Culture

Improvised road movie Nomadland wins Best Film at 41st London Critics’ Circle Film Awards

Nomadland has been named Best Film of 2020 at the 41st London Critics’ Circle Film Awards.

The semi-improvised American road movie also saw lead Frances McDormand named Actress of the Year, while writer-director Chloé Zhao won Screenwriter of the Year. 

British dramatic horror Saint Maud won three awards: British/Irish Film of the Year, British/Irish Actress of the Year for Morfydd Clark, and Breakthrough British/Irish Filmmaker for writer-director Rose Glass.

Double winners included Sarah Gavron’s London coming-of-age drama Rocks, with lead actress Bukky Bakray named Young British/Irish Performer of the Year and Lucy Pardee given the Technical Achievement Award for casting. Steve McQueen was presented with Director of the Year for his five Small Axe films, while Shaun Parkes won Supporting Actor of the Year for the first drama in the collection, Mangrove

Riz Ahmed was named British/Irish Actor of the Year for Sound of Metal and Mogul Mowgli. And the short that Ahmed wrote, produced and starred in, The Long Goodbye directed by Aniel Karia, was named British/Irish Short Film of the Year.

The late Chadwick Boseman won Actor of the Year for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, his award accepted in a video message from co-star Coleman Domingo. Maria Bakalova also appeared virtually to accept Supporting Actress of the Year for Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

In addition, Alexander Nanau’s journalistic documentary Collective won Documentary of the Year, while Thomas Vinterberg’s black comedy Another Round was named Foreign-Language Film of the Year.

The late Chadwick Boseman won Actor of the Year for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, his award accepted in a video message from co-star Coleman Domingo…

“As always, the critics have spread the love around among a range of films this year, particularly recognising female filmmakers and a diverse range of talent both behind and in front of the cameras,” said Film Section Chair Rich Cline. “This year, our 160 members watched an unusually large number of films, both theatrical and streaming releases, and they’ve sifted out the best of the best for our awards. We look forward to holding a party in-person, and of course getting back into cinemas, as soon as it’s safe to do so.”

The event was held on the Critics’ Circle’s YouTube channel for the first time, with awards presented by member critics who serve on the event’s organising committee and acceptance videos from almost all of the winners. An in-person celebration with nominees and winners is planned for later in the year along with long-time sponsors The May Fair Hotel and Audi.

London Critics’ Circle Film Awards 2020 – full winners list

Film of the Year
Nomadland

Foreign language Film of the Year
Another Round

Documentary of the Year
Collective

The Attenborough Award: British/Irish Film of The Year
Saint Maud

Director of the Year
Steve McQueen – Small Axe

Screenwriter of the Year
Chloé Zhao – Nomadland

Actress of the Year
Frances McDormand – Nomadland

Actor of the Year
Chadwick Boseman – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Supporting Actress of the Year
Maria Bakalova – Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

Supporting Actor of the Year
Shaun Parkes – Mangrove

British /Irish Actress of the Year (for body of work)
Morfydd Clark – Eternal Beauty, Saint Maud

British Irish Actor of the Year (for body of work)
Riz Ahmed – Mogul Mowgli, Sound of Metal

The Philip French Award: Breakthrough British/Irish Filmmaker 
Rose Glass – Saint Maud

YoungBritish /Irish Performer  
Bukky Bakray – Rocks

British /Irish Short Film
The Long Goodbye

Technical Achievement
Rocks – Lucy Pardee, casting

Established in 1913, the Critics’ Circle is the oldest organisation of its kind in the world, with more than 400 members who work in the UK media as critics of art and architecture, books, dance, drama, film, and music.

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