41st Annual Annie Awards

The International Animated Film Association (IAFA) announced the winners of 41st annual Annie Awards on February 1st, 2014 with giving away the top prize to none other than FROZEN. Last year, the same award went to WRECK-IT RALPH but the Oscar went to BRAVE. Let's see how it goes this year. I'm hoping for THE WIND RISES to win the Oscar.

Here is the complete list of winners:

PRODUCTION CATEGORIES

Best Animated Feature: “Frozen” – 
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Best Animated Special Production: “Chipotle Scarecrow”
 – Moonbot Studios
Best Animated Short Subject: “Get A Horse!”
 – Walt Disney Animation Studios
Best Animated TV/Broadcast Commercial: “Despicable Me 2″ – Cinemark
 – Universal Pictures
Best General Audience Animated TV/Broadcast Production For Preschool Children: “Disney Sofia the First
” – Disney Television Animation
Best Animated TV/Broadcast Production For Children’s Audience: “Adventure Time” – 
Cartoon Network Studios
Best General Audience Animated TV/Broadcast Production: “Futurama”
 – 20th Century Fox Television
Best Animated Video Game: “The Last of Us” – 
Naughty Dog
Best Student Film: “Wedding Cake” – 
Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg

INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT CATEGORIES

Animated Effects in an Animated Production: Jeff Budsberg, Andre Le Blanc, Louis Flores, Jason Mayer – “The Croods” – 
DreamWorks Animation
Animated Effects in a Live Action Production: Michael Balog, Ryan Hopkins, Patrick Conran, Florian Witzel – “Pacific Rim”
 – Industrial Light & Magic
Character Animation in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production: Kureha Yokoo – “Toy Story OF TERROR!” – Pixar Animation Studios Character
Character Animation in an Animated Feature Production: Jakob Jensen – “The Croods” – 
DreamWorks Animation
Character Animation in a Live Action Production: Jeff Capogreco, Jedrzej Wojtowicz, Kevin Estey, Alessandro Bonora, Gino Acevedo – “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” – Gollum
 – Weta Digital
Character Design in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production: Paul Rudish – “Disney Mickey Mouse”
 – Disney Television Animation
Character Design in an Animated Feature Production: Carter Goodrich, Takao Noguchi, Shane Prigmore – “The Croods”
 – DreamWorks Animation
Directing in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production: Angus MacLane – “Toy Story OF TERROR!”
 – Pixar Animation Studios
Directing in an Animated Feature Production: Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee – “Frozen”
 – Walt Disney Animation Studios
Music in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production: Christopher Willis – “Disney Mickey Mouse”
 – Disney Television Animation
Music in an Animated Feature Production: Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez, Christophe Beck – “Frozen”
 – Walt Disney Animation Studios
Production Design in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production: Angela Sung, William Niu, Christine Bian, Emily Tetri, Frederic Stewart – “The Legend of Korra”
 – Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Production Design in an Animated Feature Production: Michael Giaimo, Lisa Keene, David Womersley – “Frozen”
 – Walt Disney Animation Studios
Storyboarding in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production: Daniel Chong – “Toy Story of TERROR!” – Pixar Animation Studios
Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production: Dean Kelly – “Monsters University”
 – Pixar Animation Studios
Voice Acting in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production: Tom Kenny as the voice of Ice King – “Adventure Time” – 
Cartoon Network Studios
Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production: Josh Gad as the voice of Olaf – “Frozen”
 – Walt Disney Animation Studios
Writing in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production: Lewis Morton – “Futurama”
 – 20th Century Fox Television
Writing in an Animated Feature Production: Miyazaki Hayao – “The Wind Rises” 
- The Walt Disney Studios
Editorial in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production: Illya Owens – “Disney Mickey Mouse” – 
Disney Television Animation
Editorial in an Animated Feature Production: Greg Snyder, Gregory Amundson, Steve Bloom – “Monsters University”
 – Pixar Animation Studios

JURIED AWARDS

Winsor McCay Award – Katsuhiro Otomo, Steven Spielberg & Phil Tippett
June Foray Award – Alice Davis
Certificate of Merit – “I Know That Voice” (Documentary)

8th Annual Excellent Dynamic Activism Awards

The Alliance of Women Film Journalists (AWFJ) announced its 8th Excellent Dynamic Activism (EDA) awards with giving away the Best Film award to 12 Years a Slave, directed and co-produced by Steve McQueen who also won the Best Director award.

