2013 The Independent Film Awards Winners

Yesterday was the Spirits Awards ceremony and somehow surprisingly top categories winners are the 'expected' Oscar winners which is highly unusual when the Indie world collides with the Studio world (aka Hollywood).

With the Spirit Awards winners post becomes final and in one sight you have an idea of what's going on in the English-language Independent Film world. Think next year will do the same.

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12/8/13
Post will list the WINNERS only for the three Independent Awards in USA and UK. So will be a work in progress until the last organization announces their winners in March 2014.

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12/4/13
23rd Annual Gotham Independent Film Awards Winners
Nominations at Official Site
Best Feature: Inside LLewyn Davis
Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award: Ryan Coogler for Frutivale Station
Best Actress: Brie Larson in Short Term 12
Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club
Breakthrough Actor: Michael B. Jordan in Frutivale Station
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing
Audience Award: Jake Shimabujuro: Life on Four Strings

British Independent Film Awards
Nominations at Official Site

Best British Independent Film: Metro Manila
Best Director: Sean Ellis for Metro Manila
Douglas Hickox Award - Directorial Debut: Paul Wright for For Those in Peril
Best Screenplay: Steven Knight for Locke
Best Actress: Lindsay Duncan for Le Week-end
Best Supporting Actress: Imogen Poots in The Look of Love
Best Actor: James McAvoy for Filth
Best Supporting Actor: Ben Mendelsohn in Starred Up
Most Promising Newcomer: Chloe Pirrie in Shell
Best Technical Achievement: Amy Hubbard for The Selfish Giant (Casting)
Best Achivement in Production: Metro Manila
Raindance Award: The Machine
Best British Documentary: Pussy Riot - A Punk Prayer
Best Short Film: Z1
Best International Independent Film: Blue is the Warmest Colour
Variety Award: Paul Greengrass
Richard Harris Award: Julie Walters

Film Independent Spirit Awards
Award Ceremony on March 1st, 2014
Nominations at Official Site Winners will eventually be there but here they are from news.

Best Feature: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave
Best First Feature: Frutivale Station, Ryan Coogler

Best Female Lead: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Supporting Female: Lupita Nyong'o in 12 Years a Slave
Best Male Lead: Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club
Best Supporting Male: Jared Leto in Dallas Buyers Club

Best Documentary: 20 Feet From Stardom
Best International Film: Blue is the Warmest Color, Abdellatif Kechiche, France

Best Cinematography: Sean Bobbitt for 12 Years a Slave
Best Screenplay: John Ridley for 12 Years a Slave
Best First Screenplay: Bob Nelson for Nebraska
Best Editing: Nat Sanders for Short Term 12

Robert Altman Award: Mud, Jeff Nichols
John Cassavetes Award: This is Martin Bonner, Chad Hartigan
Someone to Watch Award: Shaka King for Newlyweeds
Truer Than Fiction Award: Jason Osder for Let The Fire Burn
Producers Award: Toby Halbrooks and James M. Johnston

Very Late 2014 Oscar Predictions

Was not going to share my predictions but then changed my mind here they are. This year will be NOT easy to guess right so let see how many will get right and wrong. There are several categories that I am really hoping I am wrong so perhaps the 'BEST' wins, then IF happens be sure I will celebrate.

Wish organizers will change the awards presentation order as this year those categories that have two or more frontrunners could go towards the end so tension and interest remains during the whole show. Also, it is only me but don't you think that this year the award show is full of women? See, Ellen will host, Pink and Bette Midler will perform and no man has been announced to perform, so if they do will be in the background or a "surprise".

Please note that opted for no tie in any category, BUT there is always a possibility that one or more categories could end up with a tie ...

Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón

Best Animated Film: Frozen
Foreign Language: The Great Beauty

Best Actress in a Leading Role: Cate Blanchett
Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Jennifer Lawrence
Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey
Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Jared Leto

Original Screenplay: Her
Adapted Screenplay: 12 Years a Slave

Cinematography: Gravity
Visual Effects: Gravity
Film Editing: Gravity
Sound Editing: Gravity
Sound Mixing: Gravity

Production Design: The Great Gatsby
Costume Design: American Hustle

Makeup and Hairstyling: Dallas Buyers Club

Music - Original Score: Gravity
Music - Original Song: Frozen

Documentary: The Act of Killing

Short Films
Live Action: The Voorman Problem (BUT I really liked Helium)
Animated: Get a Horse (But I really LOVED Mr. Hublot)
Documentary: The Lady in Number 6

In a bit more than 24 hours we will know how right or wrong I was this year and if I'm close to last year when guessed right 22 out of 24.

50th Cinema Audio Society Award Winners

Last night the group had their award ceremony that honored expected winners, Gravity and Frozen.

Winners are in *BLUE. To check winners in television categories go here.

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1/14/14
Today CAS announced the nominees for the current edition of these awards that recognize best sound mixing of 201.

Awards ceremony will be on February 22nd in the Crystal Ballroom of the historic Millennium Biltmore Hotel where Re-recording Mixer Andy Nelson will receive the CAS Career Achievement Award. On the evening of the awards CAS website will be updated in real time as the winners are announced.

These are the nominations for Motion Picture

Live Action
Captain Phillips
*Gravity
Inside Llewyn Davis
Iron Man 3
Lone Survivor

Animated
The Croods
Despicable Me 2
*Frozen
Monsters University
Walking With Dinosaurs

To check the names of the nominees in each movie and the television categories go here.

16th Annual Costume Designers Guild Award Winners

Last night the group had their awards ceremony and winners are in *BLUE.

To check winners in all categories go official site later as winners are no yet at their site or read news here.

