The LAFCA vote arrives on the heels of Friday’s New York Film Critics Circle announcements, which crowned Kelly Reichardt’s “First Cow” as the best film of the year, and Chloé Zhao as the best director of the year for “Nomadland.” These awards are a chance for voters to shine a light on under-appreciated gems, or throw support behind films already gaining steam in a long awards season ahead. With the Oscars delayed until April 25, there’s still plenty of time for new films, or even forgotten ones, to resurface and make an impact. As December winds to a close, critics will also be filing their year-end top 10 lists, another opportunity to bring attention to movies otherwise vulnerable to getting lost in the fray of bigger titles.
Last year’s big LAFCA prize went to Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite,” and he also won best director. Those wins went on to repeat at the 2020 Academy Awards. LAFCA’s other winners last year included Antonio Banderas for Best Actor for “Pain and Glory,” and more idiosyncratic (but no less deserved) choice of Mary Kay Place for Best Actress for “Diane,” plus Song Kang Ho for Best Supporting Actor, “Parasite,” and Jennifer Lopez for Best Supporting Actress, “Hustlers.” In 2018, “Roma” took LAFCA’S Best Picture prize, with Debra Granik taking Best Director for “Leave No Trace.” As previously announced for this year, the recipients of LAFCA’s 2020 Career Achievement award are Hou Hsiao-Hsien and Harry Belafonte. Meanwhile, legend Norman Lloyd is honored with the organization’s first-ever Legacy Award. LAFCA is led by Claudia Puig as president, with more than 60 other journalists comprising the voters. BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY “Small Axe,” Shabier Kirchner Runner-Up: “Nomadland,” Joshua James Richards BEST SCORE/MUSIC “Soul,” Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross Runner-Up: “Lovers Rock,” Mica Levi BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Glynn Turman, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” Runner-Up: Paul Raci, “Sound of Metal” BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN “Mank,” Donald Graham Burt Runner-Up: “Beanpole,” Sergey Ivanov BEST EDITING “The Father,” Yorgos Lamprinos Runner-Up: “Time,” Gabriel Rhodes BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Youn Yuh-jung, “Minari” Runner-Up: Amanda Seyfried, “Mank” BEST ANIMATION “Wolfwalkers” Runner-Up: “Soul” DOUGLAS EDWARDS EXPERIMENTAL FILM PRIZE “Her Socialist Smile,” John Gianvito
BEST SCREENPLAY “Promising Young Woman,” Emerald Fennell Runner-Up: “Never Rarely Sometimes Always,” Eliza Hittman BEST DOCUMENTARY “Time” Runner-Up: “Collective” BEST ACTOR Chadwick Boseman, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” Runner-Up: Riz Ahmed, “Sound of Metal” BEST ACTRESS Carey Mulligan, “Promising Young Woman” Runner-Up: Viola Davis, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” BEST DIRECTOR Chloé Zhao, “Nomadland” Runner-Up: Steve McQueen, “Small Axe” NEW GENERATION Radha Blank, “The 40-Year-Old Version” BEST PICTURE “Small Axe” Runner-Up: “Nomadland” BEST FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM “Beanpole” Runner-Up: “Martin Eden” Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.