Last year, only 6 EDA winners won the Oscars, i.e. Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Foreign Language Film, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Documentary and Best Cinematography award.

AWFJ EDA ‘BEST OF’ AWARDS

Best Film: 12 Years a Slave

Best Director (Female or Male): Steve McQueen - 12 Years a Slave

Best Screenplay, Original: Her – Spike Jonze

Best Screenplay, Adapted: John Ridley - 12 Years a Slave

Best Documentary: Stories We Tell – Sarah Polley

Best Animated Film: The Wind Rises - Hayao Miyazaki

Best Actress: Cate Blanchett - Blue Jasmine

Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Lupita Nyong’o - 12 Years a Slave

Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey - Dallas Buyers Club

Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Jared Leto - Dallas Buyers Club

Best Ensemble Cast: American Hustle

Best Editing: Gravity - Alfonso Cuaron and Mark Sanger

Best Cinematography: Gravity - Emmanuel Lubezki

Best Film Music Or Score: Inside Llewyn Davis – T-Bone Burnett

Best Non-English-Language Film: The Hunt – Thomas Vinterberg – Denmark

EDA FEMALE FOCUS AWARDS

Best Woman Director: Nicole Holofcener - Enough Said

Best Woman Screenwriter: Nicole Holofcener - Enough Said

Kick Ass Award For Best Female Action Star: Sandra Bullock – Gravity

Best Animated Female: Anna (Kristen Bell) in Frozen

Best Breakthrough Performance: Lupita Nyong’o - 12 Years A Slave

Actress Defying Age and Ageism: Sandra Bullock – Gravity

AWFJ EDA Female Icon Award (presented to an actress for the portrayal of the most positive female role model, or for a role in which she takes personal and/or career risks to plumb the female psyche and therefore gives us courage to plumb our own, and/or for putting forth the image of a woman who is heroic, accomplished, persistent, demands her rights and/or the rights of others.): Angelina Jolie for continued commitments to humanitarian causes, and for promoting awareness about breast cancer.

This Year’s Outstanding Achievement By A Woman In The Film Industry (presented only when warranted to a female who has had a banner-making, record-breaking, industry-changing achievement during any given year.): Haaifa Al-Mansour for challenging the limitations placed on women within her culture by making the film Wadjda.

EDA SPECIAL MENTION AWARDS

AWFJ Hall Of Shame Award: The Counselor – Ridley Scott

Actress Most in Need Of A New Agent: Cameron Diaz for The Counselor

Movie You Wanted To Love But Just Couldn’t Award: The Counselor

Unforgettable Moment Award: 12 Years A Slave – Solomon Northrup hanging

Best Depiction Of Nudity, Sexuality, or Seduction Award: Her - Scarlett Johansson and Joaquin Phoenix for their digital lovemaking.

Sequel or Remake That Shouldn’t Have Been Made Award (Tie): Carrie and Oz, Great and Powerful

Most Egregious Age Difference Between The Leading Man and The Love Interest Award: Last Vegas – Michael Douglas and Bre Blair

18th Annual Florida Film Critics Circle Awards

The Florida Film Critics Circle (FFCC) announced their awards on December 18th, 2013 with giving away the Best Film award to 12 Years a Slave, directed and co-produced by Steve McQueen who also won the Best Director award.

Last year, only 5 FFCC winners won the Oscar, i.e. Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Visual Effects. Let's see how it goes this year.