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1/8/14
Today the Costume Designers Guild announced the nominations that will honor 2013 films and the winners of the seven competitive categories will be revealed at a ceremony on Saturday, February 22 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Also director, writer and producer Judd Apatow and Costume Designer April Ferry will be recognized with honorary awards.

The Nominees for feature films three categories.

Excellence in Contemporary Film
*Suzy Benzinger for Blue Jasmine
Casey Storm for Her
Wendy Chuck for Philomena
Sarah Edwards for The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Excellence in Period Film
*Patricia Norris for 12 Years a Slave
Michael Wilkinson for American Hustle
Kurt & Bart for Dallas Buyers Club
Catherine Martin for The Great Gatsby
Daniel Orlandi for Saving Mr. Banks

Excellence in Fantasy Film
Ann Maskrey, Richard Taylor and Bob Buck for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
*Trish Summerville for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Gary Jones and Michael Kutsche for Oz: The Great and Powerful

To learn nominees for Television and Commercial categories go here.

2014 Oscar Not So-Late Predictions

Been distracted with the Winter Olympics but what I like the most is over so it is time to turn my attention back to the Oscars and do some predictions in a year that it is NOT easy to guess what Academy members will do as suspect will be very different from what I like.

Was reading the Mojo Box Office figures and can tell that the movie that benefited more from the nomination is none other than American Hustle (!) which is kind of surprising for me as movie has a very appealing cast, for teenagers, young adults and the not so-young. So go figure what the "nomination effect" really does as the movies that really need a push do not get a significant one.

One important thing pops in my mind, this year we have a different kind of Awards Season that could influence the Oscar race. All started with major film critics' groups that had "ties" for the first time since many years. Yes, this year I believe that Oscar could "surprise" us with ties and more than believing, I am hoping will happen as there are some categories were a tie will please many and will be completely understandable.

Have to spend a paragraph to remind you that Academy voters are mainly old, men, white, and living in Los Angeles. So if you are not like them, it is probable that the nominations and awards will not be the ones you will choose, so if you decide to watch the Oscars will NOT be because who wins what but to enjoy a "good" entertaining TV show. That is why producers go beyond their way trying to produce a show to people who do not care much for movies and/or winners but care to be entertained with "celebrities", jokes and some music. Still, there is an "endangered species", people like me (lol) that enjoy great cinema and "still" enjoys the Oscar show for entertainment but most of all, to find who wins what.

Since I'm sort of sarcastic better to go directly to my predictions.

Best Picture

From the nine movies in competition the ones that I favor with a positive review are 12 Years a Slave, Dallas Buyers Club, Gravity, Philomena and the biggest positive surprise of the season: Nebraska. Did not enjoyed much American Hustle, Captain Phillips, Her and The Wolf of Wall Street. So it's no surprise if I still believe that the best from the bunch is 12 Years a Slave and IF any of the first three wins will be alright for me. IF any of the last four wins I will be extremely disappointed and yes, will be upset for a while (lol).

Will Win: 12 Years a Slave
Could Win: Gravity
Should Win: 12 Yeas a Slave, Dallas Buyers Club or Gravity.

Best Animated Feature Film

We all know that Frozen is going to win which is a great shame as truly do not understand what the movie has that is so good to be honored with an Oscar. I believe this award should go to a movie that has Great/Outstanding animation to tell a great story that appeals to the young and older. If that would be true then you have to discard The Croods, Despicable Me 2 and Frozen; plus The Wind Rises that's more for adults. Then you will only have one contender Ernest & Celestine.

Will Win: Frozen
Should Win: Ernest & Celestine

Foreign Language

Why Oscar does not have a tie? Especially for this category, a tie will be the most democratic solution as who could choose between fantastic The Hunt and outstanding The Great Beauty? Two very different movies, one appealing to our melancholy and the other to our moral emotions and precisely because what each movie appeals is why The Hunt is doom and The Great Beauty will win. Sigh. Melancholy touches older people, especially those who are familiar with Fellini -as most Academy members surely are- and Paolo Sorrentino's Fellini homage will prevail from a morally charged pedophile suggested story in The Hunt.

Will Win: The Great Beauty
Could Win: The Broken Circle Breakdown (if votes are split and a third rises)
Should Win: tie between The Great Beauty and The Hunt

Directing

Me and my own problems with directing. Sigh. Yes as many of you watch a movie because actors, I watch movies because directors and nowadays is becoming very difficult in American/English-speaking cinema as is not easy to understand what directors are doing in full visual effects movies. Last year Life of Pi helped me to understand some more but Gravity is still confusing for me as what I find really outstanding, unique, in the trend to fast evolution are the many inventions and creations (most tech specs) to make possible the tension in film plus the actors performance.

All of the above to say that we all know that Alfonso Cuarón will win the category and I will still be confused trying to find the reason why he won. Sigh. Yes, you know it by now, my choice is excellent Steve McQueen that since his first movie has shown incredible directing skills.

Will Win: Alfonso Cuarón
Should Win: Steve McQueen

Actress in a Leading Role

Nobody doubts that this is Cate Blanchett year and IF she doesn't get the Oscar I will be VERY disappointed with the oblique Academy members that mix professional and personal lives. Yes there are strong rumors, high buzz about Woody Allen personal life influencing Cate Blanchet professional life, which I find atrocious but very possible as most Academy members live in Los Angeles and are much exposed to Celebrity gossip, at least more than you and me. Sigh. Blanchett performance is outstanding and out of the ordinary in many levels.

