MORE 2025 AWARDS NEWS

Award season is moving into high gear with the guilds announcing their nominees for the best in cinema of 2025. The actors, cinematographers, directors and producers have revealed their selections of nominations as well as another major critics group, the National Society of Film Critics selected their winners.

"One Battle After Another" continues its awards sweep with Paul Thomas Anderson's black comedy thriller was named Best Picture during the 2025 awards by the National Society of Film Critics. Anderson received Best Director while co-stars, Teyana Taylor and Benicio del Toro won Best Supporting Actress and Best Supporting Actor for their work in the film. Now in their sixtieth year, the NSFC, which has consists of more than sixty of the most prominent film critics in the country, voted on January 3rd during in-person gatherings and virtually. Kathleen Chalfant, the veteran performer was awarded Best Actress for her performance in "Familiar Touch", an indie drama that follows a woman as she transitions to life in assisted living while contending with her cognitive decline while Best Actor went to Ethan Hawke for his transformative work in "Blue Moon" where he plays musical theater composer, Lorenz Hart.

Here is the complete list of winners from the 2025 National Society of Film Critics:

Best Picture: "One Battle After Another"
Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson, "One Battle After Another"
Best Screenplay: Jafar Panahi, "It Was Just an Accident"
Best Actress: Kathleen Chalfant, "Familiar Touch"
Best Actor: Ethan Hawke, "Blue Moon"
Best Supporting Actress: Teyana Taylor, "One Battle After Another"
Best Supporting Actor: Benicio del Toro, "One Battle After Another"
Best Cinematography: Autumn Durald Arkapaw, "Sinners"
Best Film Not in the English Language: "The Secret Agent" (Brazil)
Best Nonfiction Film: "My Undesirable Friends: Part I — Last Air in Moscow"
Best Experimental Film:"Morning Circle"
Special Award for a Film Awaiting U.S. Distribution: "Landmarks"

SAG-AFTRA announced the nominations for their 2025 acting awards with them now being called "The Actor Awards" in their 31st year. "One Battle After Another" leads in the nominations with seven while Ryan Coogler's "Sinners" follows with five. The most glaring outcome from these nominations is the complete omission of the acclaimed performances by actors in films that are not in the English language like "The Secret Agent", "Sentimental Value" and "No Other Choice". I'm fairly certain that when the Oscar nominations are revealed in a few weeks that we will see a few actors from some of these films being recognized in the acting categories. Netflix will stream the Actor Awards on March 1st.

Here is the list of nominations for the 2025 Actor Awards (Motion Picture):

Outstanding Performance By A Cast In A Motion Picture:

"Frankenstein"
"Hamnet"
"Marty Supreme"
"One Battle After Another"
"Sinners"

Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Leading Role:

Jessie Buckley, "Hamnet"
Rose Byrne, "If I Had Legs I’d Kick You"
Kate Hudson, "Song Sung Blue"
Chase Infiniti, "One Battle After Another"
Emma Stone, "Bugonia"

Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Leading Role:

Timothée Chalamet, "Marty Supreme"
Leonardo DiCaprio, "One Battle After Another"
Ethan Hawke, "Blue Moon"
Michael B. Jordan, "Sinners"
Jesse Plemons, "Bugonia"

Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Supporting Role:

Odessa A’zion, "Marty Supreme"
Ariana Grande, "Wicked: For Good"
Amy Madigan, "Weapons"
Wunmi Mosaku, "Sinners"
Teyana Taylor, "One Battle After Another"

Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Supporting Role:

Miles Caton, "Sinners"
Benicio Del Toro, "One Battle After Another"
Jacob Elordi, "Frankenstein"
Paul Mescal, "Hamnet"
Sean Penn, "One Battle After Another"

Outstanding Stunt Ensemble In A Motion Picture:

"F1"
"Frankenstein"
"Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning"
"One Battle After Another"
"Sinners"

The Directors Guild of America revealed their feature film nominees on January 8th for the 78th DGA Annual Awards and the filmmakers behind "One Battle After Another", "Sinners", "Frankenstein", "Marty Supreme" and "Hamnet" were recognized for Best Direction of a Feature Film. Nominations for direction in Feature Documentaries and First-time Feature film were also announced. The DGA Awards ceremony is set to be presented on February 7th at the Beverly Hilton.

