The 30th Young Artist Awards ceremony, presented by the Young Artist Association, honored excellence of young performers under the age of 21 in the fields of film, television and theater for the 2008 season, and took place on March 29, 2009, at Universal Studios' Globe Theatre in Universal City, California. Special guest performers for the ceremony that year included Russian musical artists, "Street Magic" and Las Vegas father and son acrobat team, "The Kalinins".
Established in 1978 by long-standing Hollywood Foreign Press Association member Maureen Dragone, the Young Artist Association was the first organization to establish an awards ceremony specifically set to recognize and award the contributions of performers under the age of 21 in the fields of film, television, theater and music.
Categories ★ Bold indicates the winner in each category.
Best Performance in a Feature Film Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actor ★ Nate Hartley - Drillbit Taylor - Paramount Pictures Freddie Highmore - The Spiderwick Chronicles - Paramount Pictures Josh Hutcherson - Journey to the Center of the Earth - Warner Brothers Skandar Keynes - The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian - Walt Disney Pictures
Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actress ★ Dakota Fanning - The Secret Life of Bees - Fox Searchlight Abigail Breslin - Kit Kittredge: An American Girl - New Line Cinema Madeline Carroll - Swing Vote - Walt Disney Pictures Georgie Henley - The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian - Walt Disney Pictures Keke Palmer - The Longshots - MGM
Best Performance in a Feature Film - Supporting Young Actor ★ Brandon Soo Hoo - Tropic Thunder - DreamWorks SKG Dylan Everett - The Devil's Mercy - Peace Arch Entertainment Colin Ford - Lake City - Screen Media Films Nathan Gamble - Marley & Me - 20th Century Fox Devon Gearhart - Funny Games - Warner Independent Pictures Justin Jones - The Express: The Ernie Davis Story - Universal Pictures Johntae Lipscomb - Bedtime Stories - Universal Pictures Austin MacDonald - Kit Kittredge: An American Girl - New Line Cinema Zach Mills - Kit Kittredge: An American Girl - New Line Cinema
Best Performance in a Feature Film - Supporting Young Actress ★ Christian Serratos - Twilight - Summit Entertainment Madisen Beaty - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Warner Brothers Sammi Hanratty - Hero Wanted - Sony Pictures Entertainment Kali Majors - Baby Blues - Allumination Filmworks
Best Performance in a Feature Film - Young Ensemble Cast ★ Kit Kittredge: An American Girl - New Line CinemaAbigail Breslin, Madison Davenport, Austin MacDonald, Zach Mills, Willow Smith and Max Thieriot The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian - Walt Disney Pictures Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, William Moseley and Anna Popplewell Drillbit Taylor - Paramount Pictures David Dorfman, Troy Gentile and Nate Hartley
Best Performance in an International Feature Film Best Performance in an International Feature Film - Leading Young Performers ★ Brandon Walters (Australia) - Australia - 20th Century FoxHussein Al-Sous & Udey Al-Qiddissi (Jordan) - Captain Abu Raed - NeoClassics Asa Butterfield & Jack Scanlon (United Kingdom) - The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas - Heyday Films/Miramax Films Kåre Hedebrant & Lina Leandersson (Sweden) - Let the Right One In - Magnet Releasing Robbie Kay (United Kingdom) - Fugitive Pieces - Samuel Goldwyn Films Guang Li (Australia) - The Children of Huang Shi - Sony Pictures Classics Bill Milner & Will Poulter (United Kingdom) - Son of Rambow - Paramount Vantage Kodi Smit-McPhee (Australia) - Romulus, My Father - Magnolia Pictures Xu Jiao (China) - CJ7 - Sony Pictures Classics
Best Performance in a Short Film Best Performance in a Short Film - Young Actor ★ Cainan Wiebe - A Pickle Patrick Casa - Sizzlean Andy Scott Harris - The First Impression Joey Luthman - Stars and Suns Connor Kramme - Alex's Halloween Gig Morton - The Escape of Conrad Lardbottom Brandon Tyler Russell - Caleb Couldn't Love Randy Shelly - Settled at Sunrise Connor Stanhope - Illusional