Then you have pundits calling for Amy Adams winning. Absolutely unacceptable as not only Adams "stole" the nomination spot from much deserving Emma Thompson but I did NOT enjoy her performance AT ALL in American Hustle and please recall that I have appreciated her great performances in movies NOT related to David O. Russell. As a matter of fact I believe that Amy Adams and Christian Bale were strong casting mistakes, perhaps with a different type of actors movie would have been different and more appealing.

Will Win: Cate Blanchett (It is an emotional decision)
Could Win: Amy Adams (NO WAY!!!)
Should Win: Cate Blanchett

Actress in a Supporting Role

Allow me to share that I did enjoy all five performances, some more than the others BUT the one performance that jumps out of the ordinary ABSOLUTELY is what Jennifer Lawrence did in American Hustle. She is the only reason I continued watching American Hustle and believe it or not, did not complained about film. She pops-out of the screen with her fantastic performance.

But later in the Oscar race another actress has been getting much more attention as she is being heavily promoted as Red Carpet darling. Yes I'm talking about Lupita Nyong'o. She did an acceptable performance in 12 Years a Slave BUT this film is nothing about females as ALL female roles disappear in the jungle of great performances by male actors. 12 Years a Slave is a Male/Men/Testosterone movie and most actors give outstanding performances no matter how small their role is.

Will Win: Jennifer Lawrence (HAS TO - okay is an emotional decision)
Could Win: Lupita Nyong'o (Academy members like to honor newcomers with this award)
Should Win: Jennifer Lawrence (This young actress does a highly superior performance when compared to other nominees and should NOT be "punished" for doing blockbuster movies.)

Actor in a Leading Role

Do not understand what Christian Bale and Leonardo DiCaprio are doing in this category as their characters were not pleasant BUT their performance made them unwatchable; Bruce Dern was a pleasant positive surprise (now understand why he won the Cannes Palme d'Or) and yes, I do not mind at all if Chiwetel Ejiofor or Matthew McConaughey win as both delighted us with great performances. This another category were a tie will please many, including me.

Will Win: Matthew McConaughey
Could Win: Leonardo DiCaprio (Awful performance)
Should Win: Chiwetel Ejiofor

Actor in Supporting Role

We all know that this year the award HAS to go to one -and only one- impressive performance by Jared Leto. Probabilities tell us that he will and the big surprise will be IF Academy members decide to vote otherwise because the "racy" movie theme and the character Leto performs. There is another great performance, Michael Fassbender but believe this is not his year and know he will get an Oscar sooner than later.

Will Win: Jared Leto
Could Win: Barkhad Abdi (Gosh he barely acted! and recall that I enjoy performances by non-actors)
Should Win: Jared Leto

That's all. Next week will do my "very late" predictions that will include ALL the categories. Hope you had fun reading at least as much fun as I had writing.

61st MPSE Golden Reel Award Winners

Last night organizers had their award ceremony but unfortunately the official twitter account did not tweet winners, the official site has no winners update and most movies news related sites did not posted winners. It was not until this moment that found a news source that you can find here to check winners in all categories besides film. Eventually winners will be at the official site.

There was no surprises as category most related to what Oscar honors went to the expected Gravity.

Winners are in *BLUE.

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1/17/14
Recently the Motion Picture Sound Editors announced the nominations for the current edition that recognize outstanding achievement in sound editing in 22 categories encompassing feature films, television, animation, computer entertainment and student work. The 61st MPSE Golden Reel Awards will be held February 17, 2013 at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites in Los Angeles.

These are the nominees for Feature Film categories

Best Sound Editing: Sound Effects and Foley in an English-Language Feature
12 Years a Slave
All Is Lost
Captain Phillips
Fast & Furious 6
*Gravity
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Iron Man 3
Lone Survivor

Best Sound Editing: Dialogue and ADR in an English-Language Feature
12 Years a Slave
American Hustle
August: Osage County
*Captain Phillips
Gravity
Her
Inside Llewyn Davis
Lone Survivor

Best Sound Editing in an Animated Feature (English or Foreign-Language) (Includes ADR, Dialogue, Sound Effects and Foley)
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2
The Croods
Despicable Me 2
*Epic
Ernest & Celestine
Frozen
Monsters University
Planes

Best Sound Editing in a Foreign-Language Feature (Includes ADR, Dialogue, Sound Effects and Foley)
Blue is the Warmest Color
*The Grandmaster
The Past
Wadjda

Best Sound Editing - Music in a Musical Feature (English or Foreign-Language)
*Frozen
Inside Llewyn Davis
Justin Bieber's Believe
Metallica Through the Never

Best Sound Editing - Music in a Feature (English or Foreign-Language)
12 Years a Slave
47 Ronin
American Hustle
*The Great Gatsby
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
World War Z

Best Sound Editing in a Documentary Feature - Foreign Languague
1
20 Feet from Staradom
CinemAbility
*Dirty Wars
Good Ol' Freda
Muscle Shoals
Rising from Ashes
Sound City

To check nominees at official site go here and later today nominees in other categories will be announced, so if you wish to check them go here.

12th Annual VES Awards Winners

Last night the group had their awards ceremony and there were no surprises as not only Alfonso Cuarón received from Sandra Bullock the Visionary Award but won the award that many -including me- believe will mean an Oscar for Gravity.

As a matter of fact Gravity won six awards including Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Feature Motion Picture.

Winners are in *BLUE. To check winners in other categories go here.

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1/14/14
Today the Visual Effects Society announced the nominations for the current edition that will recognize outstanding visual effects artistry and innovation in different industry categories.

