#Oscars2018 Makeup and Hairstyling Shortlist

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced yesterday that seven (7) films remain in competition in the Makeup and Hairstyling category for the 90th Academy Awards.

On Saturday, January 6, 2018, all members of the Academy’s Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Branch will be invited to view 10-minute excerpts from each of the seven shortlisted films. Following the screenings, members will vote to nominate three films for final Oscar consideration.

Seems that this year there were not many films that qualified for this category and as far as what is happening up-to-today, this category is the first that will not have five nominations. But what puzzles me most is the reason why behind NOT including films like The Shape of Water, Blade Runner 2049 or even Star Wars: The Last Jedi.  Perhaps is because now lines between VFX and makeup blur, especially for us viewers and for those who are trying to guess something in current awards season.

The films are listed below in alphabetical order:

Bright
Darkest Hour
Ghost in the Shell
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
I, Tonya
Victoria & Abdul
Wonder

Nominations for the 90th Academy Awards will be announced on Tuesday, January 23, 2018.

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#Oscars2018 Foreign-Language Films Shortlist

Yesterday AMPAS announced the shortlist of nine (9) films that advance to the next round of voting in the Foreign-Language Film category.  Ninety-two films had originally been considered in the category.

Foreign Language Film nominations are determined in two phases.  The Phase I committee, consisting of several hundred Los Angeles-based Academy members, screened the original submissions in the category between mid-October and December 11.  The group’s top six choices, augmented by three additional selections voted by the Academy’s Foreign Language Film Award Executive Committee, constitute the shortlist.

Academy members eligible to participate in the Nominations round of voting in New York, London, Los Angeles and, for the first time, the San Francisco Bay Area, will screen the nine shortlisted films in theaters over a three-day period from Friday, January 12, through Sunday, January 14, with three films screening each day.  Additionally, international members (who live outside of the U.K.) will be invited to opt-in to stream the nine shortlisted films on the Academy’s member site.  Members must see all nine films before casting their ballots.

Shortlist has fantastic films but my biggest disappointment is France submission, BPM being snubbed and perhaps the only slightly controversial selection belongs to Lebanon a spot that absolutely belonged to BPM, sigh.

This time did copy and paste from foreign-language submissions post to include film main honors.  It's very visible that all films, with the exception of one, are award winners at one of the three main film festivals.  Only South Africa submission is not a winner but film had the honor to open the Berlinale Panorama section.  Not very often AMPAS honors only films from major festivals but it happened this year and NO doubt there will be no reason to reprehend the Academy once again as their selections have the highest credentials.

But then BPM also was a major festival winner ... grrr. Sigh.

There is one very-controversial film in the shortlist, at least in its country of origin, Israel.  Yes, Foxtrot was very controversial at government, press and audiences levels but managed to become the country submission to 2018 Oscars and now, made it to the shortlist.  Haven't seen yet film BUT have seen everything Samuel Maoz has done -well,  Foxtrot is his second feature, first one was absolutely extraordinary, hypnotic and even claustrophobic, Lebanon. Of course I'm dying to see Foxtrot and very glad made it to the shortlist as know will give a necessary push among viewers.

Maoz is not the only director that have seen almost all his films and belong to -believe it or not- short list of contemporary directors I admire and follow very closely.  Sebastian Lelio from Chile has a magnificent contemporary body of work and he's still developing his style but his previous films are puzzling, engaging and outstanding.  Simply love Andrey Zvagintsev since his very first film I saw, The Banishment; his films are an absolute pleasure to watch, magnificent visual voyages with a very engaging story and both are blended into the most outstanding cinematic experience.  Both Lelio and Zvagintsev films are must be seen for me.

To go faster, have to see everything by Fatih Akin and Ruben Östlund and lucky me, haves seen everything they have done before and no doubt will see everything they do in the future. So this is my little homage to great directors that made it to the shortlist even when one of my most admired directors, Michael Haneke -Austria submission- didn't made it to the list, sigh.

Too early to get my crystal ball but a little peak into the future tells me The Square has too-many good chances to win top award and probably the other four that will have nominations could be Chile, Hungary, Russia and Israel.

Shortlist of Nine

Chile: Una Mujer Fantástica (A Fantastic Woman), Sebastián Lelio (2017 Berlinale Best Screenplay winner)

Germany: Aus dem Nichts (In the Fade), Fatih Akin (2017 Cannes Best Actress winner)

Hungary: Testről és lélekről (On Body and Soul), Ildikó Enyedi (2017 Berlinale Golden Bear winner)

Israel: פוֹקְסטְרוֹט Foxtrot, Samuel Maoz (2017 Venice Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize winner)

Lebanon: قضية رقم ٢٣ (aka قضية رقم 23) L'Insulte (The Insult), Ziad Doueiri (2017 Venice Best Actor winner)

Russia: Нелюбовь Nelyubov (Loveless), Andrey Zvyagintsev (2017 Cannes Jury Award winner)

Senegal: Félicité, Alain Gomis (2017 Berlinale Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize winner)

South Africa: Inxeba (The Wound), John Trengove (2017 Berlinale Panorama)

Sweden: The Square, Ruben Östlund (2017 Cannes Palme d'Or winner) 

Nominations for the 90th Academy Awards will be announced on Tuesday, January 23, 2018.  The awards show will be held on Sunday, March 4th.

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#Oscars2018 Live Action Shorts Shortlist

On Monday the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that 10 live action short films will advance in the voting process for the 90th Academy Awards. A record 165 pictures had originally qualified in the category.

Members of the Short Films and Feature Animation Branch viewed all the eligible entries for the preliminary round of voting.

Short Films and Feature Animation Branch members will now select five nominees from among the 10 titles on the shortlist. Branch screenings will be held in Los Angeles, London, New York and San Francisco in January.

Nominations for the 90th Academy Awards will be announced on Tuesday, January 23, 2018.

The 10 films are listed below in alphabetical order by title in English.

DeKalb Elementary, Reed Van Dyk, USA
The Eleven O’Clock, Derin Seale, Australia
Facing Mecca, Jan-Eric Mack, Switzerland
Icebox, Daniel Sawka, USA
Lost Face, Sean Meehan, Australia and Canada
My Nephew Emmett, Kevin Wilson, Jr.,
Naissance d'une étoile  (Rise of a Star), James Bort, France
The Silent Child, Chris Overton, UK
Watu Wote: All of Us, Katja Benrath, Germany and Kenya
Témoins (Witnesses), David Koch, France and Lebanon

The 90th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 4, 2018, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, and will be televised live on the ABC Television Network at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT.

As usual below are the trailers but after checking the posts with other shorts (documentary and animation) noticed some are gone.  My best suggestion is to watch FAST as surely some videos will disappear soon.

DeKalb Elementary by Reed Van Dyk
Inspired by an actual 911 call placed during a school shooting incident in Atlanta, Georgia.



The Eleven O’Clock by Derin Seale
The delusional patient of a psychiatrist believes he is actually the psychiatrist. As they each attempt to treat each other the session gets increasingly out of control.



Facing Mecca by Jan-Eric Mack
The hospital calls Fareed; his wife's situation is critical; the cancer has reached its terminal stage. Pensioner Roli comes to his help and takes him to see his wife who passes away shortly after. Her funeral falls under the jurisdiction of Amrikon council. Fareed wants to see his wife buried in accordance with Muslim rites. Roli is keen to help Fareed and his daughters but problems quickly arise: the graves in the local cemetery have not been aligned to face Mecca; the council is unable to carry out the burial within 24 hours after death. Councillor Thomas Künzli assures everyone that they'll organise things for the following week. Unimpressed by the council's tactical heal-dragging, Roli offers a more creative idea: a family plot would allow for the body to be buried diagonally - facing Mecca. But even family graves are exhumed after 25 years and allocated anew. For Muslims this disturbance of peace is an absolute taboo.



Icebox by Daniel Sawka
About Oscar, a young boy from Honduras, who is caught crossing the US border and sent to an immigrant processing for minors.