Best Performance in a Short Film - Young Actress ★ Laytrel McMullen - Pudge Jasmine Jessica Anthony - Water Pills Megan Ashley - Wreck the Halls Megan McKinnon - Illusional Savannah McReynolds - Return to Sender Courtney Robinson - Little Miss Badass Emanuela Szumilas - The Corners of Our Rooms Chelsey Valentine - The Doll Hospital Jolie Vanier - Juvenile Delinquence
Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special - Leading Young Actor ★ Alex Black - Generation Gap - RHI Entertainment Luke Benward - Minutemen - Disney Channel Jamie Johnston - The Tenth Circle - Lifetime Television Robbie Kay - Pinocchio - RAI Fiction Maxim Knight - Our First Christmas - RHI Entertainment Connor Christopher Levins - The Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Hallmark Channel Austin Majors - An Accidental Christmas - Lifetime Television Justin Martin - A Raising in the Sun - ABC Gig Morton - Christmas Town - Peace Arch Entertainment
Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special - Leading Young Actress ★ Selena Gomez - Another Cinderella Story - Warner Brothers Jordy Benattar - Charlie & Me - Hallmark Channel Demi Lovato - Camp Rock - Disney Channel Jennifer Lawrence - The Poker House - Phase 43 Films Miranda Cosgrove - Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh - Nickelodeon Productions
Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special - Supporting Young Actor ★ Joseph Castanon - Comanche Moon - CBS Adam Cagley - Merry Christmas Drake and Josh - Nickelodeon Alexander Conti - Snow 2: Brain Freeze - ABC Family David Gore - Merry Christmas Drake and Josh -Nickelodeon Steven Hinkle - John Adams - HBO Matthew Knight - The Good Witch - Hallmark Channel Uriah Shelton - The Nanny Express - Hallmark Channel Tyler Stentiford - The Memory Keeper's Daughter - Lifetime Television
Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special - Supporting Young Actress ★ Cassidi Hoag - The Two Mr. Kissels - Lifetime Television Hannah Endicott Douglas - The Good Witch - Hallmark Channel Jodelle Ferland - Celine - CBC Molly Jepson - Minutemen - Disney Channel Nicole Munoz - Another Cinderella Story - Warner Brothers
Best Performance in a TV Series Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) - Leading Young Actor ★ Graham Patrick Martin - The Bill Engvall Show - TBS Jake T. Austin - Wizards of Waverly Place - Disney Channel Jamie Johnston - Degrassi: The Next Generation - CTV Nathan Kress - iCarly - Nickelodeon Nat Wolff - The Naked Brothers Band - Nickelodeon
Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) - Leading Young Actress ★ Miranda Cosgrove - iCarly - Nickelodeon Miley Cyrus - Hannah Montana - Disney Channel Selena Gomez - Wizards of Waverly Place - Disney Channel Taylor Momsen - Gossip Girl - Warner Brothers Vanessa Morgan - The Latest Buzz - Decode Entertainment Shailene Woodley - The Secret Life of the American Teenager - ABC Family
Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) - Supporting Young Actor ★ Larramie "Doc" Shaw - Tyler Perry's House of Payne - TNT Moisés Arias - Hannah Montana - Disney Channel Skyler Gisondo - The Bill Engvall Show - TBS Mark Indelicato - Ugly Betty - ABC Ryan Malgarini - Gary Unmarried - CBS
Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) - Supporting Young Actress ★ Bella Thorne - My Own Worst Enemy - NBC Jennifer Lawrence - The Bill Engvall Show - TBS Jennette McCurdy - iCarly - Nickelodeon Kathryn Newton - Gary Unmarried - CBS Emily Osment - Hannah Montana - Disney Channel Erin Sanders - Zoey 101 - Nickelodeon
Best Performance in a TV Series - Guest Starring Young Actor ★ (tie) Carlos Knight - ER - NBC ★ (tie) Joey Luthman - Private Practice - ABC Jesse Bostick - Murdoch Mysteries - Bravo Nathan Gamble - House M.D. - FOX Hunter Gomez - The Suite Life of Zack & Cody - Disney Channel Isaiah Marcus Grant - The Border - White Pine Pictures Braeden Lemasters - Law & Order NBC Dylan Minnette - The Mentalist - CBS Remy Thorne - October Road - ABC Billy Unger - Medium - NBC Cainan Wiebe - Sanctuary - Sci-Fi Channel