Here is the complete list of winners along with runners-up:

Best Picture:

• 12 Years a Slave


• Runner-up: American Hustle

Best Director:

• Steve McQueen – 12 Years a Slave


• Runner-up: Alfonso Cuaron – Gravity

Best Actor:

• Chiwetel Ejiofor – 12 Years a Slave


• Runner-up: Joaquin Phoenix – Her

Best Actress:

• Cate Blanchett – Blue Jasmine


• Runner-up: Judi Dench – Philomena

Best Supporting Actor:

• Jared Leto – Dallas Buyers Club


• Runner-up: Michael Fassbender – 12 Years a Slave

Best Supporting Actress:

• Lupita Nyong’o – 12 Years a Slave


• Runner-up: Jennifer Lawrence – American Hustle

Best Adapted Screenplay:

• John Ridley – 12 Years a Slave


• Runner-up: Terence Winter – The Wolf of Wall Street

Best Original Screenplay:

• Spike Jonze – Her


• Runner-up: David O. Russell & Eric Singer – American Hustle

Best Cinematography:

• Emmanuel Lubezki – Gravity


• Runner-up: Bruno Delbonnel – Inside Llewyn Davis

Best Visual Effects:

• Gravity


• Runner-up: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Best Art Direction/Production Design:

• The Great Gatsby


• Runner-up: American Hustle

Best Foreign Language Film:

• Blue is the Warmest Color


• Runner-up: The Hunt

Best Animated Film

• Frozen


• Runner-up: The Wind Rises

Best Documentary:

• The Act of Killing


• Runner-up: Blackfish

Pauline Kael Breakout Award:

• Lupita Nyong’o – 12 Years a Slave


• Runner-up: Michael B. Jordan – Fruitvale Station

17th Annual Toronto Film Critics Association Awards

The Toronto Film Critics Association (TFCA) announced their awards on December 17th, 2013 with giving away the Best Film award to Inside Llewyn Davis, directed and co-produced by Coen Brothers whereas the Best Director award went to Alfonso Cuarón for his wonderful direction in space drama Gravity.

Last year, only one TFCA winner won the Oscar, i.e. Best Foreign Language Film for Amour. Let's see how this goes this year.

Here is the complete list of winners:

Best Film: Inside Llewyn Davis

Best Canadian Film: Watermark

Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón

Best Actor: Oscar Isaac (Inside Llewyn Davis)

Best Actress: Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)

Best Supporting Actor: Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club)

Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle)

Best Screenplay: Spike Jonze (Her)

Best First Feature: Neighboring Sounds

Best Animated Feature: The Wind Rises

Best Foreign Language Film: A Touch of Sin

BMO Allan King Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

26th Annual Chicago Film Critics Association Awards

The Chicago Film Critics Association (CFCA) announced their 26th annual awards at a ceremony held on December 16, 2013 with giving away the Best Film award to 12 Years a Slave, directed and co-produced by Steve McQueen who also won the Best Director award. 12 Years a Slave was the biggest winner of the night winning 5 awards including Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay. The rest of the winners were completely reasonable and there are no surprises whatsoever.

Last year, only 2 CFCA winners won the Oscars, i.e. Best Actor for Daniel Day-Lewis and Best Foreign Language Film for Amour. Let's see what happens this year as they declared 12 Years a Slave their favorite and it's the strongest contender of this season.

Here is the complete list of winners:

BEST PICTURE: 12 Years A Slave

BEST DIRECTOR: Steve McQueen--12 Years A Slave

BEST ACTOR: Chiwetel Ejiofor--12 Years A Slave

BEST ACTRESS: Cate Blanchett--Blue Jasmine

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Jared Leto--Dallas Buyers Club

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Lupita Nyong'o--12 Years A Slave

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Spike Jonze--Her

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: John Ridley--12 Years A Slave

BEST DOCUMENTARY: The Act of Killing

BEST FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM: The Act of Killing

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE: The Wind Rises

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE: Her--Arcade Fire

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: Gravity--Emmanuel Lubezki

BEST EDITING: Gravity--Alfonso Cuaron & Mark Sanger

BEST ART DIRECTION/PRODUCTION DESIGN: Gravity--Mark Scruton/Andy Nicolson

MOST PROMISING PERFORMER: Adele Exarchopoulos--Blue is the Warmest Color

MOST PROMISING FILMMAKER: Destin Cretton--Short Term 12

18th Annual San Diego Film Critics Society Awards

The San Diego Film Critics Society (SDFCS) announced their awards on December 11th, 2013 with giving away the Best Film award to Her, written, directed and co-produced by Spike Jonze, whereas the Best Director award went to Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity. There are 2 most surprising wins, i.e. Oscar Isaac winning the Best Actor award and Drug War winning the Best Foreign Language Film award. I wouldn't call either of them unfair because every actor and filmmaker works hard and also I'd say it's very bold of SDFCS to choose different winners.