Lost Face, Sean Meehan
Subienkow is in mortal danger. The fort he and his fellow fur thieves have erected in the snow is in flames - attacked by the very tribe they enslaved to build it - now only he and Big Ivan remain. As Ivan is tortured before him Subienkow must think fast to escape the terrible, protracted death that awaits him. He calls over the chief, Makamuk, and begins to bargain...



My Nephew Emmett by Kevin Wilson, Jr.
At 2:30AM on August 28, 1955 in the most racially divided state in the country, 64 year-old Mose Wright tries to protect his 14 year-old nephew Emmett Till from two racist killers out for blood. Based on the true story of the 1955 murder of Emmett Louis Till. 



Naissance d'une étoile (Rise of a Star) by James Bort
Emma is about to be the new Ballerina. But something upsets her. A secret. A secret liable to undermine what she has spent a whole life on.



The Silent Child by Chris Overton
Set in rural England and inspired by real life events. The Silent Child centres around a profoundly deaf four year old girl named Libby who is born into a middle class family and lives in a world of silence until a caring social worker teaches her the gift of communication.



Watu Wote: All of Us by Katja Benrath
For almost a decade Kenya has been targeted by terrorist attacks of the Al-Shabaab. Especially the border region between Kenya and Somalia is considered highly dangerous. An atmosphere of anxiety and mistrust between Muslims and Christians is growing. Until in December 2015, Muslim bus passengers showed that solidarity can prevail.



Témoins (Witnesses), David Koch
Stéphane, a freelance war photographer, is covering the Syrian conflict. She follows the daily existence of a young couple: Farah, a schoolteacher, and Omar, a doctor. During fighting, Stéphane takes a photo of Omar. A photo that could make headlines in the western media. Omar, convinced that the publication of this photo will put his life at risk, asks Stéphane not to send it off. But given the urgency, Stéphane has already forwarded her photos to her press agency in France: it is too late, the photo is released, altering the lives of both Stéphane and Omar.

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20th British Independent Film Awards Winners

Last night was the awards ceremony with Lady Macbeth wining five awards including Best Actress for Florence Pugh, God's Own Country follows with four awards including Best British Film, The Death of Stalin also with four awards and most interesting, I Am Not a Witch wins 3 awards but remarkable is that film director, Rungano Nyoni wins Best Director and Best Debut Director, an achievement that happens not often, last time was in 2007 with Anton Corbijn for Control.

Thanks to BIFA's 2017 nominations became interested in watching Lady Macbeth, a film that I had decided will skip.  I'm grateful to BIFA as was going to skip one of the most outstanding films from 2017, a film with great performances, great tech specs, but, most of all, a great director that could transform a well-known tale into storytelling anew. The end-result is a mesmerizing film, impossible to take off your eyes from the screen from the very first frame until the last one.  All honors here are well-deserved and know film will collect more in the current awards season.

As film is doing so-well with American critics, it's worth noting that Get Out got the BIFA for Best International Independent Film which could mean a place in the BAFTA's.

Gary Oldman was on hand at the ceremony to collect the Variety Award from Kristin Scott Thomas; the award recognizes the global impact he has made throughout his career as an icon of British film and filmmaking.

Vanessa Redgrave received The Richard Harris Award in recognition of her outstanding work within the British film industry. Jared Harris, son of Richard Harris, commented: “Vanessa is one of the finest actresses of her generation, and indeed any generation, and we’re thrilled that she’s receiving this award. This is especially meaningful as Vanessa was Guinevere to Richard’s King Arthur”.

Winners are in *BLUE. To check winners at official site go here.

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11/3/17
Yesterday Maisie Williams and Hayle Squires announced the nominations for the milestone 20th anniversary of an event that celebrates independent cinema.  There are some films that  could be interesting to watch but the biggest surprise is to find among the nominees a film that has strong Oscar buzz, which means film could do well in British and American awards circuit/season; we'll soon see if BAFTA also honors film with nominations.  Yes, I'm talking about Three Billboards ...

In total there are 35 British feature films nominated. Lady Macbeth leads with fifteen (15) nominations followed by The Death of Stalin and I Am Not a Witch with 13 noms plus God's Own Country and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri with 11 nominations.

Debut features dominate the nominations list, with the first-time writers, producers and directors of Lady Macbeth, I Am Not a Witch and God’s Own Country all recognized in the three newcomer categories – Debut Screenwriter, Breakthrough Producer and The Douglas Hickox Award for Best Debut Director – as well as Best Screenplay, Best Director and Best British Independent Film.

BIFA said, “This year’s nominations showcase the range and quality of British independent filmmaking. It’s a diverse and varied list, in terms of the teams making the films and also the kinds of stories being told. It is especially encouraging to see so much exciting work from so many new filmmakers; this points to a very bright future for British cinema and we’re proud to be at the heart of it, celebrating these exceptional films.”

The Nominations

Best British Independent Film
*God's Own Country
I'm Not a Witch
Lady Macbeth
The Death of Stalin
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

The Discovery Award
Even When I Fall
Halfway
*In Another Life
Isolani
My Pure Land

Best Documentary
*Almost Heaven
Half Way
Kingdom of Us
Uncle Howard
Williams

Best International Independent Film
The Florida Project, Sean Baker
*Get Out, Jordan Peele
I Am Not Your Negro, Raoul Peck
Loveless, Andrei Zvyagintsev
The Square, Ruben Ostlund

Best Director
Armando Iannucci for The Death of Stalin
Francis Lee for God's Own Country
*Riungano Nyoni for I Am Not a Witch
William Oldroyd for Lady Macbeth
Martin McDonagh for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

The Douglas HIckox Award - Debut Director
Francis Lee for God's Own Country
*Rungano Nyoni for I Am Not a Witch
Thomas Napper for Jawbone
William Oldroyd for Lady Macbeth
Deborah Haywood for Pin Cushion

Best Cinematography
David Gallego for I Am Not a Witch
Tat Radcliffe for Jawbone
*Ari Wegner for Lady Macbeth
Thomas Riedelsheimer for Leaning Into the Wind
Ben Davis for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Best Screenplay
Armando Iannucci, David Schneider and Ian Martin for The Death of Stalin
Francis Lee for God's Own Country
Rungano Nyoni for I Am Not a Witch
*Alice Birch for Lady Macbeth
Martin McDonagh for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Debut Screenwriter
*Francis Lee for God's Own Country
Rungano Nyoni for I Am Not a Witch
Johnny Harris for Jawbone
Alice Birch for Lady Macbeth
Gaby Chiappe for Their Finest

Best Actress
Emily Beecham in Daphne
Ruth Wilson in Dark River
Margaret Mulubwa in I Am Not a Witch
*Florence Pugh in Lady Macbeth
Frances McDormand in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Best Supporting Actress
Andrea Riseborough in The Death of Stalin
Julie Walters in Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool
Kelly Macdonald in Goodbye Christopher Robin
Naomi Ackie in Lady Macbeth
*Patricia Clarkson in The Party

Best Actor
Jamie Bell in Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool
*Josh O'Connor in God's Own Country
Alec Secareanu in God's Own Country
Johnny Harris in Jawbone
Paddy Considine in Journeyman

Best Supporting Actor
Steve Buscemi in The Death of Stalin
*Simon Russell Beale in The Death of Stalin
Ian Hart in God's Own Country
Woody Harrelson in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Sam Rockwell in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Most Promising Newcomer
Harry Michell in Chubby Funny
Harry Gilby in Just Charlie
Cosmo Jarvis in Lady Macbeth
*Naomi Ackie in Lady Macbeth
Lily Newmark in Pin Cushion

Best Casting
*Sarah Crowe for The Death of Stalin
Debbie McWilliams for Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool
Shaheen Baig and Layla Merrick-Wolf for God's Own Country
Shaheen Baig for Lady Macbeth
Sarah Halley Finn for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Best Costume Design
Suzie Harman for The Death of Stalin
Sandy Powell for How To Talk to Girls at Parties
Holly Rebecca for I Am Not a Witch
*Holly Waddington for Lady Macbeth
Dinah Collin for My Cousin Rachel