The awards ceremony will be held on Wednesday, February 12 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel where Alfonso Cuarón will receive the Visionary Award in recognition of his extraordinary career

Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Feature Motion Picture
*Gravity
Iron Man 3
Pacific Rim
Star Trek: Into Darkness
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Feature Motion Picture
Rush
The Great Gatsby
*The Lone Ranger
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
The Wolf of Wall Street
White House Down

Outstanding Animation in an Animated Feature Motion Picture
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2
Despicable Me 2
*Frozen
Monsters University
The Croods

To learn the nominees from each movie as well as nominations in other categories go here.

26th Annual Scripter Award Winner

Last night the group announced the winners for the current edition and believe that winner is extremely well-deserved as 12 Years a Slave is the big winner.

Winner is in *BLUE. To read press release go official site but have to wait as is not posted yet; read news here.

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1/9/14
A few minutes ago the USC Libraries announced the nominations for the current edition that honors the screenwriter(s) and original author(s) of what the 33-member selection committee believes is the year's most accomplished cinematic adaptation.

The Scripters will be announced at the awards ceremony on February 8th at USC. Helen Mirren and Taylor Hackford will serve as honorary dinner chairs.

From the 86 eligible adaptations these are the nominees.

*Screenwriter John Ridley for 12 Years a Slave and Solomon Northup author of Twelve Years a Slave
Screenwriter Billy Ray for Captain Phillips and Richard Phillips with Stephan Talty, authors of A Captain’s Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALs, and Dangerous Days at Sea
Screenwriters Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope for Philomena and Martin Sixsmith author of The Lost Child of Philomena Lee
Screenwriters Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber for The Spectacular Now and Tim Tharp author of The Spectacular Now
Screenwriters Carroll Cartwright and Nancy Doyne for What Maisie Knew, adapted from the novel by Henry James

To read the news go here as official site does not have yet the selection but soon will be here.

18th Annual Art Directors Guild Awards Winners

Last night the Art Directors Guild announced winners of the current edition and there were no big surprises as what was expected won.

Winners are in *BLUE. To learn winners in television categories go here.

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1/9/14
A few minutes ago the ADG announced nominations for Production Design in several Industry categories. Nominations were announced by ADG Council Chair John Shaffner and Awards co-producers Dave Blass and Raf Lydon.

The awards ceremony announcing winners will take place on Saturday, February 8, 2014, from the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills with comedian Owen Benjamin serving as host.

As previously announced, the recipient of the Guild's Cinematic Imagery Award will be Martin Scorsese and Production Designer Rick Carter will be awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award.

These are the nominations for Production Design for a Feature Film in 2013

Period Film
Judy Becker for American Hustle
Michael Corenblith for Saving Mr. Banks
Jess Gonchor for Inside Llewyn Davis
*Catherine Martin for The Great Gatsby
Adam Stockhausen for 12 Years a Slave

Fantasy Film
Philip Ivey for Elysium
*Andy Nicholson for Gravity
Dan Hennah for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Darren Gilford for Oblivion
Scott Chambliss for Star Trek into Darkness

Contemporary Film
David Gropman for August: Osage County
Santo Loquasto for Blue Jasmine
Paul Kirby for Captain Phillips
*K. K. Barrett for Her
Bob Shaw for The Wolf of Wall Street

To read nominees in Television and other categories go official site.

64th Annual ACE EDDIE Awards Winners

Last night the American Cinema Editors had their award ceremony and as a reporter says Oscar race got "murky" as winners are most unexpected for editing, especially when Gravity did not win.

Winners are in *BLUE. To learn winners in television categories go official site, but wait as of this moment winners are not yet posted, or go to news.

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1/10/14
The American Cinema Editors (ACE) announced the nominations for the current edition and there are no real surprises as nominees come from the by now well-known movies with awards possibilities during the current award season.

Winners will be revealed during ACE’s annual ceremony on Friday, February 7, 2014 in the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Best Edited Feature Film - Dramatic
Joe Walker for 12 Years a Slave
*Chris Rouse for Captain Phillips
Alfonso Cuarón and Mark Sanger for Gravity
Eric Zumbrunnen and Jeff Buchanan for Her
Mark Livolsi for Saving Mr. Banks

Best Edited Feature Film - Comedy or Musical
*Jay Cassidy, Crispin Struthers and Alan Baumgarten for American Hustle
Stephen Mirrione for August: Osage County
Roderick Jaynes for Inside Llewyn Davis
Kevin Trent for Nebraska
Thelma Schoonmaker for The Wolf of Wall Street

Best Edited Animated Feature Film
Gregory Perler for Despicable Me 2
*Jeff Draheim for Frozen
Greg Snyder for Monsters University

Best Edited Documentary - Feature
*Douglas Blush, Kevin Klauber and Jason Zeldes for 20 Feet from Stardom
Eli Despres for Blackfish
Patrick Sheffield for Tim's Vermeer

To read television categories go official site.

2013 Film Critics' Awards - Final

English-speaking critics seem to agree that 12 Years a Slave is the best film of the year as more than half the groups selected this film for their top award. As we know by now there is a high chance that AMPAS voters will disagree again this year as clearly happened last year. From the guilds that have announced their winners we know that race could be between three movies: American Hustle, Gravity and 12 Years a Slave, so let's hope that Oscar voters find clarity and vote for a great movie and not only for a "popular" film.

Completely different is what's happening with Best Actress, where Cate Blanchett is the critic's favorite by far, as well as in the guilds and any other another award that has already announced their winners. If you think that Cate will win the Oscar there is very high probabilities that you are right. Believe all the honors are extremely well-deserved as she is truly fantastic in Blue Jasmine, where she truly lost herself into that complex role.