Here are the nominations of the 2025 DGA Awards (Feature Films):

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film:

Paul Thomas Anderson, "One Battle After Another"
Ryan Coogler, "Sinners"
Guillermo Del Toro, "Frankenstein"
Josh Safdie,"Marty Supreme"
Chloé Zhao, "Hamnet"

First Time Theatrical Feature Film:

Ava Victor, "Sorry, Baby"
Hasan Hadi, "The President’s Cake"
Harry Lighton, "Pillion"
Charlie Polinger, "The Plague"
Alex Russell, "Lurker"

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary Feature Film:

Mstyslav Chernov,"2000 Meters to Andriivk"
Getta Gandbhir,"The Perfect Neighbor"
Sara Khaki and Mohammadreza Eyni, "Cutting Through Rocks"
Elizabeth Lo, "Mistress Dispeller"
Laura Poitras and Mark Obenhaus, "Cover-Up"

The American Society of Cinematographers have delivered their nominees for the year’s best in cinematography for the 2025 ASC Awards. The technicians behind the camera of the films, "Frankenstein", "One Battle After Another", "Sinners", "Marty Supreme" and "Train Dreams" were honored. The winners of the 40th annual ASC Awards will be revealed at the Beverly Hilton on March 8th.

Here are the nominations for the 2025 ASC Awards (Motion Picture):

Best Theatrical Feature Film Cinematography:

Autumn Durald Arkapaw, "Sinners"
Michael Bauman "One Battle After Another"
Darius Khondji, "Marty Supreme"
Dan Laustsen, "Frankenstein"
Adolpho Veloso, "Train Dreams"

Best Documentary Cinematography:

Mstyslav Chernov and Alex Babenko, "2000 Meters from Andriivka"
Brandon Somerhalder, "Come See Me in the Good Light"
Lars Erlend Tubaas Øymo and Tor Edvin Eliassen, "Folktales"

And today, the Producers Guild of America has released their picks for the 37th Annual PGA Awards. The producers behind the feature films, "Bugonia", "F1", "Frankenstein", "Hamnet", "Marty Supreme", "One Battle After Another", "Sentimental Value", "Sinners", "Train Dreams" and "Weapons" have been nominated this year. The PGA Awards will be held on February 28th at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles.

Here are the nominations for the 2025 PGA Awards (Motion Picture):

Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures:

Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Yorgos Lanthimos, Emma Stone and Lars Knudsen, "Bugonia"
TBD, "F1"
Guillermo Del Toro, J. Miles Dale and Scott Stuber, "Frankenstein"
Liza Marshall, Pippa Harris, Sam Mendes, Steven Spielberg and Nicolas Gonda, "Hamnet"
TBD, "Marty Supreme"
Adam Somner, Sara Murphy and Paul Thomas Anderson, "One Battle After Another"
Maria Ekerhovd and Andrea Berentsen Ottmar, "Sentimental Value"
Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler and Sev Ohanian, "Sinners"
Marissa McMahon, Teddy Schwarzman, William Janowitz, Ashley Schlaifer and Michael Heimler, "Train Dreams"
Zach Cregger and Miri Yoon, "Weapons"

Award for Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures:

Damon Ross, "The Bad Guys 2"
TBD, "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle"
Mary Alice Drumm, "Elio"
Michelle L.M. Wong, "KPop Demon Hunters"
Yvett Merino, "Zootopia 2"

WINNERS OF THE 2024 GOLDEN GLOBES AND OTHER AWARD NEWS

The 2024 Golden Globes were given out on January 5th and you would have never known they had been away. Now in their 82nd year, the Globes have found their way back on solid ground once again after the last few years embroiled in messy scandals which had distracted them from their mission to glamorously kick off award season. The comedian, Nikki Glaser, making her debut as host of the Globes, proved to be a perfect fit, keeping the show upbeat and lively while gently teasing the stars in attendance with funny yet largely inoffensive jokes.

