Movie News: AFCA Announces Its Film Awards for 2014

‘BOYHOOD’ IS AUSTIN FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION FAVORITE IN 2014

The Austin Film Critics Association (AFCA) announced its 2014 awards today, with Austin filmmaker Richard Linklater’s feature “Boyhood” winning Best Film, Best Director, and two other awards, as well as leading the group’s Top Ten list. “Nightcrawler,” “Birdman” and “Gone Girl” also won multiple awards this year.

“Boyhood” also took home the Best Supporting Actress award for Patricia Arquette and the Austin Film Award, for movies shot by local filmmakers. “Boyhood” is the fifth film directed by Linklater to win the Austin Film Award.

The Central Texas-shot “Joe” was also recognized with a special award for the late Gary Poulter, for his outstanding performance in the film.

“Nightcrawler” was also a favorite, taking home three awards. Jake Gyllenhaal won Best Actor, and writer-director Dan Gilroy was honored with both Best Original Screenplay and Best First Film. The movie was #6 on the AFCA Top Ten list.

“Birdman,” which was #4 on the Top Ten list, took home Best Cinematography, by Emmanuel Lubezki, and Best Score, by first-time film composer Antonio Sanchez.

For “Gone Girl,” Rosamund Pike received Best Actress, and Gillian Flynn, adapting her novel, earned the film Best Adapted Screenplay.

Filmmaker Jennifer Kent was honored with the Breakthrough Artist award for her work on the horror film “The Babadook,” which also won four awards at Austin’s Fantastic Fest earlier this year.

“Whiplash,” which ranked #2 on the Top Ten list, was represented by J.K. Simmons, who won Best Supporting Actor. Other winners include “Force Majeure” for Best Foreign-Language Film, “Citizenfour” for Best Documentary, and “The LEGO Movie” for Best Animated Film.

The full list of winners, plus the AFCA Top Ten Films of 2014 list, is included below. You can also find details at the AFCA website, www.austinfilmcritics.org.

The Austin Film Critics Association is a group dedicated to supporting the best in film, whether at the international, national, or local level. AFCA members contribute to publications and outlets as diverse as Ain’t It Cool News, the Austin American-Statesman, the Austin Chronicle, Badass Digest, The Daily Texan, DVDActive, Fandango, Film School Rejects, FirstShowing.net, Gotcha Movies, Hill Country News, Horror’s Not Dead, KOOP Radio, Movies.com, One Of Us, Paste, ScreenCrush, Slackerwood, Smells Like Screen Spirit, and YNN Austin, among others.

Best Film: Boyhood (Richard Linklater)
Best Director: Richard Linklater, Boyhood
Best Actor: Jake Gyllenhaal, Nightcrawler
Best Actress: Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl
Best Supporting Actor: J.K. Simmons, Whiplash
Best Supporting Actress: Patricia Arquette, Boyhood
Best Original Screenplay: Dan Gilroy, Nightcrawler
Best Adapted Screenplay: Gillian Flynn, Gone Girl
Best Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki, Birdman
Best Score: Antonio Sanchez, Birdman
Best Foreign-Language Film: Force Majeure (Ruben Östlund)
Best Documentary: Citizenfour (Laura Poitras)
Best Animated Film: The LEGO Movie (Phil Lord, Christopher Miller)
Best First Film: Nightcrawler (Dan Gilroy)
Breakthrough Artist: Jennifer Kent, The Babadook
Best Austin Film: Boyhood (Richard Linklater)
Special Honorary Award: Gary Poulter, for his outstanding performance in Joe

AFCA 2014 Top Ten Films:

1. Boyhood
2. Whiplash
3. The Grand Budapest Hotel
4. Birdman
5. Snowpiercer
6. Nightcrawler
7. Selma
8. The Imitation Game
9. TIE: Inherent Vice and Gone Girl

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