IT WAS a triumphant night for the Cummeragunja Songbirds.

The comic musical The Sapphires, about an Aboriginal girl group who rise from an outback mission to Vietnam War entertainers, has swept the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards.

Wayne Blair's feel-good hit won best film, best direction and four more awards at a star-studded ceremony in Sydney, adding to the five trophies at the event for craft awards on Monday.

With Russell Crowe hosting and fellow Oscar winners Cate Blanchett, Nicole Kidman and Geoffrey Rush in the audience, Deborah Mailman won best lead actress and Jessica Mauboy won best supporting actress for playing two of the Cummeragunja Songbirds who become the sassy, soul-singing Sapphires when they head to Vietnam.