As for the awards, "Emilia Pérez" had entered this race with the most nominations with ten and took home four awards including Best Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy). Two unexpected yet well-deserved winners were Demi Moore receiving Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy for the body-horror satire, "The Substance" and Fernanda Torres won Best Actress in a Drama for her turn in "Ainda Estou Aqui (I'm Still Here)", the Brazilian political drama from filmmaker, Walter Salles. Brady Corbet and his over three hour, dramatic epic, "The Brutalist" was another big winner receiving awards for Best Motion Picture (Drama), Best Director and Best Actor for star, Adrien Brody. And the winner of the first "Cinematic and Box Office Achievement" movie category was "Wicked". I still have no clear idea what this dubious award really means ("It's not good enough for Best Drama or Best Musical or Comedy but it made money so it should get an award too") but congratulations to the witches.

Here is the list of winners from the 2024 Golden Globes (Motion Picture):

Best Motion Picture (Drama): "The Brutalist"
Best Motion Picture (Musical Or Comedy): "Emilia Pérez"
Best Cinematic and Box Office Achievement: "Wicked"
Best Director (Motion Picture): Brady Corbet, "The Brutalist"
Best Screenplay (Motion Picture): Peter Straughan, "Conclave"
Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama): Fernanda Torres, "I’m Still Here"
Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy): Demi Moore, "The Substance"
Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role In Any Motion Picture: Zoe Saldaña, "Emilia Pérez"
Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama): Adrien Brody, "The Brutalist"
Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy): Sebastian Stan, "A Different Man"
Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role In Any Motion Picture: Kieran Culkin, "A Real Pain"
Best Motion Picture (Non-English Language): "Emilia Pérez" (France)
Best Motion Picture (Animated): "Flow"
Best Original Song (Motion Picture): "El Mal" from "Emilia Pérez" Music & Lyrics By: Clément Ducol, Camille and Jacques Audiard
Best Original Score (Motion Picture): Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, "Challengers"

The Screen Actors Guild announced their nominations on January 8th with these awards focused on honoring the best acting performances of the year. "Anora", "A Complete Unknown", "Emilia Pérez" and "Wicked" each received three nominations including Outstanding Performance By a Cast in a Motion Picture. "Conclave" is the other film in that category along with Ralph Fiennes as a nominee for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor. The 31st Annual SAG Awards will be presented on Sunday, February 23, 2025 live on Netflix and hosted by actress Kristen Bell.

Here is the list of nominations of the 2024 SAG Awards (Film):

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture:

"Anora"
"A Complete Unknown"
"Conclave"
"Emilia Pérez"
"Wicked"

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role:

Pamela Anderson, "The Last Showgirl"
Cynthia Erivo, "Wicked"
Karla Sofía Gascón, "Emilia Pérez"
Mikey Madison, "Anora"
Demi Moore, "The Substance"

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role:

Adrien Brody, "The Brutalist"
Timothée Chalamet, "A Complete Unknown"
Daniel Craig, "Queer"
Colman Domingo, "Sing Sing"
Ralph Fiennes, "Conclave"

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role:

Monica Barbaro, "A Complete Unknown"
Jamie Lee Curtis, "The Last Showgirl"
Danielle Deadwyler, "The Piano Lesson"
Ariana Grande, "Wicked"
Zoe Saldaña, "Emilia Pérez"

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role:

Jonathan Bailey, "Wicked"
Yura Borisov, "Anora"
Kieran Culkin, "A Real Pain"
Edward Norton, "A Complete Unknown"
Jeremy Strong, "The Apprentice"

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture:

"Deadpool & Wolverine"
"Dune: Part Two"
"The Fall Guy"
"Gladiator II"
"Wicked"

And the National Society of Film Critics, a group that counts amongst its members many of the country’s leading film critics, have made their selections of the best in the year of cinema. Announced on January 4th, the NSFC awarded "Nickel Boys", RaMell Ross' moving drama that follows the lives of two African-American boys who try to survive at an abusive reform school in 1960s Florida, as their pick of Best Picture with “All We Imagine as Light” and “Anora” as the runner-ups.