Best Editing
Peter Lambert for The Death of Stalin
David Charap for Jawbone
*Jon Gregory for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Joe Martin for Us and Them
Johnny Burke for Williams

Best Make-Up and Hair Design
Jan Sewell for Breathe
*Nicole Stafford for The Death of Stalin
Julene Paton for I Am Not a Witch
Nadia Stacey for Journeyman
Sian Wilson for Lady Macbeth

Best Music
Christopher Willis for The Death of Stalin
Matt Kelly for I Am Not a Witch
Paul Weller for Jawbone
Fred Frith for Leaning Into the Wind
*Carter Burwell for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Best Production Design
*Cristina Casali for The Death of Stalin
Eve Stewart for Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool
James Merifield for Final Portrait
Nathan Parker for I Am Not a Witch
Jacqueline Abrahams for Lady Macbeth

Best Sound
Breathe
*Anna Bertmark for God's Own Country
Maiken Hansen for I Am Not a Witch
Andy Shelley and Steve Griffiths for Jawbone
Joakim Sundstrom for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Best Effects
The Death of Stalin
Dan Martin for Double Date
Luke Dodd for Journeyman
*Nick Allder and Ben White for The Ritual
Chris Reynolds for Their Finest

Breakthrough Producer
Brendan Mullin and Katy Jackson for Bad Day for the Cut
Jack Tarling and Manon Ardisson for God's Own Country
*Emily Morgan for I Am Not a Witch
Fodhla Cronin O'Reilly for Lady Macbeth
Gavin Humphries for Pin Cushion

Best British Short
1745
The Entertainer
*Fish Story
Work
Wren Boys

To check each film brief info at official site go here.

As previously announced, Gary Oldman will receive The Variety Award at the ceremony.The Variety Award recognizes a director, actor, writer or producer who has made a global impact and helped to focus the international spotlight on the UK.

Vanessa Redgrave is to receive The Richard Harris Award in recognition of the outstanding work within the British film industry.

Winners will be announced by host Mark Gatiss at the British Independent Film Awards Ceremony on Sunday 10 December at Old Billingsgate.

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30th European Film Awards Winners

Last night the European Academy had their annual awards ceremony and have to admit that enjoyed the show, at least the first half as believe Wim Wenders speech was outstanding and the #MeToo moment was relevant - will take a lot for me to forget what the Polish lady said-.

Then there were the clip collages with kudos to the 30th anniversary video which gave me satisfaction as to my viewing pleasure, have seen almost all the movies they shown.  Always homages have nice videos with the honored filmography, but Aleksandr Sukorov video was breathtaking with many well-crafted images from his outstanding oeuvre.  Images from Mother and Son will always move me beyond tears as not often you see such beauty in cinema.  Gorgeous homage to Sukorov.

The big winner of the night is The Square by Ruben Östlund which tonight collected 5 awards for a grand total of 6 awards when taking into account those announced earlier.  Ruben Östlund won 2 awards for directing and screenwriter; but perhaps the most remarkable achievement is film to win both top award as well as top European comedy.

Also well-deserved are Lady Macbeth win as film is constructed in such an interesting fashion that a well-known story becomes new in the hands of William Oldroyd and with the amazing performance of his lead actress.

No doubt Loving Vincent is mesmerizing as the novelty of oil painting animation in the style of Vincent Van Gogh is impossible to imagine until you see it.  Perhaps is a bit too-much for me but nevertheless was a very interesting cinematic experience.  Well-deserved recognition from the European Academy and wonder how well will film do in the American awards.

Last half of the awards show became a monotonous, especially after the first half was very dynamic but some winners were emotional and always feels very fresh to see those spontaneous reactions.  In general was a good awards show that lasted almost three hours and was able to maintain my interest alive.  Great.

So check the winners below.  Those announced earlier have the statement for your information.

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11/14/17
Today the European Film Academy announced the first award winners for the 2017 edition but the major categories will be announced during the awards ceremony next December 9; consequently, post will be in progress until that date.

A special seven-member jury convened in Berlin and, based on the EFA Selection list and the additional film entries, decided on the winners in the categories cinematography, editing, production design, costume design, hair & make-up, composer and sound design.

These are the winners

European Film:  The Square, Ruben Östlund, Sweden, Germany, France and Denmark
European Comedy:  The Square, Ruben Östlund, Sweden, Germany, France and Denmark

European Discovery - Prix FIPRESCI: Lady Macbeth, William Oldroyd, UK
European Documentary: Komunia (Communion), Anna Zamecka, Poland
European Animated Feature: Loving Vincent, Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman, Poland and UK

European Director:  Ruben Östlund for The Square, Sweden, Germany, France and Denmark
European Screenwriter: Ruben Östlund for The Square, Sweden, Germany, France and Denmark

European Short Film: Timecode, Juanjo Giménez, Spain

European Actress: Alexandra Borbély in Teströl és lélekröl (On Body and Soul), Ildikó Enyedi, Hungary
European Actor: Claes Bang in The Square, Ruben Östlund, Sweden, Germany, France and Denmark

People's Choice Award for Best European Film: Von der Morgenrote (Stefan Zweig-Farewell to Europe), Maria Scharader, Germany, Austria and France

European University Film Award: Heartstone, Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson, Iceland and Denmark
Heartstone is a story about exploration of identities and growing up within an isolated Icelandic community. It highlights the pressure placed on people to conform to particular gender conventions and social norms. The film offers an individual and unique perspective on the difficulty of experiencing and suppressing same-sex attraction in small, disconnected communities. As an up and coming talent, Gudmundur Arnar Gudmundsson delivers an immersive story visualized by overwhelming natural landscapes and beautiful performances. It stands out not only because it is a good film, but also because it explores relevant contemporary issues within today’s society.

European Cinematographer - Prix Carlo di Palma: Michall Krichman for Нелюбо́вь Nelyubov (Loveless), Andrey Zvyagintsev, Russia, Belgium, Germany and France
The cold eye of Michail Krichman guides us through the film’s dark universe, consequently constructing an intense feeling of discomfort. The camera conveys a strong sense of darkness, emptiness and sadness. The choice of what is shown and what stays hidden, gives tremendous weight to every movement of the camera, every carefully constructed frame. Ascetic and well-measured cinematic means evoke an uncanny sense of anxiety, a slight internal tremor.

European Editor: Robin Campillo for 120 Battements par minute (BPM (Beats per minute)), Robin Campillo, France
From the very beginning, Robin Campillo’s editing underlines perfectly the desperate personal urgency of the ACT UP activists and their manifestations. Be it at a pharmaceutical corporation or at a conference, the edit makes the tempo and contributes to the urgency of the film in perfect harmony with framing and story. 

European Production Designer: Josefin Åsberg for The Square, Ruben Östlund, Sweden, Germany, France and Denmark
With great artistic sensibility, the production design in THE SQUARE elevates the film by creating a world at the edge to the surreal. In this way the scenography is able to integrate and interact with the story without ever dominating over it. This is the great artistic quality of Josefin Åsberg.

European Costume Designer: Katarzyna Lewińska for Pokot (Spoor), Agnieszka Holland and Kasia Adamik, Poland, Germany, Czech Republic, Sweden and Slovakia
The simplicity and clarity of the costumes intensify the images and underline the substantial message of the film. The clash between the human element and the natural environment is reflected in the texture, the colours and the design of the costumes, at the same time contributing to the personality of the characters and giving them life. They form an integral part of the storytelling, along with all the other visual elements, and together they create a powerful viewing experience.

European Hair & Make-up Artist: Leendert van Nimwegen for Brimstone, Martin Koolhoven, Netherlands, France, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, UK and USA
In BRIMSTONE, Leendert van Nimwegen, with make-up and hair, helps the characters and their development throughout the film, from play- and colourful, to sober and sinister, the good, the bad, the young, the old. It is a perfect combination of hair and make-up to describe characters, so beautifully done, and making them real.

