ROWDY protesters caught security off guard when they stormed the AACTA’s red carpet campaigning about the acting industry being male dominated.

As VIP guests including Isla Fisher, Marta Dusseldorp, Paul Hogan and Jessica Mauboy walked the ruby rug, more than 20 women dressed in sausage costumes stormed the red carpet chanting: “End the sausage party.”

Security acted swiftly, removing the women from the event.

The sausage party protest was by a group called WIFT (Women in Film and Television).

WIFT president Sophie Mathisen recently wrote a colum for RendezView.

Mel Gibson’s directorial return, Hacksaw Ridge, is expected to sweep the board at the 6th annual AACTA Awards, honouring the country’s TV and film industry, in Sydney tonight.

The WWII drama, shot in NSW, is the frontrunner at the ceremony with a total of 13 nominations and four industry awards, including best cinematography and best editing, already in the bag.

The Daughter, starring Geoffrey Rush, Sam Neill and Miranda Otto, is in close second with 10 nominations at the Australian awards, including one for Best Film.

Gibson, who is up for Best Direction, is expected to attend the ceremony alongside fellow Hollywood stars Isla Fisher and Paul Hogan. Hogan, the Crocodile Dundee actor, has already been named as the recipient of the highest Australian screen honour the Longford Lyell Award, which he will accept at the ceremony.

Comedy actor Fisher will be there to receive the AACTA Trailblazer Award, given to an Australian screen practitioner who inspires others with their portfolio of work.

Fisher will be joined at the awards by husband Sacha Baron Cohen, with actors Rose Byrne, Geoffrey Rush, Michael Caton, Shane Jacobson and director George Miller just some of the other stars expected to attend.

Camera Icon Jessica Mauboy will be performing tonight. Credit: News Corp Australia, Christian Gilles Camera Icon Dami Im will also perform. Credit: News Corp Australia, Christian Gilles

British legendary group Culture Club will perform on the night alongside Paul Kelly, Jessica Mauboy and Dami Im.