.
A new generation of Ruby talent
Across the years, many young artists have left their mark on the Ruby stage – and the wider world. Here are six Ruby Award winners whose stars continue to shine bright:
RackaRacka (Danny and Michael Philippou)
From chaotic backyard stunts in Pooraka to global horror acclaim, Adelaide twins Danny and Michael Philippou – aka RackaRacka – have rewritten the rules of genre filmmaking. Their debut feature Talk to Me, which premiered at the 2022 Adelaide Film Festival (AFF), became a breakout global hit and won them a Ruby Award. But they didn’t stop there. Their follow-up, Bring Her Back, is earning rave reviews worldwide – with Stephen King calling it “scary as hell” and critics praising its emotional punch and razor-sharp craft. While Hollywood came calling, the brothers have stayed loyal to South Australia, filming both features locally with Adelaide crews and support from the state government through the South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC). “We’re not going anywhere,” says Michael. “South Australia is home.”
Tilda Cobham-Hervey
From Hotel Mumbai and I Am Woman to The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart and Disney’s Young Woman and the Sea, this Adelaide-born creative has conquered screens around the world. But for Tilda Cobham-Hervey, nothing beats coming home. In 2019, she was recognised with a Ruby – and now she’s back in Adelaide writing, producing, starring in, and directing her debut feature film, It’s All Going Very Well No Problems At All. Filmed entirely in her hometown, the story is deeply personal. “A lot of movies made in Adelaide often pretend it’s somewhere else,” she says. “But I really wanted to celebrate this place where I grew up, have spent most of my life, and had some of the best creative experiences and friendships.” For Tilda, Adelaide doesn’t just appear in the film – it’s one of the lead characters.
Alexander Flood
Jazz drummer Alexander Flood is known for blending electronic, funk and hip hop into his signature genre-bending sound. He won a Ruby in 2023 and has since toured internationally, with his latest album – ARTIFACTUAL RHYTHM – reimagining club music through a jazz lens. He’s performed everywhere from WOMADelaide to Europe and SXSW Sydney, collaborating with artists across disciplines. For Alexander, Adelaide remains central to his creative identity: “There’s magic around every corner here. It’s inspiring to be part of this community.”
Jianna Georgiou
From WOMADelaide to the Sydney Festival – and all the way to the UK, Singapore and South Korea – this dancer, choreographer and director has spent nearly two decades lighting up stages with Restless Dance Theatre. Living with Down syndrome, she’s become a national and international leader in inclusive performance. At the 2020 Ruby Awards, she received the Frank Ford Memorial Award for Young Achiever in recognition of her impact – and she’s still breaking new ground. Jianna hopes her example will encourage more young people to pursue a career in the arts. “It has made me more confident – and I get to do what I love,” she says.
Jamie Hornsby
Playwright, performer, and co-founder of theatre company Madness of Two, Jamie Hornsby is known for breaking the fourth wall – and the rulebook. His Ruby Award win in 2022 recognised his work as a younger artist, working with bold multimedia storytelling. Since then, he’s continued to push boundaries with works like Claire Della and the Moon, which won two AWGIE Awards, and Starweaver, a futuristic epic blending live performance with cutting-edge visual effects.
Lilla Berry
This Ruby Award 2024 winner is a multi-disciplinary artist, filmmaker and producer passionate about empowering First Nations youth through the arts. As Carclew’s Manager of Aboriginal Arts Programs, she helps create platforms for young people to tell their stories and challenge injustice. A Yankunytjatjara woman and co-founder of the cultural dance collective Of Desert and Sea, Lilla’s work spans screen, stage and community projects. She’s also part of SAFC’s and AFF’s Film Lab: New Voices. “The arts give us a language to connect, to imagine, and to change things,” she says – and her work proves it every step of the way.
What a Ruby can mean
For many young creatives, a Ruby Award isn’t just a trophy – it’s a turning point.
James Hornsby says the recognition made others take his work seriously. “In those moments when nothing is going right, that glass trophy shows something must be working.”
Lilla Berry calls it “pretty incredible” to be recognised not just for her artistry, but for creating opportunities for others. “The arts give us a language to connect, to imagine, and to change things.”
Alexander Flood says the Rubys honour the “blood, sweat and tears” artists put in behind the scenes, while Jianna Georgiou says inclusive arts helped her get here: “Without it, I wouldn’t have had this opportunity – and audiences would miss out too”.
As Jianna puts it: “When I was lucky enough to win one, it was the greatest feeling of achievement.”
Ruby recognition starts with you
A single nomination can shine a light on someone doing brilliant, creative work – and you might be the person to make that happen.
From major festivals to micro-stage productions in community settings, if it adds something special to South Australia’s creative life, it could be Ruby-worthy.
If you know an artistic or creative individual, organisation, performance, exhibition, publication, project, program or event worthy of recognition, nominate now and be part of history.
Nominations for the 2025 Ruby Awards close 2pm, Tuesday 12 August 2025. Find all the instructions for nominating here.