More than half the critic's groups selected Chiweter Ejiofor for Best Actor followed a bit far by Matthew McConaughey. By now we know that guilds and other awards that have already announced winners tend to prefer McConaughey. If we think about those that vote in the Oscar race, then McConaughey has more probabilities than Ejiofor to win the Oscar. I saw first 12 Years a Slave and was sure that Ejiofor will win an Oscar but then saw Dallas Buyers Club and was extremely impressed with McConaughey performance, so much that told a friend: "I really don't mind if Ejiofor or McConaughey win the Oscar, both truly deserve high honors for their performance". But if I have to guess, think the American actor will win. The big surprise will be if Bruce Dern wins for "sentimental" reasons. Sigh.

If one top category is close for critic's groups is Best Director with Alfonso Cuarón having a slight advantage above Steve McQueen, an advantage that grows exponentially when we consider the guild and other awards that have announced their winners. My problem with this category is that both directors did an incredibly good job in two extremely different types of movies. Still have difficulties grasping the director work when there are too many visual effects (started to be kind to SyFy after Life of Pi) so it is not easy to say that Cuarón did a great job directing Gravity but is extremely easy to say that McQueen did an excellent job in 12 Years a Slave. Besides I have highly enjoyed Steve McQueen previous movies and is a director I follow closely. So yes, my award goes to McQueen but think that Cuarón will win an Oscar.

Last, critics are split with what they consider as the Best Documentary of the year, with half considering The Art of Killing and half considering other docs. I have no doubt that the best documentary I saw during 2013 is The Art of Killing, so good that you almost forget you are watching a documentary as seems like fiction. But unfortunately is reality. Before watching this doc, my favorite by far was great Stories We Tell and definitively is shocking that doc didn't got an Oscar nomination. I believe (and hope) that The Art of Killing will win the Oscar, but there is always a possibility that doc doesn't please the sensibilities of older AMPAS voters.

So that's it. Interesting will be to see how close or how far critics and AMPAS voters will be this year as last year the distance was HUGE.

12/4/13
As I really enjoy when I guess right almost all Oscar winners and knowing that guessing is done best by following awards buzz and not considering how good movies are, then this year have to do again the critics' post and today is a good day to start post that will be a work in progress until the last group announces their winner which happens around late January 2014.

Most critics' groups are American but you will also find groups in Canada, Ireland and UK. As in previous years' posts will publish link to read all winners and will list winners in the following categories: Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Actor and Best Documentary. Before the list and to have ALL in one post first is the summary for the major film critics' groups.

Major Critics' Groups

Los Angeles Film Critics Association
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: (tie) Gravity and Her
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: (tie) Adèle Exarchopoulos in Blue is the Warmest Color and Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Bruce Dern in Nebraska
Best Documentary: Stories We Tell

Critics' Choice Movie Awards
Nominations and Winners: Post
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey
Best Documentary: 20 Feet from Stardom

Golden Globes
Nominations and Winners: Post
Best Film (Drama): 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress (Drama): Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor (Drama): Matthew McConaughey
Best Documentary: N/A

International Press Academy (Satellite Awards)
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: Official Site News
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club
Best Documentary: Blackfish

National Board of Review
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: Her
Best Director: Spike Jonze for Her
Best Actress: Emma Thompson in Saving Mr. Banks
Best Actor: Bruce Dern in Nebraska
Best Documentary: Stories We Tell

New York Film Critics Circle
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: American Hustle
Best Director: Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Robert Redford in All Is Lost
Best Documentary: Stories We Tell

The List

African-American Film Critics Association
Winners: Official Site - News
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave
Best Actress: Sandra Bullock in Gravity
Best Actor: Forest Whitaker in Lee Daniels' The Butler
Best Documentary: American Promise

Alliance of Women Film Journalists (EDA Awards)
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club
Best Documentary: Stories We Tell

Austin Film Critics Association
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: Her
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Brie Larson in Short Term 12
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

Black Film Critics Circle
Winners: News
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave
Best Actress: Brie Larson in Short Term 12
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best documentary: 20 Feet from Stardom

Boston Society of Film Critics
Winners at Official Site
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: The Art of Killing

Boston Online Film Critics Association
Winners at Official Site
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

Central Ohio Film Critics Association
Nominations: News Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: Gravity
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Adèle Exarchopoulos in Blue is the Warmest Color
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

Chicago Film Critics Association
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association
Winners: Official Site - News
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club
Best Documentary: 20 Feet From Stardom

Denver Film Critics Society
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: News Official Site
Best Film: Gravity
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

Detroit Film Critics Society
Nominations: Official Site News
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: Her
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Brie Larson in Short Term 12
Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club
Best Documentary: Stories We Tell

Dublin Film Critics Circle
Winners: News
Best Film: Gravity
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Bruce Dern in Nebraska
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

Florida Film Critics Circle
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmmine
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association ( Dorian Awards)
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: News Official Site
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: N/A
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club
Best Documentary: Bridegroom

Georgia Film Critics Association
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: Her
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: Stories We Tell

The Guardian UK Top 10 films
Article with list: Official Site
Number 1 Film: The Act of Killing

The Houston Film Critics Society
Winners: Official Site - News
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Sandra Bullock in Gravity
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: 20 Feet From Stardom

Indiana Film Journalist Association
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave
Best Actress: Adèle Exarchopoulos in Blueis the Warmest Color
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

Indiewire Annual Critics Survey
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave
Best Lead Performance: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

Iowa Film Critics Association
Winners: News
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: 20 Feet from Stardom

Kansas City Film Critics Circle
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: (tie) Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity and Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Salve
Best Actress: Sandra Bullock in Gravity
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

Las Vegas Film Critics Society
Winners: Official Site - News
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave
Best Actress: Emma Thompson in Saving Mr. Banks
Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club
Best Documentary: Blackfish