European Composer: Evgueni and Sacha Galperine for Нелюбо́вь Nelyubov (Loveless), Andrey Zvyagintsev, Russia, Belgium, Germany and France
The dark, haunting and brooding music intensifies the experience of watching the film. Beautifully written, with an intelligent use of piano effects, the score works like an extra character added to the unfortunate family. From beginning to end, the music captivates the underlying tensions, the hidden truths and lies, and guides you through the story, without being too overtly present.

European Sound Designer: Oriol Tarragó for A Monster Calls, J.A. Bayona, Spain
The sound design in A MONSTER CALLS is the power of imagination. Sonically, it takes us into a completely new, unknown world, and does exactly what the filmmaker wants the audience to feel when they’re watching something unfold on screen: It creates a sense of eeriness, a sense of mood, a sense of darkness … resulting in a well-crafted collaboration between sound and visuals.

The members of the jury that selected the seven EFA awards.
Samir Fočo, sound designer, Bosnia & Herzegovina
Raf Keunen, composer, Belgium
Melanie Ann Oliver, editor, UK
Vassilia Rozana, costume designer, Greece
Susana Sanchez, hair & make-up artist, Spain
Łukasz Żal, cinematographer, Poland
Tonino Zera, production designer, Italy

European Co-Production Award-Prix Eurimages: Cedomir Kolar
European Achievement in World Cinema: July Delpy
European Life Achievement Award: Aleksandr Sokurov

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#Oscars2018 Animated Shorts Shortlist

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recently announced that 10 animated short films will advance in the voting process for the 90th Academy Awards. Sixty-three (63) pictures had originally qualified in the category.

Members of the Short Films and Feature Animation Branch viewed all the eligible entries for the preliminary round of voting.

Short Films and Feature Animation Branch members will now select five nominees from among the 10 titles on the shortlist.

Branch screenings will be held in Los Angeles, London, New York and San Francisco in January.

Nominations for the 90th Academy Awards will be announced on Tuesday, January 23, 2018.

There are some outstanding stories among these shortlisted films, most remarkable is Life Smartphone with story that everyone in the world should see as they surely will identify themselves in any of the situation pictured.  But know this category honors animation plus story, direction and other tech specs and perhaps Chenglin Xie doesn't have the most impact-full animation or design but I find is exactly the type of animation the story needs.  Outstanding short!!! Yes, this is my winner!!!

The 10 films are listed below in alphabetical order by title in English.

Cradle, Devon Manney, USA
Dear Basketball, Glen Keane, USA
Fox and the Whale, Robin Joseph, Canada
Garden Party, Victor Caire and Gabriel Grapperon, Florian Babikian, Vincent Bayoux, Theophile Dufresne and Lucas Navarro, France
In a Heartbeat, Esteban Bravo and Beth David, USA
Life Smartphone, Chenglin Xie, China
Lost Property Office, Daniel Agdag, Australia
Lou, Dave Mullins, USA
Negative Space, Max Porter and Ru Kuwahata, France
Revolting Rhymes, Jakob Schuh and Jan Lachauer, UK

Cradle by Devon Manney
Returning to the USA after losing both arms overseas, a young veteran battles phantom pains, prosthetics, and memories of his pre-war life while reaching for a sense of normalcy.



Dear Basketball by Glen Keane
On November 29, 2015 Kobe Bryant penned a letter in the Players' Tribune announcing his retirement from basketball at the end of that season. This film is the visualization of that letter, narrated by Kobe, scored by John Williams and animated by Glen Keane.



Fox and the Whale by Robin Joseph
The tale of a curious fox who goes in search of an elusive whale. A journey of pursuit and longing.



Garden Party by Victor Caire and Gabriel Grapperon, Florian Babikian, Vincent Bayoux, Theophile Dufresne and Lucas Navarro
In a deserted rich house, a couple of amphibians explore their surroundings and follow their primal instincts.



In a Heartbeat by Esteban Bravo and Beth David
A shy, middle school boy who struggles coming to terms with being gay, Sherwin, and the most popular boy in school, Jonathan. When their paths cross one day, Sherwin's heart pop's out of his chest to chase after the boy of his dreams. Now, Sherwin must chase after his own heart before it reveals his feelings towards Jonathan, and humiliating him in front of the entire school.



Life Smartphone by Chenglin Xie
The phenomenon of increasing smartphone addiction can be attributed to today's cutting-edge technology. Staring at glowing screens instead of exploring the vast expanse of life, people are gradually alienating themselves from the richness, depth, and loveliness of life.



Lost Property Office by Daniel Agdag
Sometimes people can get lost in their work.



Lou by Dave Mullins
A Pixar short about a lost-and-found box and the unseen monster within.



Negative Space by Max Porter and Ru Kuwahata
My dad taught me how to pack.



Revolting Rhymes (Part Two) by Jan Lachauer, Jakob Schuh and Bin-Han To
The second of two animations based on the much-loved rhymes written by Roald Dahl and illustrated by Quentin Blake.
Jack grows up with his heart set on next-door neighbor Cindy. She has her eye turned by the eligible prince at the ball, and Jack gets distracted by a giant beanstalk at the bottom of his garden. Will they find true love?

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#Oscars2018 VFX Shortlist

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced a few days back that 20 films are in the running in the Visual Effects category for the 90th Academy Awards.

Believe 20 films in a shortlist are too-many and understand why many of those films are in list, because visual effects are great -even when many of those films are not that good (lol)- and some go to the outstanding side of the scale.

There are a couple of films I haven't seen yet but according to general buzz believe will find a spot among the nominees:  Denis Villeneuve's Blade Runner 2049 and Guillermo del Toro's The Shape of Water.  Still, you never know in this category as there are too-many super heroes films with spectacular effects, many blockbusters, some flops and then too-few-great films.  Always will hope for great movies to be nominated and to win, but with this not-too-short-shortlist my only hope for a nod is for great Wonder Woman (lol!).

The films are listed below in alphabetical order

Alien: Covenant
Beauty and the Beast
Blade Runner 2049
Dunkirk
Ghost in the Shell
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
Justice League
Kong: Skull Island
Life
Logan
Okja
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
The Shape of Water
Spider-Man Homecoming
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Thor: Ragnarok
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
War for the Planet of the Apes
Wonder Woman

The Academy’s Visual Effects Branch Executive Committee determined the preliminary shortlist. Later this month, the committee will select the 10 films that will advance to nominations voting.

Nominations for the 90th Academy Awards will be announced on Tuesday, January 23, 2018.

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#Oscars2018 Documentary Features Shortlist

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that 15 films in the Documentary Feature category will advance in the voting process for the 90th Academy Awards. One hundred seventy films were originally submitted in the category.

This is perhaps the most predictable main category for this Academy Awards edition as bet that top award will go to any of these documentaries:  Faces Places, Ex Libris or Last Men in Aleppo.

As a matter of fact my crystal ball says those three will have nominations plus the fourth spot will go to Jane and the fifth perhaps go to Ai Weiwei film or let's say it's still open for me to decide later.

My winner and top hopeful to win 2018 Oscar obviously is Faces Places as doc is a fantastic visual voyage, the photos are superb and the whole experiential idea just blows my mind (thanks to how is presented in documentary).  Then, wish Agnes Varda gets a competitive Oscar so she can place it besides her honorary Oscar, sigh.

The 15 films are listed below in alphabetical order by title in English.

Abacus: Small Enough to Jail, Steve James, USA
Chasing Coral, Jeff Orlowski, USA
City of Ghosts, Matthew Heineman, USA
Ex Libris – The New York Public Library, Frederick Wiseman, USA
Visages, Villages (Faces Places), JR and Agnes Varda, France
Human Flow, Ai Weiwei, Germany
Icarus, Bryan Fogel, USA
An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power, Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk, USA
Jane, Brett Morgen, USA
LA 92, Daniel Lindsay and T.J. Martin, USA
Last Men in Aleppo, Firas Fayyad, Steen Johannessen and Hasan Kattan, Denmark and Syria
Long Strange Trip, Amir Bar-Lev,  USA
One of Us, Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, USA
Strong Island, Yance Ford, USA
Unrest, Jennifer Brea, USA and UK

The Academy’s Documentary Branch determined the shortlist in a preliminary round of voting. Documentary Branch members will now select the five nominees from among the 15 titles.