Here is the list of winners from the 2024 National Society of Film Critics:

Best Picture: "Nickel Boys"
Best Director: Payal Kapadia, "All We Imagine as Light"
Best Screenplay: Jesse Eisenberg, "A Real Pain"
Best Actress: Marianne Jean-Baptiste, "Hard Truths"
Best Supporting Actress: Michele Austin, Hard Truths"
Best Actor: Colman Domingo, "Sing Sing"
Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin, "A Real Pain"
Best Film Not in the English Language: "All We Imagine as Light"
Best Nonfiction Film: "No Other Land"
Best Experimental Film: "The Ballad of Suzanne Césaire"
Best Cinematography: Jomo Fray, Nickel Boys"
Film Heritage Award: To Save and Project: The MoMa International Festival of Film Preservation; IndieCollect and Scott Eyman

MORE AWARD SEASON NEWS

As award season begins to kick into high gear, the Screen Actors Guild and the Directors Guild of America have announced their nominations for awards. 

The nominations for the SAG Awards is always filled with the unexpected nods (Sterling K. Brown for "American Fiction"; Penélope Cruz in "Ferrari") and surprising snubs (the lead cast of "May December"; Fantasia Barrino for "The Color Purple"; Sandra Hüller for "Anatomy of a Fall"; Greta Lee in "Past Lives") but most of them are for the actors who have received plenty of award recognition since the start of the season. The 30th Annual SAG Awards will be presented on Saturday, February 24 at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall in Los Angeles with the ceremony streaming live for the first time on Netflix. And the legendary performer, Barbra Streisand will receive this year's SAG Life Achievement Award. 

Here is the list of nominations for the 2024 SAG Awards (theatrical motion picture):

Best Outstanding Cast:

"American Fiction"
"Barbie"
"The Color Purple"
"Killers of the Flower Moon"
"Oppenheimer"

Best Actor in a Lead Role:

Bradley Cooper, "Maestro"
Colman Domingo, "Rustin"
Paul Giamatti, "The Holdovers"
Cillian Murphy, "Oppenheimer"
Jeffrey Wright, "American Fiction"

Best Actress in a Lead Role:

Annette Bening, "Nyad"
Lily Gladstone, "Killers of the Flower Moon"
Carey Mulligan, "Maestro"
Margot Robbie, "Barbie"
Emma Stone, "Poor Things"

Best Actor in a Supporting Role:

Sterling K. Brown, "American Fiction"
Willem Dafoe, "Poor Things"
Robert De Niro, "Killers of the Flower Moon"
Robert Downey Jr., "Oppenheimer"
Ryan Gosling, "Barbie"

Best Actress in a Supporting Role:

Emily Blunt, "Oppenheimer"
Danielle Brooks, "The Color Purple"
Penélope Cruz, "Ferrari"
Jodie Foster, "Nyad"
Da'Vine Joy Randolph, "The Holdovers"

Best Stunt Ensemble in a Movie:

"Barbie"
"Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3"
"Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny"
"John Wick: Chapter 4"
"Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One"

After no women shockingly made the cut last year, Greta Gerwig received a nomination by the DGA for her work on the biggest box-office hit of 2023, "Barbie". And while this is only a minor improvement it's still welcomed but in the First-Time Theatrical Feature Film category, it is the exact opposite with four female directors impressively filling the five spots with Manuella Martelli ("Chile ’76"), Noora Niasari ("Shayda"), A.V. Rockwell ("A Thousand and One") and Celine Song ("Past Lives"). The 76th Annual DGA Awards will be handed out Saturday, February 10, at the Beverly Hilton. 

Here is the list of 2024 DGA nominees for motion pictures: 

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film:

Greta Gerwig, "Barbie"
Yorgos Lanthimos, "Poor Things"
Christopher Nolan, "Oppenheimer"
Alexander Payne, "The Holdovers"
Martin Scorsese, "Killers of the Flower Moon"

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary Feature Film:

Moses Bwayo and Christopher Sharp, "Bobi Wine: The People's President"
Mstyslav Chernov, "20 Days in Mariupol"
Madeleine Gavin, "Beyond Utopia"
Davis Guggenheim, "Still: A Michael J Fox Movie"
D Smith, "Kokomo City"

Michael Apted Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in First-Time Theatrical Feature Film:

Cord Jefferson, "American Fiction"
Manuela Martelli, Chile ‘76"
Noora Niasari, "Shayda"
A.V. Rockwell, "A Thousand and One"
Celine Song, "Past Lives"