London Film Critics Circle
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

National Society of Film Critics
Winners: News - Official Site
Best Film: Inside Llewyn Davis
Best Director: Joel and Ethan Coen for Inside Llewyn Davis
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Oscar Isaac in Llewyn Davis
Best Documentary: (tie) The Act of Killing and At Berkeley

Nevada Film Critics Society
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Meryl Streep in August: Osage County
Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club
Best Documentary: NA

New York Film Critics Online
Winners: Official Site News
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

North Carolina Film Critics Association
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: Stories We Tell

North Texas Film Critics Association
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: Gravity
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Sandra Bullock in Gravity
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: 20 Feet From Stardom

Oklahoma Film Critics Circle
Winners: News
Best Film: Her
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

Online Film Critics Society
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

Phoenix Film Critics Society
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club
Best Documentary: 20 Feet from Stardom

St. Louis Film Critics
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: Blackfish

San Diego Film Critics Society
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: Her
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Oscar Isaac in Inside Llewyn Davis
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

San Francisco Film Critics Circle
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

Sight&Sound Film Magazine (100 International Critics)
Article in magazine here
Number 1 Film: The Act of Killing

Southeastern Film Critics Association
Winners: Official Site - News
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Chiwitel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

Toronto Film Critics Association
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: Inside Llewyn Davis
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Oscar Isaac in Inside Llewyn Davis
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

Utah Film Critics Association
Winners: News
Best Film: Gravity
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Adèle Exarchopoulos in Blue is the Warmest Color
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

UK Regional Film Awards (Richard Attenborough)
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: N/A

Vancouver Film Critics Circle
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Oscar Isaac in Inside Llewyn Davis
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

The Village Voice Critics Poll
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: Inside Llewyn Davis
Best Director: Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave
Best Actress: Adèle Exarchopoulos in Blue is the Warmest Color
Best Actor: Oscar Isaac in Inside Llewyn Davis
Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

The Washington DC Area Film Critics
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary: Blackfish

Women Film Critics Circle (Not added to tally)
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: News
Best Movie About Women: Philomena
Best Woman Storyteller (Screenwriting): Julie Delpy for Before Midnight
Best Actress: Judi Dench in Philomena
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Best Documentary by or about Women: Stories We Tell

Tally

The following is a summary with winners in the five main categories. Tally will be update when each group makes their announcement.

Best Film
29 - 12 Years a Slave (BSFC, NYFCO, WAFCA, BOFCA, AAFCA, SFFCC, KCFCC, IFJA, HFCS, SEFCA, DFWFCA, OFCS, CFCA, PFCS, SLFC, IW, LVFC, FFCC, BFCC, NFCS, AWFJ, IFCA, GG, NCFCA, VFCC, CCMA, GALECA, CCFA, UKRFA, IPA)
7 - Her (NBR, LAFCA, SDFCS, DFCS, AFCA, OFCC, GFCA )
6 - Gravity (LAFCA, DFCC, UFCA, COFCA, NTFCA, DFCS)
3 - Inside Llewyn Davis (TFCA, TVVC, NSFC)
1 - American Hustle (NYFCC)

Best Director
26- Alfonso Cuarón (NYFCO, LAFCA, WAFCA, SDFCS, DFCS, SFFCC, KCFCC, HFCS, DFWFCA, OFCS, TFCA, PFCS, AFCA, DFCC, UFCA, NFCS, COFCA, NTFCA, OFCC, GFCA, GG, VFCC, DFCS, CCMA, CCFA, UKRFA)
18 - Steve McQueen (NYFCC, BSFC, BOFCA, AAFCA, KCFCC, IFJA, SEFCA, CFCA, SLFC, IW LVFC, FFCC, TVVC, BFCC, AWFJ, IFCA, NCFCA, IPA)
1 - Spike Jonze (NBR)
1 - Joel and Ethan Coen (NSFC)

Best Actress
31 - Cate Blanchett (NYFCC, BSFC, NYFCO, LAFCA, WAFCA, SDFCS, BOFCA, SFFCC, SEFCA, DFWFCA, OFCS, TFCA, CFCA, PFCS, SLFC, DFFC, FFCC, AWFJ, NSFC. OFCC, GFCA, IFCA, GG, NCFCA, VFCC, DFCS, CCMA, GALECA, CCFA, UKRFA, IPA)
5 - Adèle Exarchopoulos (LAFCA, IFJA, TVVC, UFCA, COFCA)
4 - Sandra Bullock (AAFCA, KCFCC, HFCS, NTFCA)
3 - Brie Larson (DFCS, AFCA, BFCC)
2 - Emma Thompson (NBR, LVFC)
1 - Meryl Streep (NFCS)

Best Actor
25- Chiwetel Ejiofor (BSFC, NYFCO, WAFCA, BOFCA, SFFCC, KCFCC, IFJA, HFCS, SEFCA, OFCS, CFCA, AFCA, SLFC, IW, BFCC, UFCA, COFCA, NTFCA, OFCC, GFCA, IFCA, NCFCA, CCFA, UKRFA)
11 - Matthew McConaughey (DFCS, DFWFCA, PFCS, LVFC, FFCC, NFCS, AWFJ, GG, DFCS, CCMA, GALECA, IPA)
5 - Oscar Isaac (SDFCS, TFCA, TVVC, NFSC, VFCC)
3 - Bruce Dern (NBR, LAFCA, DFCC)
1 - Robert Redford (NYFCC)
1 - Forest Whitaker (AAFCA)

Best Documentary
23 - The Art of Killing (BSFC, NYFCO, SDFCS, BOFCA, SFFCC, KCFCC, IFJA, SEFCA, OFCS, TFCA, CFCA, AFCA, IW, DFCC, FFCC, TVVC, UFCA, COFCA, NFSC, OFCC, VFCC, DFCS, CCFA)
7 - Stories We Tell (NYFCC, NBR, LAFCA, DFCS, AWFJ, GFCA, NCFCA)
7 - 20 Feet From Stardom (HFCS, DFWFCA, PFCS, BFCC, NTFCA, IFCA, CCMA)
4 - Blackfish (WAFCA, SLFC, LVFC, IPA)
1 - American Promise (AAFCA)
1 - At Berkley (NFSC)
1 - Bridegroom (GALECA)

2014 Writers Guild Awards Winners

Last night the guild had their award ceremony and have a bit of an issue about winners and will share with you.