Nominations for the 90th Academy Awards will be announced on Tuesday, January 23, 2018.

The 90th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 4, 2018, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, and will be televised live on the ABC Television Network at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT.

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#Oscars2018 Documentary Shorts Shortlist

Recently AMPAS announced that the field of Documentary Short Subject contenders for the 90th edition has been narrowed to 10 films, of which five (5) will earn a nomination.

Voters from the Academy’s Documentary Branch viewed this year’s 77 eligible entries and submitted their ballots to PricewaterhouseCoopers for tabulation.

Nominations for the 90th Academy Awards will be announced on Tuesday, January 23, 2018.

The 10 films are listed below in alphabetical order by title

Alone, Garret Bradley, USA
Edith+Eddie,  Laura Checkoway, USA
Heaven Is a Traffic Jam on the 405, Frank Stiefel, USA
Heroin(e), Elaine McMillion Sheldon, USA
Kayayo – The Living Shopping Baskets, Mari Bakke Riise, Norway
Knife Skills, Thomas Lennon, USA
116 Cameras, Davina Pardo,  USA and UK
Ram Dass, Going Home, Derek Peck, USA
Hopptornet (Ten Meter Tower), Axel Danielson and Maximilien van Aertryck, Sweden
Traffic Stop, Gina Kamentsky and Julie Zammarchi, USA

The 90th Academy Awards will be held on Sunday, March 4, 2018, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, and will be televised live on the ABC Television Network at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT.

Alone by Garret Bradley
What would it mean to marry someone behind bars?



Edith+Eddie by Laura Checkoway
Edith and Eddie, ages 96 and 95, are America's oldest interracial newlyweds. Their love story is disrupted by a family feud that threatens to tear the couple apart.



Heaven Is a Traffic Jam on the 405 by Frank Stiefel
Mindy Alper is a tortured and brilliant 56 year old artist who is represented by one of Los Angeles' top galleries. Acute anxiety, mental disorder and devastating depression have caused her to be committed to mental institutions undergo electro shock therapy and survive a 10 year period without the ability to speak. Her hyper self awareness has allowed her to produce a lifelong body of work that expresses her emotional state with powerful psychological precision. Through interviews, reenactments, the building of an eight and a half foot papier-mache' bust of her beloved psychiatrist, and examining drawings made from the time she was a child, we learn how she has emerged from darkness and isolation to a life that includes love, trust and support.



Heroin(e) by Elaine McMillion Sheldon
Three women fight to break the cycle one life at a time.



Kayayo, the Living Shopping Baskets by Mari Bakke Riise
In the capital of Ghana, 10,000 girls from the ages of 6 work as real life shopping baskets - called Kayayo, carrying heavy loads on their head (from 130 to 220 pounds), earning very little and some end up in prostitution to make ends meet. This documentary is about Bamunu, an 8-year old girl who hasn’t seen her family since she was sent away from home two years ago to work as a Kayayo to support her family. We follow her incessant longing to get away from the harsh markets, her journey back home and what awaits there.



Knife Skills by Thomas Lennon
What does it take to build a world-class French restaurant? What if the staff is almost entirely men and women just out of prison? What if most have never cooked or served before, and have barely two months to learn their trade? We follow the hectic launch of Edwins restaurant in Cleveland. In this improbable setting, with its mouth-watering dishes and its arcane French vocabulary, we discover the challenges of men and women finding their way after their release. We come to know three trainees intimately, as well as the restaurant's founder, who is himself haunted by his time in jail. These men and women all have something to prove, and all struggle to launch new lives, an endeavor as pressured and perilous as the ambitious restaurant launch of which they are a part.



116 Cameras by Davina Pardo
Holocaust survivor Eva Schloss preserves her story interactively so that she will be able to tell it forever.



Ram Dass, Going Home by Derek Peck
A profound and poetic encounter with cultural and spiritual icon Ram Dass, at his home on Maui toward the end of his life.



Hopptornet (Ten Meter Tower) by Axel Danielson and Maximilien van Aertryck
On a 10-meter high diving tower, fear of taking the jump is pitted against the personal loss that would arise if you didn't dare. What do we look like when we hesitate and when we make a decision? What does it look like when we overcome our fear?



Traffic Stop by Gina Kamentsky and Julie Zammarchi
Alex Landau, an African American man, was raised by his adoptive white parents to believe that skin color didn't matter. But when Alex was pulled over by Denver police officers one night in 2009, he lost his belief in a color-blind world — and nearly lost his life. Alex tells his mother, Patsy Hathaway, what happened that night and how it affects him to this day.

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43rd Annual Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards Winners

The so-called "most powerful" group of American critics voted their 2017 awards and top award went to Luca Guadagnino's Call Me by Your Name which is a surprise in the sense that film in America was the object of negative reviews, especially those related to film story being about "gay statutory rape" (sic). Sigh.

Then, under group standards believe voting was "fast" as only took five-and-a-half hours and I recall voting for longer than six hours, lol.  Still was too-long for me to follow live.

Most interesting were the awards given to female actors as it's great to see outstanding Sally Hawkins being honored as she has had many-many great performances along her career and Laurie Metcalf being recognized for her work in the big screen.

No doubt that group liked Guadagnino's film but thanks to them Guillermo del Toro's latest film has been put in the awards race.  Notorious is how once again the west coast film critics honors differ from their colleagues in the east coast as basically agree in documentary and foreign-language film, in both actors categories and nothing else.  Can't wait for other film critics groups to announce their awards as can't see yet a clear trend among this influential group of people surrounding the film industry.

Group gives many awards and what is worth noting in this edition is the fact that winners are spread among many films and when also consider runner-ups the amount of films get larger, which only confirms that this awards season will be hard to predict and probably will honor more films than in previous years.  Also remarkable in this group is to notice that there are many independent film, more than studio films, which makes me wonder what could happen with the Oscars, would they remain loyal to studios or will they skew to independent?  In about a month we will know.

The 2017 Winners

Best Picture: Call Me by Your Name
Runner-up: The Florida Project

Best Animation: The Breadwinner
Runner-up: Coco

Best Documentary/Non-Fiction Film:  Faces Places
Runner-up: Jane

Best Foreign-Language Film: (tie)
BPM (Beats Per Minute
Loveless

Best Director (tie)
Guillermo del Toro for The Shape of Water
Luca Guadagnino for Call Me by Your Name

Best Actress: Sally Hawkins in The Shape of Water
Runner-up: Frances Mcdormand in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Best Supporting Actress: Laurie Metcalf in Lady Bird
Runner-up: Mary J. Blige in Mudbound

Best Actor: Timothee Chalamet in Call Me by Your Name
Runner-up: James Franco in The Disaster Artist

Best Supporting Actor: Willem Dafoe in The Florida Project
Runner-up: Sam Rockwell in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Best Screenplay: Jordan Peele for Get Out
Runner-up: Martin Mcdonagh for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Best Cinematography: Dan Lauster for The Shape of Water
Runner-up: Roger Deakins for Blade Runner

Best Production Design: Dennis Gassner for Blade Runner
Runner-up: Paul D. Austerberry for The Shape of Water

Best Editing:  Lee Smith for Dunkirk
Runner-up: Tatiana S. Riegel for I Tonya

Best Music Score: Jonny Greenwood for Phantom Thread
Runner-up: Alexandre Desplat for The Shape of Water

Douglas Edwards Independent/Experimental Film/Video:  Lee Anne Schmitt for Purge This Land

New Generation: Greta Gerwig
Career Achievement: Max Von Sydow

To check winners at official site go here.

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2017 New York Film Critics Circle Awards Winners

Early today the east coast group started to vote for their annual winners and seems that there is no visible trend from an independent film award and the two major film critics, as for example Best Film category in Gotham went to Call Me by Your Name, in NBR to The Post and the NYFCC to Lady Bird.  There are high probabilities current award season will be interesting and perhaps even unpredictable which makes all exercises a lot more fun.

The NYFCC also announced that this year's ceremony will be dedicated to the memory of late film critic, filmmaker and author Richard Schickel.  The awards will be handed out in New York in January.

