Alfonso Cuarón’s latest project is officially an award-winning hit Down Under…

The 52-year-old Mexican filmmaker, who earned an NAACP Image Award nomination and several BAFTA Award nods this week, took home Best Direction trophy at the AACTA International Awards.

Cuarón picked up the award from the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) for helming the 3D sci-fi thriller Gravity, starring Sandra Bullock.

In addition, Cuarón’s blockbuster hit film received the AACTA International Award for Best Film.

The space odyssey, based on a story written by Cuarón and his son Jonás Cuarón, pushed the known boundaries of cinematography and technologies to illustrate a tense story of skill and survival set in zero gravity. A team of world renowned VFX artists worked with Cuarón to realize his extraordinary vision including visual effects supervisor Tim Webber and Australian VFX House Rising Sun Pictures.

Winners were announced at an intimate awards ceremony in Los Angeles hosted by multi-award winner and AACTA president Geoffrey Rush.