Original screenplay went to Her. No doubt that the story in Her is original, different and perhaps shows what could happen or is happening right now with humans and gadgets, so if honor is given for those reasons then is okay. But if one movie truly disappointed me from this award season is Her as I didn't enjoy movie as whole, did not like Joaquin Phoenix performance and well, according to me, there were too many holes in plot. If you ask me this award should have honored Blue Jasmine or Dallas Buyers Club. Sigh. But now we know what some of AMPAS voters like.

Adapted screenplay went to Captain Phillips. Have not read the book that was object of this adaptation but if you consider the flow of the movie, have to say that I do not find nothing outstanding in this movie. Alright is a good movie, good as typical American entertainment that shows some stuff that is credible and perhaps illuminates on what could be happening with pirates. That's it if you haven't seen fantastic Kaprigen (A Hijacking) which is more than a hundred percent more-tense, with excellent performances and more realistic in a civilized world where you do not send an army to solve a very intricate/complex human/business problem.  Surely group and AMPAS voters have not seen or do not recall great Danish film by Tobias Lindholm.  Unfortunately in this category and from those nominated I have no preference as find all nominations with remarkable flaws against original material or simply, I did not enjoy the movie flow, so anyone could have win and ... did.

Extremely pleased with Guild honoring Sarah Polley for her incredibly good Stories We Tell.

Winners are in *BLUE and to check winners in all categories go here.

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1/3/14
Today the Writers Guild of America East and West announced the nominations for outstanding achievement in writing for the screen during 2013.

Winners will be honored at awards ceremony on Saturday, February 1, at simultaneous ceremonies in Los Angeles (JW Marriott L.A. LIVE) and New York City (Edison Ballroom).

The Nominees

Original Screenplay
Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell for American Hustle
Woody Allen for Blue Jasmine
Craig Borten and Melisa Wallack for Dallas Buyers Club
*Spike Jonze for Her
Bob Nelson for Nebraska

Adapted Screenplay
Tracy Letts for August: Osage County, based on his play
Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke for Before Midnight, based on characters created by Richard Linklater and Kim Krizan
*Bill Ray for Captain Phillips, based on the book A Captain’s Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALS, and Dangerous Days at Sea by Richard Phillips with Stephan Talty
Peter Berg for Lone Survivor, based on the book by Marcus Lutrell with Patrick Robinson
Terence Winter for The Wolf of Wall Street, based on the book by Jordan Belfort

Documentary Screenplay
Jeremy Scahill and David Riker for Dirty Wars
Sara Lukinson and Michael Stevens for Herblock - The Black & The White
Janet Tobias and Paul Laikin for No Place on Earth
*Sarah Polley for Stories We Tell
Alex Gibney for We Steal Secrets: The Story of Wikileaks

To check nominees in TV, New Media, and Radio go here.  I believe is the first year in recent history that there is no controversy as nominees seem to be for films that have all the award season buzz; not like last year when there were too many films with writers out of the union, so could not be considered for their award.

28th Annual ASC Awards Winners

Last night the group had their award nominations and as expected -at least by me- Gravity won the top award.

Awards are not yet at the official site here but eventually they will be; but if you wish to check winners in other categories go official Twitter here.

Winners are in *BLUE.

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1/16
Yesterday the ASC announced a new award, ASC Spotlight Award, created to recognize outstanding cinematography in features and documentaries typically screened at film festivals, internationally or limited theatrical release, which as you readers know are my kind of movies.

The inaugural nominees are:

*Lukasz Zal and Ryszard Lenczewski for Ida
Mark Lee Ping Bing for Renoir
Camille Cottagnoud for Winter Nomads

The award will be given along with the others awards on February 1st at the Hollywood & Highland Ray Dolby Ballroom.

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1/8
Today the American Society of Cinematography announced their nominations and to everybody's surprise there are seven (7) films nominated thanks to a three-way tie that increased the number from the usual five.

As last year, BAFTA category and ASC nods are the same with the exception of the two additional ones, Prisoners and The Grandmaster.

The Nominees for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography

Sean Bobbitt for 12 Years a Slave
Barry Ackroyd for Captain Phillips
*Emmanuel Lubezki for Gravity
Bruno Delbonnel for Inside Llewyn Davis
Phedon Papamichael for Nebraska
Roger Deakins for Prisoners
Phillippe Le Sourd for The Grandmaster

To check official press release go here and to learn nominees in television categories announced last December go here. Have to comment that The Grandmaster has outstanding cinematography but as far as I remember Prisoners did not impress me with remarkable cinematography even do I liked Denis Villeneuve first English-language feature film; still believe that Gravity could win this category -by far.

66th Annual Directors Guild of America Awards Winners

Last night the Directors Guild of America had their awards ceremony and there are no surprises as Alfonso Cuarón won the top award which makes him the most likely to win an Oscar director and yes, puts again Gravity in the Best Picture contention. But for me, Gravity has always been a contender along with American Hustle and 12 Years a Slave.