Last year, 6 SDFCS winners won the Oscars (you can view the previous year's winners here: 17th Annual San Diego Film Critics Society Awards). Let's see how many win this time!

Here is the complete list of winners along with the nominations:

BEST FILM:

• 12 YEARS A SLAVE


• GRAVITY


• WINNER: HER


• INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS


• SHORT TERM 12

BEST DIRECTOR:

• WINNER: Alfonso Cuarón (GRAVITY)


• Destin Cretton (SHORT TERM 12)


• Joel and Ethan Coen (INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS)


• Spike Jonze (HER)


• Steve McQueen (12 YEARS A SLAVE)

BEST ACTRESS:

• Adèle Exarchopoulos (BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR)


• Brie Larson (SHORT TERM 12)


• WINNER: Cate Blanchett (BLUE JASMINE)


• Emma Thompson (SAVING MR. BANKS)


• Sandra Bullock (GRAVITY)

BEST ACTOR:

• Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 YEARS A SLAVE)


• Joaquin Phoenix (HER)


• Matthew McConaughey (DALLAS BUYERS CLUB)


• WINNER: Oscar Isaac (INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS)


• Tom Hanks (CAPTAIN PHILLIPS)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:

• Elizabeth Banks (THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE)


• Jennifer Lawrence (AMERICAN HUSTLE)


• Lupita Nyong'o (12 YEARS A SLAVE)


• Sally Hawkins (BLUE JASMINE)


• WINNER: Shailene Woodley (THE SPECTACULAR NOW)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:

• Daniel Bruhl (RUSH)


• James Gandolfini (ENOUGH SAID)


• WINNER: Jared Leto (DALLAS BUYERS CLUB)


• Michael Fassbender (12 YEARS A SLAVE)


• Sam Rockwell (THE WAY, WAY BACK)

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:

• Aaron Guzikowski (PRISONERS)


• Joel and Ethan Coen (INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS)


• Nicole Holofcener (ENOUGH SAID)


• WINNER: Spike Jonze (HER)


• Woody Allen (BLUE JASMINE)

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY:

• Billy Ray (CAPTAIN PHILLIPS)


• Destin Cretton (SHORT TERM 12)


• John Ridley (12 YEARS A SLAVE)


• WINNER: Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke (BEFORE MIDNIGHT)


• Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber (THE SPECTACULAR NOW)

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM:

• BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR


• WINNER: DRUG WAR


• NO


• THE BROKEN CIRCLE BREAKDOWN


• THE HUNT

BEST DOCUMENTARY:

• 20 FEET FROM STARDOM


• BLACKFISH


• LET THE FIRE BURN


• STORIES WE TELL


• WINNER: THE ACT OF KILLING

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY:

• Bruno Delbonnel (INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS)


• Emmanuel Lubezki (GRAVITY)


• WINNER: Emmanuel Lubezki (TO THE WONDER)


• Roger Deakins (PRISONERS)


• Simon Duggan (THE GREAT GATSBY)

BEST ANIMATED FILM:

• DESPICABLE ME 2


• FROZEN


• GET A HORSE


• THE CROODS


• WINNER: THE WIND RISES

BEST EDITING:

• Alan Edward Ball (THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE)


• Alfonso Cuarón and Mark Sanger (GRAVITY)


• WINNER: Christopher Rouse (CAPTAIN PHILLIPS)


• Eric Zumbrunnen, Jeff Buchanan (HER)