After the problematic couple of years behind the scenes of the Golden Globes involving a lack of diversity in the membership of the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. and the group's ethics practices, it seemed like this long-time award show event might be over. But after the disbandment of the HFPA and turning the group into a for-profit organization, the Globes are back like nothing ever happened. With a new home on CBS and a slightly redesigned trophy, the Golden Globes returned on January 7th to give out awards and the stars came out in all their glittering finery to accept them. The show started off a bit wobbly with first time host, Jo Koy who really struggled to get laughs with painfully awkward jokes. I have to admit that I'm not familiar with Koy's work so he could actually be funny in a less stressful environment. But in all my years of watching various award shows, this comedian's set was truly one of the worst I've ever had to endure. Once the actors came on to hand out awards, it was slightly better although we still had to squirm through badly written chatter between the presenters (leave it to master comedians, Ray Romano, Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig to come in with some actual funny bits). Overall, it was business as usual with the Globes being the first of the televised award shows and helping to create buzz around certain films and performances.

Here is the list of nominations for the 2024 Golden Globes (Motion Picture) with the winners highlighted:

Best Film (Drama):

"Anatomy of a Fall"
"Killers of the Flower Moon"
"Maestro"
"Oppenheimer"
"Past Lives"
"The Zone of Interest"

Best Film (Musical or Comedy):

"Air"
"American Fiction"
"Barbie"
The Holdovers"
"May December"
"Poor Things"

Best Director:

Bradley Cooper, "Maestro"
Greta Gerwig, "Barbie"
Yorgos Lanthimos, "Poor Things"
Christopher Nolan, "Oppenheimer"
Martin Scorsese, "Killers of the Flower Moon"
Celine Song, "Past Lives"

Best Screenplay:

Justine Triet and Arthur Harari, "Anatomy of a Fall"
Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach, "Barbie"
Tony McNamara, "Poor Things"
Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer"
Eric Roth and Martin Scorsese, "Killers of the Flower Moon"
Celine Song, "Past Lives"

Best Actress (Drama):

Annette Bening, "Nyad"
Lily Gladstone, "Killers of the Flower Moon"
Sandra Hüller, "Anatomy of a Fall"
Greta Lee, "Past Lives"
Carey Mulligan, "Maestro"
Cailee Spaeny, "Priscilla"

Best Actress (Musical or Comedy):

Fantasia Barrino, "The Color Purple"
Jennifer Lawrence, "No Hard Feelings"
Natalie Portman, "May December"
Alma Pöysti, "Fallen Leaves"
Margot Robbie, "Barbie"
Emma Stone, "Poor Things"

Best Actor (Drama):

Bradley Cooper, "Maestro"
Leonardo Dicaprio, "Killers of the Flower Moon"
Colman Domingo, "Rustin"
Barry Keoghan, "Saltburn"
Cillian Murphy, "Oppenheimer"
Andrew Scott, "All of Us Strangers"

Best Actor (Musical or Comedy):

Nicolas Cage, "Dream Scenario"
Timothée Chalamet, "Wonka"
Matt Damon, "Air"
Paul Giamatti, "The Holdovers"
Joaquin Phoenix, "Beau Is Afraid"
Jeffrey Wright, "American Fiction"

Best Supporting Actress:

Emily Blunt, "Oppenheimer"
Danielle Brooks, "The Color Purple"
Jodie Foster, "Nyad"
Julianne Moore, "May December"
Rosamund Pike, "Saltburn"
Da'Vine Joy Randolph, "The Holdovers"

Best Supporting Actor:

Willem Dafoe, "Poor Things"
Robert De Niro, "Killers of the Flower Moon"
Robert Downey Jr., "Oppenheimer"
Ryan Gosling, "Barbie"
Charles Melton, "May December"
Mark Ruffalo, "Poor Things"

Best Animated Film:

"The Boy and the Heron"
"Elemental"
"Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse"
"The Super Mario Bros. Movie"
"Suzume"
"Wish"

Best Foreign-Language Film:

"Anatomy of a Fall"
"Fallen Leaves"
"Io Capitano"
"Past Lives"
"Society of the Snow"
"The Zone of Interest"

Best Original Score:

Jerskin Fendrix, "Poor Things"
Ludwig Göransson, "Oppenheimer"
Joe Hisaishi, "The Boy and the Heron"
Mica Levi, "The Zone of Interest"
Daniel Pemberton, "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse"
Robbie Robertson, "Killers of the Flower Moon"

Best Original Song:

Bruce Springsteen, "Addicted to Romance" from "She Came to Me" 
Mark Ronson, Andrew Wyatt, Dua Lipa and Caroline Ailin, "Dance the Night" from "Barbie" 
Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt, "I'm Just Ken" from "Barbie" 
Jack Black, Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic, Eric Osmond and John Spiker, "Peaches" from "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" 
Lenny Kravitz, "Road to Freedom" from "Rustin" 
Billie Eilish O'Connell and Finneas O'Connell , "What Was I Made For?" from "Barbie"

Best Cinematic and Box Office Achievement:

"Barbie"
"Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3"
"John Wick: Chapter 4"
"Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1"
"Oppenheimer"
"Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse"
"The Super Mario Bros. Movie"

Celine Song's romantic drama, "Past Lives" received the top prize from the National Society of Film Critics on January 6th. One of the most prestigious of the US film critics groups, which is now in their 58th year, began when several New York critics (which included well-known film reviewers for magazines, Pauline Kael, Joe Morgenstern and Richard Schickel) were refused memberships to the New York Film Critics Circle which preferred writers for mainstream newspapers. The NSFC is known for their judicious selections, usually favoring foreign-language and indie films and that is on display here with Jonathan Glazer receiving Best Director for his first film in ten years, "The Zone of Interest". Andrew Scott won Best Actor for his outstanding turn in Andrew Haigh's emotional, romantic fantasia, "All of Us Strangers". And German actress, Sandra Hüller winning for her stunning work in two films; as a defendant against the suspicious death of her husband in Justine Triet's courtroom drama, "Anatomy of a Fall" and as a SS officer's wife trying to maintain her dream home next to a concentration camp in "Zone of Interest".

Here is the complete of winners of the 2023 National Society of Film Critics:

Best Picture: "Past Lives"
Best Director: Jonathan Glazer, "The Zone of Interest"
Best Screenplay: Samy Burch, "May December"
Best Actress: Sandra Hüller, "Anatomy of a Fall" and "The Zone of Interest"
Best Actor: Andrew Scott, "All of Us Strangers"
Best Supporting Actress: Da’Vine Joy Randolph, "The Holdovers"
Best Supporting Actor: Charles Melton, "May December"
Best Nonfiction Film: "Menus-Plaisirs — Les Troisgros"
Best Film Not in the English Language: "Fallen Leaves" (Finland)
Best Cinematography: Rodrigo Prieto, "Killers of the Flower Moon"
Best Experimental Film: Jean Luc-Godard’s "Trailer of a Film That Will Never Exist: Phony Wars"
Film Heritage Award: Criterion Channel
Film Heritage Award: Facets, Kim’s Video, Scarecrow Video and Vidiots
Special Citation for a film awaiting U.S. distribution: Víctor Erice’s "Close Your Eyes"

MORE AWARD SEASON NEWS

The National Society of Film Critics have selected their picks for the best of 2021. This prestigious group, established in 1966, is made up of critics that write for a variety of weekly and daily newspapers along with major publications and media outlets. The NSFC are well-known for their high-brow picks and this year, they did not disappoint. Ryusuke Hamaguchi and his three-hour long drama, "Drive My Car" were selected as Best Film and Director along with star, Hidetoshi Nishijima as Best Actor. Based on a short story by Haruki Murakami, the film deals with a a theater director about to stage a production of Chekhov's play "Uncle Vanya" while grappling with loss and grief and makes a connection with his driver. Penélope Cruz received Best Actress for her work in the latest from Pedro Almodóvar in "Parallel Mothers". Ruth Negga was recognized as Best Supporting Actress for her outstanding turn in "Passing". And Anders Danielsen Lie won Best Supporting Actor for his part in the Norwegian romantic-dark comedy, "Verdens verste menneske (The Worst Person in the World)". The NSFC also selected the late filmmakers, Bernard Tavernier and Peter Bogdanovich and Maya Cade with the Black Film Archive as winners of the Film Heritage Award.