In previous years the call-by-many "harbingers of the Oscars nominations" score have been on the lower side but last year score was on the positive side with La La Land, Moonlight and Manchester by the Sea got top and many awards.  So, if this year group repeats, Lady Bird, The Florida Project and Call Me By Your Name could get nominations.

My most expected win in the current award season was finally honored by this group, I really hope Faces Places run to finish line ends with Oscar for Best Documentary and I'm not alone as many in both side of the ocean are hoping for the honor that will give Agnes Varda the second Oscar in the same year.

The Winners. To check winners at official site go here.

Best Picture: Lady Bird
Best Animated Film: Coco
Best Non-Fiction Film: Faces Places
Best Foreign Language Film: BPM (Beats Per Minute)
Best First Film: Get Out

Best Director: Sean Baker for The Florida Project

Best Actress: Saoirse Ronan in Lady Bird
Best Supporting Actress: Tiffany Haddish in Girls Trip
Best Actor: Timothee Chalamet in Call Me by Your Name
Best Supporting Actor: Willem Dafoe in The Florida Project

Best Screenplay: Paul Thomas Anderson for Phantom Thread
Best Cinematographer: Rachel Morrison for Mudbound

Career Achievement Special Award: Molly Haskell

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2017 Film Critics Awards

Today, November 29 the post becomes alive again and activity will become intense until a week before Christmas when will quiet a bit with January activity will gain full force to end quietly around the first weeks of February 2018.

---///---
10/7/17
The annual film critics awards post starts today.  Now all the fuzz and buzz about #Oscars2018 foreign-language submissions is over and it's time to start with all the fuzz and buzz from film critics that always gives you a better idea about the films that could win nominations and the one that will collect the award.  Yes, we know that not very often great films win AMPAS accolades, so IF we wish to guess right on the Oscars office pool or any of the many online polls -some with good prices- then here will find info for better guessing.  Enjoy!

Post will be a work in progress until the last critics group announces their winner which will happen in early February 2018.

Most critics' groups are American but you will also find groups from Canada, Ireland and UK -if info becomes available online.  This year will include again the FIPRESCI Grand Prix, an award voted by film critics from all over the world.  As in previous years' posts will publish link to read all the 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 critics info in one post, is the summary for major film critics' groups; each major group has a post in blog.

By now most know that announced or estimated date for each critics' group announcement is in blog's 2017/2018 Key Dates Calendar.  Most dates come from group official site while some estimates come from industry sources.

Major Critics' Groups

FIPRESCI
2017 Grand Prix: Toivon Tuolla Puolen  (The Other Side of Hope) by Aki Kaurismäki

Cahiers du Cinéma (CdC)
Top Ten List: Official Site
No.1 Film: Twin Peaks by David Lynch

Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA)
Official Site
Winners:  Post Official Site
Best Film: Call Me by Your Name
Best Director: tie
Guillermo del Toro for The Shape of Water
Luca Guadagningo for Call Me by Your Name
Best Actress: Sally Hawkins in The Shape of Water
Best Actor: Timothee Chalamet in Call Me by Your Name
Best Documentary: Faces Places

Critics' Choice Movie Awards (BFCA)
Official Site
Nominations: Official Site Post
Winners: Feature Films Documentary Post
Best Film: The Shape of Water
Best Director: Guillermo del Toro for The Shape of Water
Best Actress: Frances McDormand in Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri
Best Actor: Gary Oldman in Darkest Hour
Best Documentary: Jane

Golden Globe Awards (HFPA)
Official Site
Nominations: Official Site  Post
Winners: Official Site Post
Best Film:
Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri
Lady Bird
Best Director: Guillermo del Toro for The Shape of Water
Best Actress
Frances McDormand in Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri
Saoirse Ronan in Lady Bird
Best Actor
Gary Oldman in Darkest Hour
James Franco in the Disaster Artist
Best Documentary: N/A

International Press Academy (Satellite Awards) (IPA) - Due to many "tie" not added to tally.
Official Site
Nominations:  Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: (tie)
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
God's Own Country
Best Director: Jordan Peele for Get Out
Best Actress: (tie)
Sally Hawkins in The Shape of Water
Diane Kruger in In the Fade
Best Actor: (tie)
Gary Oldman in Darkest Hour
Harry Dean Stanton in Lucky
Best Documentary: Chasing Coral

National Board of Review (NBR)
Official Site
Winners: Post Official Site
Best Film: The Post
Best Director: Greta Gerwig for Lady Bird
Best Actress: Meryl Streep in The Post
Best Actor: Tom Hanks in The Post
Best Documentary: Jane

New York Film Critics Circle (NYFCC)
Official Site
Winners:  Post Official Site
Best Film: Lady Bird
Best Director: Sean Baker for The Florida Project
Best Actress: Saoirse Ronan in Lady Bird
Best Actor: Timothee Chalamet in Call Me by Your Name
Best Documentary: Faces Places

The List

African-American Film Critics Association (AAFCA)
Official Site
Winners: Article
Best Film: Get Out
Best Director: Jordan Peele for Get Out
Best Actress: Frances McDormand in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Best Actor: Daniel Kaluuya in Get Out
Best Documentary: Step

Alliance of Women Film Journalists (EDA Awards) (AWFJ)
Official Site
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: The Shape of Water
Best Director: Guillermo del Toro for The Shape of Water
Best Actress: Frances McDormand in Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri
Best Actor: Gary Oldman in Darkest Hour
Best Documentary: Faces Places

Atlanta Film Critics Circle (AFCC)
Official Site
Winners: Article
Best Film: Get Out
Best Director: Christopher Nolan for Dunkirk
Best Actress: Sally Hawinks in The Shape of Water
Best Actor: Thimothee Chalamet in Call Me by Your Name
Best Documentary: (tie)
Jane
Kedi

Austin Film Critics Association (AFCA)
Official Site
Nominations: Official Twitter
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: Get Out
Best Director: Guillermo del Toro for The Shape of Water
Best Actress: Frances McDormand in Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri
Best Actor: Timothee Chalamet in Call Me by Your Name
Best Documentary: Faces Places

Black Film Critics Circle (BFCC)
facebook
Winners: Article
Best Film: Mudbound
Best Director: Jordan Peele for Get Out
Best Actress: Frances McDormand in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Best Actor: Gary Oldman in Darkest Hour
Best Documentary: Strong Island

Boston Society of Film Critics (BSFC)
Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: Phantom Thread
Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson for Phantom Thread
Best Actress: Sally Hawkins in The Shape of Water
Best Actor: Daniel Kaluuya in Get Out
Best Documentary: Dawson City: Frozen Time

Boston Online Film Critics Association (BOFCA)
Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: Get Out
Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson for Phantom Thread
Best Actress: Frances McDormand in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Best Actor: Thimothee Chalamet in Call Me by Your Name
Best Documentary: Faces Places

Central Ohio Film Critics Association (COFCA)
Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: Lady Bird
Best Director: Greta Gerwig for Lady Bird
Best Actress: Sally Hawkins in The Shape of Water
Best Actor: Gary Oldman in Darkest Hour
Best Documentary: Faces Places

Chicago Film Critics Association (CFCA)
Official Site
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: Lady bird
Best Director: Christopher Nolan for Dunkirk
Best Actress: Saoirse Ronan in Lady Bird
Best Actor: Timothee Chalamet in Call Me by Your Name
Best Documentary: Jane

Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle (CIFCC)
Official Site
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: Lady Bird
Best Director: Jordan Peele for Get Out
Best Actress: Saoirse Ronan in Lady Bird
Best Actor: tie
Daniel Kaluuya in Get Out
Gary Oldman in Darkest Hour
Best Documentary: Faces Places

Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association (DFWFCA)
Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: The Shape of Water
Best Director: Guillermo del Toro for The Shape of Water
Best Actress: Sally Hawkins in The Shape of Water
Best Actor: Gary Oldman in Darkest Hour
Best Documentary: City of Ghosts