• Joe Walker (12 YEARS A SLAVE)

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN:

• Adam Stockhausen (12 YEARS A SLAVE)


• Andy Nicholson (GRAVITY)


• WINNER: Catherine Martin and Karen Murphy (THE GREAT GATSBY)


• K.K. Barrett (HER)


• Michael Corenblith (SAVING MR. BANKS)

BEST SCORE:

• WINNER: Arcade Fire, HER


• Bjorn Eriksson (BROKEN CIRCLE BREAKDOWN)


• Hans Zimmer (12 YEARS A SLAVE)


• Hans Zimmer (RUSH)


• Steven Price (GRAVITY)

BEST ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE:

• 12 YEARS A SLAVE


• WINNER: AMERICAN HUSTLE


• PRISONERS


• SHORT TERM 12


• THE WAY, WAY BACK

13th Annual New York Film Critics Online Awards

The New York Film Critics Online (NYFCO) announced their awards on December, 8th, 2013 with giving away the Best Picture award to 12 Years a Slave, directed and co-produced by Steve McQueen. I think it’s now safe to say that 12 Years a Slave is this year’s Zero Dark Thirty because it also got almost the same appreciation from critics at the beginning of the awards season last year. But still, it’s impossible to say which film is going to win big at the end of the day. Alfonso Cuarón won the Best Director award for his brilliant piece of filmmaking Gravity. (FINALLY!) Cuarón also won the Best Director award at Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards.

Last year, only 4 NYFCO winners won at the Oscars, i.e. Best Actor for Daniel Day-Lewis, Best Supporting Actress for Anne Hathaway, Best Cinematography for Claudio Miranda and Best Foreign Language Film for Amour. Hoping for the best this year!

Here is the complete list of winners:

Best Picture: 12 Years a Slave

Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón (Gravity)

Best Debut Director: Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station)

Best Actress: Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)

Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years A Slave)

Best Ensemble: American Hustle

Best Supporting Actress: Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years A Slave)

Best Supporting Actor: Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club)

Best Foreign Language Film: Blue Is the Warmest Color

Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

Best Animated Feature: The Wind Rises

Best Use Of Music: Inside Llewyn Davis

Best Screenplay: Spike Jonze (Her)

Best Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki (Gravity)

Best Breakthrough Performance: Adele Exarchopoulos (Blue Is the Warmest Color)

79th Annual New York Film Critics Circle Awards

The New York Film Critics Circle (NYFCC) started the critics award season and announced the winners on December 3rd, 2013 with giving away the Best Film award to American Hustle, whereas Best Director went to Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave.

There were TWO big surprises:
1) Best Cinematography went to Bruno Delbonnel for Inside Llewyn Davis. I was 100% sure that Emmanuel Lubezki would win every cinematography award for Gravity. But I was wrong. Anyway, Lubezki might eventually win the Oscar.
2) Stories We Tell won the Best Documentary instead of the Act of Killing. This isn't a surprise because both of them are amazing in their unique way. I'd be happy if either of them wins the ultimate award.

Plus, I'm really happy that critics appreciated Jared Leto's work and awarded him with Best Supporting Actor for his role as transsexual in Dallas Buyers Club.

Last year, only 2 out of 11 NYFCC winners (not counting First Film and Special Award categories) actually won the Oscar. Gravity didn't win anything tonight. Same happened with Argo and Life of Pi in 2012. But they ended up becoming the big winners at the Oscars. Let's see what happens this year.

Here is the complete list of winners:

Best Film: American Hustle

Best Director: Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave)

Best Actor: Robert Redford (All Is Lost)

Best Actress: Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)

Best Supporting Actor: Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club)

Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Lawrence (America Hustle)

Best Screenplay: David O. Russell, Eric Singer (American Hustle)

Best Cinematography: Bruno Delbonnel (Inside Llewyn Davis)

Best Foreign Language Film: Blue Is the Warmest Color (France)

Best Non-Fiction Film (Documentary): Stories We Tell

Best Animated Film: The Wind Rises

Best First Film: Fruitvale Station

Special Award: Frederick Wiseman