Animal Kingdom has grabbed a record-breaking 18 nominations for this year's Australian Film Institute Awards.

David Michod's debut feature film, about a dysfunctional Melbourne crime family, received nominations in every category for which it was eligible including best film, best director and best lead actress for Jacki Weaver.

War drama Beneath Hill 60 also has a big chance at the December awards ceremony after receiving an impressive 12 nominations.

Jane Campion's Bright Star earned 11 nominations, the adaptation of John Marsden's bestselling teen novel Tomorrow When The War Began grabbed eight and Indigenous musical Bran Nue Dae and French-Australian co-production The Tree each scored seven nominations.

All six films will compete for the best film prize.

Weaver's nomination is her first since 1976. She is seen as the favourite to win against Abbie Cornish (Bright Star) and The Tree's Charlotte Gainsbourg and Morgana Davies.

Animal Kingdom's male stars dominated the actor categories with Joel Edgerton, Guy Pearce and Sullivan Stapleton nominated in the supporting category against Matching Jack's Kodi Smit-McPhee, while Ben Mendelsohn and James Frecheville have been recognised in the lead category alongside Beneath Hill 60's Brendan Cowell and British actor Clive Owen for The Boys Are Back.

The AFI Awards will be handed out in Melbourne on December 10 and 11.