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.

28th Goya Awards Winners

The award ceremony is over and Living is Easy with the Eyes Closed was the big winner of the night. Nothing outstanding happened during the ceremony which was unusual as always something unexpected happens, so this year was on the tedious side, sigh.

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

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1/7/14
Today the Spanish Academy announced the nominations for the current awards edition and to my surprise a film that I truly believe is horrendous got 10 nominations which only means that my credibility for these awards is in a new low that can't go any lower. Sigh.

Nevertheless La Gran Familia Española leads the pack with 11 nods, followed by Las Brujas de Zugarramurdi with 10 and Caníbal with 8; still awful Brujas did not got a nod in the two main categories, so must come from other categories.

Best Film
15 años y un día (15 Years and One Day), Gracia Querejeta
Caníbal (Cannibal), Manuel Martín Cuenca
La Gran Familia Española (Family United), Daniel Sánchez Arévalo
La Herida (Wounded), Fernando Franco
*Vivir es fácil con los ojos cerrados (Living Is Easy with Eyes Closed), David Trueba

Best Ibero-American Film
*Azul y no tan rosa, Miguel Ferrari, Venezuela
Gloria, Sebastián Lelio, Chile
El médico alemán. Wakolda, Lucía Puenzo, Argentina
La Jaula de Oro, Diego Quemada-Diez, Guatemala and Mexico

Best European Film
*Amour (Love), Michael Haneke
Jagten (The Hunt), Thomas Vinterberg
La Grande Bellezza (The Great Beauty), Paolo Sorrentino
La Vie d'Adèle (Blue Is the Warmest Color), Abdellatif Kechiche

Best Director
Manuel Martín Cuenca for Caníbal (Cannibal)
Gracia Querejeta for 15 años y un día (15 Years and One Day)
Daniel Sánchez Arévalo for La Gran Familia Española (Family United)
*David Trueba for Vivir es fácil con los ojos cerrados (Living Is Easy with Eyes Closed)

Best New Director
Neus Ballús for La Plaga (The Plague)
Jorge Dorado for Mindscape
*Fernando Franco for La Herida (Wounded)
Rodrigo Sorogoyen for Stockholm

Best Actress
*Marian Álvarez in La Herida (Wounded)
Inma Cuesta in 3 bodas de más (Three Many Weddings)
Aura Garrido in Stockholm
Nora Navas in Tots volem el millor per a ella (Puzzlement)

Best Actor
*Javier Cámara in Vivir es fácil con los ojos cerrados (Living Is Easy with Eyes Closed)
Eduard Fernández in Todas Las Mujeres
Antonio de la Torre in Caníbal (Cannibal)
Tito Valverde in 15 años y un día (15 Years and One Day)

To learn nominees in all categories please go here. Without a doubt the most absurd category is Best European Film as how can you decide between those four films? Impossible to decide between Haneke, Sorrentino, Vintenberg and Kechiche?! Impossible.

Know that many are talking about Almodovar being snubbed but to me is no surprise as first the local Academy does not really acknowledges how great the director is and his last movie absolutely is NOT award material, just plain old-fashion crazy fun.

Awards ceremony will be on February 9, 2014 at Hotel Auditorium Madrid hosted by Manel Fuentes.

Video with the nominations and more -in Spanish.

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.