Best Performance in a TV Series - Guest Starring Young Actress ★ Nicole Leduc - Supernatural - Warner Brothers Isabella Acres - The Mentalist - CBS Kaylee Dodson - Leverage - TNT Brighid Fleming - Criminal Minds - CBS Isabelle Fuhrman - Ghost Whisperer - CBS Joey King - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation - CBS Carly Schroeder - Ghost Whisperer - CBS Stefanie Scott - Chuck - NBC Car'ynn Sims - Everybody Hates Chris - CBS Paramount Bella Thorne - October Road - ABC
Best Performance in a TV Series - Recurring Young Actor ★ Mick Hazen - As the World Turns - CBS Eddie Alderson - One Life to Live - ABC Preston Bailey - Dexter - Showtime Aaron Hart - Mad Men - AMC Joey Luthman - Weeds - Showtime Dylan Minnette - Saving Grace - TNT Terrell Ransom, Jr - Days of Our Lives - NBC Connor Stanhope - Smallville - CW Television Austin Williams - One Life to Live - ABC
Best Performance in a TV Series - Recurring Young Actress ★ Erin Sanders - The Young and the Restless - CBS Kristen Alderson - One Life to Live - ABC Darcy Rose Byrnes - The Young and the Restless - CBS Danielle Hanratty - The Unit - FOX Haley Ramm - Without a Trace CBS Christina Robinson - Dexter - Showtime Kiernan Shipka - Mad Men - AMC Mackenzie Smith - Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles - FOX Brittany Underwood - One Life to Live - ABC
Outstanding Young Ensemble in a TV Series ★ The Bill Engvall Show - TBSSkyler Gisondo, Graham Patrick Martin and Jennifer LawrenceCory in the House - Disney Channel Jason Dolley, Kyle Massey, Madison Pettis and Jake Thomas iCarly - Nickelodeon Miranda Cosgrove, Nathan Kress, Jennette McCurdy and Noah Munck One Life to Live - ABC Eddie Alderson, Kristen Alderson, Camila Banus, Carmen LoPorto and Austin Williams
Best Performance in a Voice-Over Role Best Performance in a Voice-Over Role - Young Actor ★ David Gore - Fly Me to the Moon - Summit EntertainmentZachary Bloch - Super Why! (episode: "The Little Mermaid") - PBS Alexander Conti - Di-Gata Defenders - Luxanimation Alex Ferris - Martha Speaks - PBS Colin Ford - Christmas Is Here Again - MyNetwork TV Zachary Gordon - Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa - DreamWorks Animation/Paramount Pictures Thomas Stanley - Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa - DreamWorks Animation/Paramount Pictures
Best Performance in a Voice-Over Role - Young Actress ★ Emily Hirst - The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (English version) - Bandai EntertainmentShelby Adamowsky - Horton Hears a Who! - 20th Century Fox Selena Gomez - Horton Hears a Who! - 20th Century Fox Joey King - Horton Hears a Who! - 20th Century Fox Ashley McGullam - Return to Sender - Heavy B Productions Chloë Grace Moretz - My Friends Tigger & Pooh - Walt Disney Television
Best Performance in a DVD Film Best Performance in a DVD Film ★ Billy Unger - Cop Dog - Marvista EntertainmentJack Knight - A Lobster Tale - Peace Arch Entertainment Matthew Knight - Christmas in Wonderland - Yari Film Group Gig Morton - Snow Buddies - Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Stefanie Scott - Beethoven's Big Break - Universal Studios
Best Performance in Live Theater Best Performance in Live Theater / Host ★ Shemar Charles - Pop It! - Hop To It ProductionsEmily Albrecht - Ruthless! The Musical - Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center Logan O'Brien - Digital Video Editing & Video Camera Techniques - The Young Filmmakers Club
Special awards Outstanding Live Family Act ★ "The Kalinins" – Misha and Ivan Kalinin (Father and Son) – AcrobatsOutstanding International Feature Film Ensemble ★ Slumdog Millionaire (India)Ayush Mahesh Khedekar, Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, Rubina Ali, Tanay Chheda, Ashutosh Lobo Gajiwala, Tanvi Ganesh Lonkar, Farzana Ansari, Chirag Parmar and Siddesh PatilOutstanding Broadway Musical Ensemble ★ Billy Elliot the Musical David Álvarez, Trent Kowalik, Kiril Kulish, David Bologna, Frank Dolce and Erin Whyland
Jackie Coogan Award