Award history says that for the last 65 years of the 85 in which the Academy Awards have been presented, the DGA has presented awards too; over the course of that time, the winner of the guild's top award has gone to win the best director Oscar on all but seven (7) occasions and his/her film has gone to win best picture Oscar on all but thirteen (13) occasions. So, truth is that Oscar best picture race has become tight and interesting.

Winners are in *BLUE and to check winners in all categories go official site.

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1/7/14
Today the DGA announced the nominations for outstanding directorial achievement in feature film for 2013 and there are no real surprises as we all know that there are only five slots and the question was which directors will make it and which will not.

“To be chosen by your peers in a year full of incredibly well-crafted films is the true marker of outstanding directorial achievement,” said Paris Barclay, guild President. “The passion and vision of each of the nominees resulted in tremendously diverse films that kept audiences mesmerized. Congratulations to each of the nominees on a job very well done.”

Winners will be announced at the 66th Annual DGA Awards Dinner on Saturday, January 25, 2014 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles.

The Nominees

Feature Film Award

*Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Paul Greengrass for Captain Phillips
Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave
David O. Russell for American Hustle
Martin Scorsese for The Wolf of Wall Street

We can predict that the above five movies will be nominated for Best Picture and that all directors, except one, will get a nod in Best Director category. To read press release go here.

Documentary Award

Zachary Heinzerling for Cutie and the Boxer
*Jehane Noujaim for The Square
Joshua Oppenheimer for The Act of Killing
Sarah Polley for Stories We Tell
Lucy Walker for The Crash Reel

To read the press release with the documentary nominations go here.

25th Annual Producers Guild Awards Winners

Last night the guild had their award ceremony with one surprise that, on second-thought, might not be that surprising as there were several ties among the critics' groups. Yes there was a tie for the movie award! A first in PGA Awards' history A tie between Gravity and 12 Years a Slave.

Obviously I was not expecting a tie but now I can confirm that the race to Oscar Best Picture is a three-way race and the three competitors are Gravity, 12 Years a Slave and American Hustle. What I was expecting was a "fight" among Gravity and American Hustle, as they seem could attract the same type of voters, which could allow 12 Years a Slave to surface as a clearer winner. But now nothing is a sure thing in the Oscar category.

If we follow what has happened 17 times out of the 24 years of the award history and specifically during the last 6 years in a row, where PGA winner goes to win Oscar then we know that American Hustle left the race. But still there is always a chance as producers branch is about 8% of the AMPAS membership and what actors prefer could still help to split votes between Gravity and American Hustle, consequently benefit will go to 12 Years a Slave.

The official site does not have yet the full list of winners but will be here eventually. To read winners in TV categories go here with the news.

Winners are in *BLUE.

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1/2/2014
A few minutes ago the guild announced the motion picture and long-form television nominations which complement the documentary film and other television categories previously announced. Now the over 5,900 members will have to vote to define winners in each category.

All 2014 PGA awards winners will be announced on January 19 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. This year the guild will also present special honors to Peter Jackson, visual effects artist Joe Letteri and Weta Digital winging the Vanguard Award; the Milestone Award goes to Walt Disney Co. charmain and CEO Bob Iger, Chris Meledandri founder and CEO of Illumination Entertainment gets the Visionary Award; and James Bond producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli of EON Productions will receive the David O. Selznick Achievement Award in Motion Pictures. Also Frutivale Station will be honored with the Stanley Kramer Award.

The most noticeable omission in the main category is the Coen Bros film, Inside Llewyn Davis which somehow will make a bit harder for the film to get an Oscar nod but there are other snubs like Lee Daniels' The Butler, Philomena, and August: Osage County that now really wonder if they could get an Oscar nod as Best Picture. The best news for me is the inclusion of Blue Jasmine.

The Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures (tie)

*Anthony Katagas, Jeremy Kleiner, Steve McQueen, Brad Pitt and Dede Gardner for 12 Years a Slave
Megan Ellison, Jon Gordon, Charles Roven, and Richard Suckle for American Hustle
Letty Aronson and Stephen Tenenbaum for Blue Jasmine
Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca, and Scott Rudin for Captain Phillips
Robbie Brenner and Rachel Winter for Dallas Buyers Club
*Alfonso Cuarón and David Heyman for Gravity
Megan Ellison, Spike Jonze, and Vincent Landay for Her
Albert Berger and Ron Yerxa for Nebraska
Ian Collie, Alison Owen and Philip Steuer for Saving Mr. Banks
Riza Aziz, Emma Koskoff and Joey McFarland for Wolf of Wall Street

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures

Kristine Belson and Jane Hartwell for The Croods
Janet Healy and Chris Meledandri for Despicable Me 2
Jerry Davis and Lori Forte for Epic
*Peter Del Vecho for Frozen
Kori Rae for Monsters University

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Documentary Theatrical Motion Pictures

Julie Goldman, Ryan Harrington, Kristi Jacobson, and Lori Silverbush for A Place at the Table
Brad Bernstein and Rick Cikowski for Far Out Isn't Far Enough: The Tomi Ungerer Story
Andrea Nix Fine, Sean Fine, and Miriam Weintraub for Life According to Sam
*Alexis Bloom, Alex Gibney, and Marc Shmuger for We Steal Secrets: The Story of Wikileaks
James Brabazon and Nick Quested for Which Way is The Front Line from Here? The Life and Time of Tim Hetherington

To check nominations in television categories go Official site. As we know these awards gives us an idea of the possible Oscar nominations for the Best Film category. Now we have the best guess for the Best Film Oscar category IF 10 films get nominated, but if you check previous years' nods you will notice that NOT all PGA's honored films went to get an Oscar nod.