Here is the list of 2022 winners from The National Society of Film Critics:

Best Picture: "Drive My Car"
Best Director: Ryusuke Hamaguchi, "Drive My Car"
Best Screenplay: Ryusuke Hamaguchi and Takamasa Oe, "Drive My Car"
Best Actress: Penélope Cruz, "Parallel Mothers"
Best Actor: Hidetoshi Nishijima, "Drive My Car"
Best Supporting Actress: Ruth Negga, "Passing"
Best Supporting Actor: Anders Danielsen Lie, "The Worst Person in the World"
Best Cinematography: Andrew Droz Palermo, "The Green Knight"
Best Non-Fiction Film: "Flee"

The Los Angeles Film Critics Association had also selected "Drive My Car" as their Best Picture on December 18th. Some other winners crossed over with the NSFC but the LAFCA went their own way with Simon Rex for Best Actor in "Red Rocket" for his performance as a washed-up LA porn star returning to his small Texas hometown to start over; Best Supporting Actress went to Ariana DeBose for her turn as Anita in "West Side Story"; a tie between for Best Supporting Actor with Vincent Lindon for his performance in the surreal French drama, "Titane" and a mesmerizing Kodi Smit-McPhee for "The Power of the Dog" and one of favorite films of 2021, "Summer of Soul" won for Best Documentary.

Here is the List of 2022 winners from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association:

Best Picture: "Drive My Car"
Best Director: Jane Campion, "The Power of the Dog"
Best Screenplay: Ryusuke Hamaguchi and Takamasa Oe, "Drive My Car"
Best Actress: Penélope Cruz, "Parallel Mothers"
Best Actor: Simon Rex, "Red Rocket"
Best Supporting Actress: Ariana DeBose, "West Side Story"
Best Supporting Actor (tie): Vincent Lindon, "Titane" and Kodi Smit-McPhee, "The Power of the Dog"
Best Documentary: "Summer of Soul"
Best Film Not in the English Language: "Petite Maman"
Best Animation: "Flee"
Best Cinematography: Ari Wegner, "The Power of the Dog"
Best Editing: Joshua L. Pearson, "Summer of Soul"
Best Production Design: Steve Saklad, "Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar"
Best Music/Score: Alberto Iglesias, "Parallel Mothers"
Career Achievement Award: Mel Brooks

And the Golden Globes used to be the first major televised award show to kick off the season with a riotous party serving dinner and drinks for the attendees. But that has changed this year due the controversy surrounding the Hollywood Foreign Press Association with no one willing to attend nor present at their event. The awards will still be handed out but there will be no formal show that will be shown on television. Trying to fix their damaged image, they will be focusing on their philanthropy work and humanitarian causes during the ceremony. As for the awards; "The Power of the Dog" and "West Side Story" were the big winners of the Globes with each winning three. Jane Campion's psychological western won for Best Motion Picture (drama), Best Director and Best Supporting Actor for Kodi Smit-McPhee while Steven Spielberg's re-imagining of the Broadway musical received wins for Best Motion Picture (comedy) with Rachel Zegler (in her first film role) and Ariana DeBose receiving Best Actress (musical or comedy) and Best Supporting Actress.

Here is the complete list of winners of the 79th Annual Golden Globes Awards (Motion Picture):

Best Motion Picture (Drama): "The Power of the Dog"
Best Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy): "West Side Story"
Best Director (Motion Picture): Jane Campion, "The Power of the Dog"
Best Screenplay (Motion Picture): Kenneth Branagh, "Belfast"
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture (Drama): Nicole Kidman, "Being the Ricardos"
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy): Rachel Zegler, "West Side Story"
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama): Will Smith, "King Richard"
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy): Andrew Garfield, "Tick, Tick … Boom!"
Best Supporting Actress (Motion Picture): Ariana DeBose, "West Side Story"
Best Supporting Actor (Motion Picture): Kodi Smit-McPhee, "The Power of the Dog"
Best Motion Picture (Foreign Language): "Drive My Car" (Japan)
Best Motion Picture (Animated): "Encanto"
Best Original Score (Motion Picture): Hans Zimmer, "Dune"
Best Original Song (Motion Picture): Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell, "No Time to Die" from "No Time to Die"