Denver Film Critics Society (DFCS1)
Official Site
Nominations: Article
Winners: Article
Best Film: Lady Bird
Best Director: Christopher Nolan for Dunkirk
Best Actress: Saoirse Ronan in Lady Bird
Best Actor: Gary Oldman in Darkest Hour
Best Documentary: Faces Places

Detroit Film Critics Society (DFCS2)
Official Site
Nominations: Official Site
Winners:  Official Site
Best Film: The Florida Project
Best Director: Sean Baker for The Florida Project
Best Actress: Frances McDormand in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Best Actor: James Franco in The Disaster Artist
Best Documentary: Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond

Dublin Film Critics Circle (DFCC) - for info only, not added to tally
Winners: Article
Best Film: Dunkirk
Best Director: Christopher Noland for Dunkirk
Best Actress: tie
Natalie Portman in Jackie
Isabelle Huppert in Elle
Best Actor: James Franco in The Disaster Artist
Best Documentary: The Farthest

Entertainment Weekly (EW)
2017 List: Article
Best Film: Dunkirk

Filmcomment Film Society of Lincoln Center (FFSLC)
Official Site
Best films of 2017: Article
Best Film: Good Times

Florida Film Critics Circle (FFCC)
Official Site
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: Dunkirk
Best Director: Christopher Nolan for Dunkirk
Best Actress: Margot Robbie in I, Tonya
Best Actor: Timothee Chalamet in Call Me by Your Name
Best Documentary: Jane

Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association (Dorian Awards) (GALECA)
Official Site
Nominations: Article
Winners: Article
Best Film: Call Me by Your Name
Best Director: Greta Gerwig for Lady Bird
Best Actress: Sally Hawkins in The Shape of Water
Best Actor: Timothee Chalamet in Call Me by Your Name
Best Documentary: Faces Places

Georgia Film Critics Association (GAFCA)
Official Site
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: Lady Bird
Best Director: Greta Gerwig for Lady Bird
Best Actress: Saoirse Ronan in Lady Bird
Best Actor: Daniel Kaluuya in Get Out
Best Documentary: Jane

The Guardian UK Top 10 films (TGUS and TGUK)
Official Site
Best Film US 2017: Call Me By Your Name
Best Film UK 2017: Call Me By Your Name

The Houston Film Critics Society (HFCS)
facebook
Nominations: facebook post
Winners: Article
Best Film: Lady Bird
Best Director: Greta Gerwig for Lady Bird
Best Actress: Sally Hawkins in The Shape of Water
Best Actor: James Franco in The Disaster Artist
Best Documentary: Jane

Indiana Film Journalist Association (IFJA)
Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: Lady Bird
Best Director: Greta Gerwig for Lady Bird
Best Actress: Saoirse Ronan in Lady Bird
Best Actor: Harry Dean Stanton in Lucky
Best Documentary: Let It Fall: Los Angeles 1982-1992

Indiewire Annual Critics Survey Voted by over 200 individuals (IW)
Official Site
Best Films and Performances: Official Site
Best Film: Get Out

Iowa Film Critics Association (IFCA)
Winners: Article
Best Film: Lady Bird
Best Director: Greta Gerwig for Lady Bird
Best Actress: Saoirse Ronan in Lady Bird
Best Actor: Gary Oldman in Darkest Hour
Best Documentary: Jane

Kansas City Film Critics Circle (KCFCC)
Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: Get Out
Best Director: Guillermo del Toro for The Shape of Water
Best Actress: Sally Hawkins in The Shape of Water
Best Actor: Timothee Chalamet in Call Me by Your Name
Best Documentary: Jane

Las Vegas Film Critics Society (LVFCS)
Official Site
Winners: Official Twitter
Best Film: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Best Director: Guillermo del Toro for The Shahpe of Water
Best Actress: Frances McDormand in Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri
Best Actor: Daniel Kaluuya in Get Out
Best Documentary: Jane

Los Angeles Online Film Critics Society (LAOFCS)
Official Site
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: The Shape of Water
Best Director: two awards
Guillermo del Toro for The Shape of Water
Greta Gerwig for Lady Bird
Best Actress: Sally Hawkins in The Shape of Water
Best Actor: Gary Oldman in Darkest Hour
Best Documentary: tie
Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond
Jane

London Film Critics Circle (LFCC)
Official Site
Nominations:  Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri
Best Director: Sean Baker for The Florida Project
Best Actress: Frances McDormand in Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri
Best Actor: Timothee Chalamet in Call Me by Your Name
Best Documentary: I Am Not Your Negro

Miami Film Awards (MFA)
Winners: Article
Best Film: Get Out
Best Director: Greta Gerwig for Lady Bird
Best Actress: Saoirse Ronan in Lady Bird
Best Actor: Timothee Chalamet in Call Me by Your Name
Best Documentary: N/A

National Society of Film Critics (NSFC)
Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: Lady Bird
Best Director: Greta Gerwig for Lardy Bird
Best Actress: Sally Hawkins in The Shape of Water
Best Actor:  Daniel Kaluuya in Get Out
Best Documentary: Faces Places

Nevada Film Critics Society (NFCS)
Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Best Director: Guillermo del Toro for The Shape of Water
Best Actress: Sally Hawkins in The Shape of Water
Best Actor: tie
Gary Oldman in Darkest Hour
James Franco in The Disaster Artist
Best Documentary: Jane

New Mexico Film Critics (NMXFC)
Official Site
Winners: Official Twitter
Best Film: Blade Runner 2049
Best Director: Greta Gerwig for Lady Bird
Best Actress: Jennifer Lawrence in Mother!
Best Actor: Sam Elliott in The Hero
Best Documentary: City of Ghosts

New York Film Critics Online (NYFCO)
Official Site
Winners:  Official Site
Best Film: tie
The Florida Project
Mudbound
Best Director: Dee Rees for Mudboud
Best Actress: Margot Robbie in I, Tonya
Best Actor: Gary Oldman in Darkest Hour
Best Documentary: Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story

North Carolina Film Critics Association (NCFCA)
Official Site
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: Get Out
Best Director: Jordan Peele for Get Out
Best Actress: Sally Hawkins in The Shape of Water
Best Actor: Gary Oldman in Darkest Hour
Best Documentary: Kedi

North Texas Film Critics Association (NTFCA)
facebook
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: The Post
Best Director: Guillermo del Toro for The Shape of Water
Best Actress: Frances McDormand in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Best Actor: Gary Oldman in Darkest Hour
Best Documentary: Jane

Oklahoma Film Critics Circle (OFCC)
Official Site Facebook
Winners: Official Twitter
Best Film: Get Out
Best Director: Jordan Peele for Get Out
Best Actress: Sally Hawkins in The Shape of Water
Best Actor: Gary Oldman in Darkest Hour
Best Documentary: Oklahoma City

Online Film Critics Society (OFCS)
Official Site
Nominations:  Official Site
Winners:  Official Site
Best Film: Get Out
Best Director: Christopher Nolan for Dunkirk
Best Actress: Sally Hawkins in The Shape of Water
Best Actor: Gary Oldman in Darkest Hour
Best Documentary: Faces Places

Philadelphia Film Critics Circle (PFCC)
Official Site
Winners: Official Twitter
Best Film: Get Out
Best Director: Jordan Peele for Get Out
Best Actress: Sally Hawkins in The Shape of Water
Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis in Phantom
Best Documentary: Jane

Phoenix Critics Circle (PCC)
Official Site
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: tie
The Shape of Water
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Best Director: Christopher Nolan for Dunkirk
Best Actress: tie
Sally Hawkins in The Shape of Water
Frances McDormand in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Best Actor: Timothee Chalamet in Call Me by Your Name
Best Documentary: City of Ghosts

Phoenix Film Critics Society (PFCS)
Official Site
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: The Shape of Water
Best Director: Guillermo del Toro for The Shape of Water
Best Actress: Frances McDormand in Three Billboarads Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Best Actor: Gary Oldman in Darkest Hour
Best Documentary: City of Ghosts

RollingStone Magazine (RS)
Article in Magazine: Official Site
Best Film: Dunkirk

St. Louis Film Critics Association (StLFCA)
Official Site
Nominations: Article
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: The Shape of Water
Best Director: Guillermo del Toro for The Shape of Water
Best Actress: Frances McDormand in Three Billboard Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Best Actor: Gary Oldman in Darkest Hour
Best Documentary: Jane

San Diego Film Critics Society (SDFCS)
Official Site
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: Get Out
Best Director: Greta Gerwig for Lady Bird
Best Actress: Sally Hawkins in Maudie
Best Actor: James McAvoy in Split
Best Documentary: Jane

San Francisco Film Critics Circle (SFFCC)
Official Site
Nominations:  facebook
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: The Florida Project
Best Director: Guillermo del Toro for The Shape of Water
Best Actress: Margot Robbie in I, Tonya
Best Actor: Andy Serkis in War for the Planet of the Apes
Best Documentary: Faces Places

ScreenDaily UK Magazine (SD)
Article in Magazine:  Official Site

Seattle Film Critics Society (SFCS)
Official Site
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: Get Out
Best Director: Christopher Nolan
Best Actress: Saoirse Ronan in Lady Bird
Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis in Phantom Thread
Best Documentary: Faces Places

Sight&Sound Film Magazine (188 International Critics) (S&S)
Best Films of 2017:  Official Site
Number 1 Film: Get Out

Southeastern Film Critics Association (SEFCA)
Official Site Awards Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: Get Out
Best Director: Guillermo del Toro for The Shape of Water
Best Actress: Sally Hawkins in The Shape of Water
Best Actor: Gary Oldman in Darkest Hour
Best Documentary: Jane

Toronto Film Critics Association (TFCA)
Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: The Florida Project
Best Director: Great Gerwig for Lady Bird
Best Actress: Frances McDormand in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis in Phantom Thread
Best Documentary: Faces Places

Utah Film Critics Association (UFCA)
Nominations: Article
Winners: Article
Best Film: A Ghost Story
Best Director: Christopher Nolan for Dunkirk
Best Actress: Sally Hawkins in The Shape of Water
Best Actor: Andy Serkis in War for the Planet of the Apes
Best Documentary: Jane

Vancouver Film Critics Circle (VFCC)
Official Site
Nominations: Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: Lady Bird
Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson for Phantom Thread
Best Actress: Saoirse Ronan in Lady Bird
Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis in Phantom Thread
Best Documentary: Ex Libris: The New York Public Library

Variety Film Critics Poll (VFCP)
Official Site

The Village Voice Critics Poll (TVVC)
Official Site

The Washington DC Area Film Critics (WAFCA)
Official Site
Nominations:  Official Site
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: Get Out
Best Director: Christopher Nolan for Dunkirk
Best Actress: Frances McDormand in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Best Actor: Gary Oldman in Darkest Hour
Best Documentary: Jane

Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC)
Official Site
Nominations:  Article
Winners: Official Site
Best Film: Lady Bird
Best Director: N/A
Best Actress: Frances McDormand in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Best Actor: Gary Oldman in Darkest Hour
Best Documentary: tie
Jane
Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story

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
16- Get Out (S&S, WAFCA, BOFCA, PFCC, AFCC, SDFCS, AAFCA, KCFCC, SFCS, SEFCA, IW, OFCS, MFA, OFCC, NCFCA, AFCA)
13- Lady Bird (NYFCC, CFCA, VFCC, IFJA, WFCC, CIFCC, NSFC, COFCA, HFCS, HFPA, IFCA, GAFCA, DFCS1)
7- The Shape of Water (DFWFCA, StLFCA, PCC, LAOFCS, PFCS, AWFJ, BFCA)
5- Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (PCC, LVFCS, NFCS, HFPA, LFCC)
4- The Florida Project (DFCS2, TFCA, SFFCC, NYFCO) 
4- Call Me by Your Name (LAFCA, TGUK, TGUS, GALECA)
3- Dunkirk (RS, FFCC, EW) 
2- The Post (NBR, NTFCA)
2- Mudbound (NYFCO, BFCC)
1- Twin Peaks (CdC)
1- Phantom Thread (BSFC)
1- Blade Runner 2049 (NMXFC)
1- Good Times (FFSLC)
1- A Ghost Story (UFCA)

Best Director
15- Guillermo del Toro (LAFCA, SFFCC, DFWFCA, StLFCA, KCFCC, LVFCS, SEFCA, NTFCA, LAOFCS, NFCS, PFCS, AFCA, HFPA, AWFJ, BFCA)
13- Greta Gerwig (NBR, TFCA, NMXFC, SDFCS, LAOFCS, IFJA, MFA, NSFC, COFCA, HFCS, IFCA, GAFCA, GALECA)
9- Christopher Nolan (WAFCA, AFCC, CFCA, UFCA, PCC,  SFCS, FFCC, OFCS, DFCS1)
6- Jordan Peele (PFCC, AAFCA, BFCC, CIFCC, OFCC, NCFCA) 
3- Paul Thomas Anderson (BOFCA, BSFC, VFCC) 
3- Sean Baker (NYFCC, DFCS2, LFCC)
1- Luca Guadagnino (LAFCA)
1- Dee Rees (NYFCO)

Best Actress
18- Sally Hawkins (LAFCA, BSFC, PFCC, AFCC, DFWFCA, KCFCC, UFCA, PCC, SEFCA, LAOFCS, NFCS, OFCS, OFCC, NCFCA, NSFC, COFCA, HFCS, GALECA) 
17- Frances McDormand (DFCS2, WAFCA, BOFCA, TFCA, AAFCA, StLFCA, PCC, LVFCS, NTFCA, BFCC, PFCS, WFCC, AFCA, HFPA, AWFJ, BFCA, LFCC) 
11- Saoirse Ronan (NYFCC, CFCA, SFCS, VFCC, IFJA, MFA, CIFCC, HFPA, IFCA, GAFCA, DFCS1)
3- Margot Robbie (SFFCC, NYFCO, FFCC)
1- Meryl Streep (NBR)
1- Jennifer Lawrence (NMXFC)
1- Sally Hawkins in Maudie (SDFCS)

Best Actor
21- Gary Oldman (WAFCA, NYFCO, DFWFCA, StLFCA, SEFCA, NTFCA, BFCC, LAOFCS, NFCS, PFCS, WFCC, OFCS, CIFCC, OFCC, NCFCA, COFCA, HFPA, IFCA, AWFJ, BFCA, DFCS1)
12- Timothee Chalamet (NYFCC, LAFCA, BOFCA, AFCC, CFCA, KCFCC, PCC, FFCC, MFA, AFCA, LFCC, GALECA)
6- Daniel Kaluuya (BSFC, AAFCA, LVFCS, CIFCC, NSFC, GAFCA)  
4- Daniel Day-Lewis (TFCA, PFCC, SFCS, VFCC)
4- James Franco (DFCS2, NFCS, HFCS, HFPA)  
2- Andy Serkis (SFFCC, UFCA)
1- Tom Hanks (NBR)
1- Sam Elliot (NMXFC)
1- James McAvoy (SDFCS)
1- Harry Dean Stanton (IFJA)

Best Documentary
21- Jane (NBR, WAFCA, PFCC, AFCC, SDFCS, CFCA, StLFCA, KCFCC, UFCA, PCC, LVFCS, SEFCA, NTFCA, LAOFCS, FFCC, NFCS, WFCC, HFCS, IFCA, BFCA, GAFCA)
14- Faces Places (NYFCC, LAFCA, BOFCA, TFCA, SFFCC, SFCS, OFCS, CIFCC, NSFC, COFCA, AFCA, AWFJ, DFCS1, GALECA)
3- City of Ghosts (NMXFC, DFWFCA, PFCS)
2- Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond (DFCS2, LAOFCS)
2- Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story (NYFCO, WFCC)
2- Kedi (AFCC, NCFCA)
1- Dawson City: Frozen Time (BSFC)
1- Step (AAFCA)
1- Ex Libris: The New York Public Library (VFCC)
1- Strong Island (BFCC)
1- Let It Fall: Los Angeles 1982-1992 (IFJA)
1- Oklahoma City (OFCC)
1- I Am Not Your Negro (LFCC)

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