OUTSTANDING LEADING ACTRESS

Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp in "WICKED"

Marianne Jean-Baptiste as Pansy in "HARD TRUTHS"

Kani Kusruti as Prabha in "ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT"

Saoirse Ronan as Rona in "THE OUTRUN"

Fernanda Torres as Eunice Paiva in "I'M STILL HERE"

AND THE WINNER:

MARIANNE JEAN-BAPTISTE AS PANSY IN "HARD TRUTHS"

This is the first win and fourth nomination for Marianne Jean-Baptiste. She was previously nominated indiviually and with the ensemble of Secrets & Lies (1996). She also received a nomination alongside the ensemble of Hard Truths (2024). She wins for her performance as Pansy in Hard Truths.

If you had told me at the beginning of 2024 that Marianne Jean-Baptiste reuniting on film with director Mike Leigh after their last collaboration thirty years prior would be my winning performance for leading actress honestly I would've understood. I mean earlier this year I even tweeted that Marianne's performance was the one I was most looking forward to and once I saw the film at the BFI London Film Festival I could not think of anyone but Marianne being my leading actress choice.

It truly is impressive of Marianne as Pansy managed to give both the most dramatic and humorous performance of the year nailing all the comic lines of dialogue early on and absolutely selling the fall into sadness so well. I do not know how anyone who has seen Hard Truths could not just proclaim MJB as having delivered the finest performance of the year regardless of genre, gender or size of part. She is a powerful force as Pansy from the very beginning playing this deeply flawed woman so fiercely. I don't think I'm soon to forget her tough interactions with basically other characters and while I say this I do love this character especially when we later understand how hurt she is by many other forces in her world.

It is such a pleasure to see Mike Leigh give Marianne this moment to shine as she sat and allowed Brenda Blethyn her Secrets & Lies co-star to play the flashier part thirty years earlier. I do expect to watch this film countless more times throughout my life as I appreciate this performance so much and believe to be among the centuries greatest.

OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR

Mati Diop for Dahomey

Coralie Fargeat for The Substance

Luca Guadagnino for Challengers

Payal Kapadia for All We Imagine as Light

Jane Schoenbrun for I Saw the TV Glow

AND THE WINNER:

CORALIE FARGEAT FOR THE SUBSTANCE

This is the first win and third nomination for Coralie Fargeat. She was also nominated this year for screenwriting and editing The Substance (2024).

Since seeing The Substance for the first time at the Cannes Film Festival in May of this year I knew this film was something special and just watching the film go from win to win in the months that passed between then and now has been such a delight to witness. Coralie Fargeat was a director whose first film I saw a few years ago and enjoyed absolutely blew away any expectations I might've had from her to make something so fabulous.

Fargeat and her whole team were clearly unafraid to embrace gore, outlandishness and just overall embracing excess. Fargeat has established herself as a director to watch and truly the film was made so fantastically that I look forward to watching whatever she will do next. I almost don't want to describe what makes Fargeat's director so great especially for those who've not seen the film. I just recommend watching the film because it is a wild ride and sure to be one of the major titles most associated with the film year of 2024.

OUTSTANDING LEADING ACTOR

Colman Domingo as John "Divine G" Whitfield in "SING SING"

André Holland as Tarrell in "EXHIBITING FORGIVENESS"

Keith Kupferer as Dan Mueller in "GHOSTLIGHT"

Josh O'Connor as Patrick Zweig in "CHALLENGERS"

Justice Smith as Owen in "I SAW THE TV GLOW"

AND THE WINNER:

ANDRÉ HOLLAND AS TARRELL IN "EXHIBITING FORGIVENESS"

This is the second win and fourth nomination for André Holland. Holland previously won as part of the ensemble of Moonlight (2016), he was also nominated individually for Moonlight and as part of the ensemble of Selma (2014). He wins for his performance as Tarrell in Exhibiting Forgiveness.

Exhibiting Forgiveness is probably a film title from 2024 not nearly enough people have witnessed because Holland's is that impressive he should've been more in the conversation for best leading male performances of the year. Holland is an actor I've been a longtime fan of most primarily from the two season run of TV series 'The Knick' and of course his charming and disarming performance in 2016's Moonlight.

I have been patiently waiting for more complicated parts for him to play and after a nearly 12 month wait in 2024 once I saw Exhibiting Forgiveness I knew his work was that standout that even with some impressive competition he would be my choice. In the film Holland as Tarrell has to deal with approaching a troubling history while trying to stay in the moment of the present and his handle on this part is so compelling. The deeply upsetting emotions Holland must play are genuinely heartbreaking with myself on the verge of tears in the scenes where Holland played the injured child coming through his adult self opposite his on screen parents. Holland is marvellous opposite each of his co-stars and I truly believe his work deserves great honours that maybe were the title a bit more major he might've been more mentioned throughout the 2024-25 awards season as he deserved to be.

OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL SONG

"El Mal", Emilia Pérez (Music and Lyrics by Clément Ducol, Camille & Jacques Audiard)

"Claw Machine", I Saw the TV Glow (Music and Lyrics by Haley Dahl)

"Sick in the Head", Kneecap (Music and Lyrics by Adrian McLeod, Thomas Mackenzie Bell & Kneecap)

"Blood on White Satin", Smile 2 (Music and Lyrics by Alexis Idarose Kesselman)

"Harper and Will Go West", Will & Harper (Music and Lyrics by Sean Douglas and Kristen Wiig)

AND THE WINNER:

"HARPER AND WILL GO WEST", WILL & HARPER (MUSIC AND LYRICS BY SEAN DOUGLAS AND KRISTEN WIIG)

This is the first win and nomination for Sean Douglas. This is Kristen's second win and fourth nomination. Wiig previously won for screen-writing Bridesmaids (2011) and was also nominated individually and as part of the ensemble for Bridesmaids.

The utter delight that overtakes me whenever I think of the great Netflix documentary is immense. The film itself is such a delightful viewing experience and while it's nominated here for song I have to at least mention the greatness of the film overall.

How this original song written by Wiig and Douglas works in the structure of the documentary is so special having been an in real time request by the titular Will & Harper and while we do not hear the whole song until the closing credits unlike usual thrown in end credits themes this song feels so in conversation with the spirit of the film that occurred previously.

Kristen Wiig is of course one of our great comedic talents yet when she creates art like this song I appreciate her talent even more so as her work contains so much heart will spills out through the catchiness of the song and how good it makes you feel after such a comforting film experience that was the documentary Will & Harper

OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL SCORE

Cristobal Tapia de Veer for Babygirl

Daniel Blumberg for The Brutalist

Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross for Challengers

Alberto Iglesias for The Room Next Door

Raffertie for The Substance

AND THE WINNER:

TRENT REZNOR AND ATTICUS ROSS FOR CHALLENGERS

These are the first wins and third nominations for Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. Reznor and Ross were previously nominated for scoring The Social Network (2010) and The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (2011).

2024 proved to be a pretty incredible year for original music composing yet my choice for best of the year has been clear since I first saw Challengers in May of the year. It's rare even when a score impresses me that music such as the compositions of this film can enter the pop culture and become a piece of music both of the film and of itself. The tech beats really emphasised the face paced nature of the sports match and hotness of the central trio featured in the film.

I have watched the film three times in title and listened to the music separate from the film too and truly this is just a fantastic score that deserves to be one of the great film elements of this past year in cinema.

OUTSTANDING SOUND

John Casali, Paul Cotterell & James Harrison for Blitz

Craig Berkey, Lisa Piñero & Paul Carter for Challengers

Glenn Freemantle, Howard Bargroff & Mary H. Ellis for Civil War

Victor Fleurant & Valérie Deloof for The Substance

Simon Hayes, John Marquis, Andy Nelson & Nancy Nugent Title for Wicked

AND THE WINNER:

GLENN FREEMANTLE, HOWARD BARGROFF & MARY H. ELLIS FOR CIVIL WAR

These are the first wins for Howard Bargroff & Mary H. Ellis. Bargroff was previously nominated for Topsy-Turvy (1999) and Ellis was previously nominated for Baby Driver (2017) & First Man (2018). This is the second win and fifth nomination for Glenn Freemantle. Freemantle won for the sound mixing of Ex Machina (2015). He was also nominated for sound editing Gravity (2013), Ex Machina (2015) & Annihilation (2018).

Civil War is one of those films from earlier in the year that while i didn't outright love there are many incredible moments I think of from the film that have made it a memorable title of this film year. Most impressive was the films sound design which really upped the anti of this thrilling war drama. Whether it was the explosive scenes in Washington D.C. or the more quieter character beats the sound just really assisted in the greatness of the tale.

OUTSTANDING PERFORMER OF THE YEAR

Willem Dafoe (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Kinds of Kindness, Nosferatu, Saturday Night)

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor (The Deliverance, Exhibiting Forgiveness, Nickel Boys)

Margaret Qualley (Drive-Away Dolls, Kinds of Kindness, The Substance)

Jason Schwartzman (Between the Temples, The Last Showgirl, Megalopolis, Queer)

Tilda Swinton (The End, Problemista, The Room Next Door)

AND THE WINNER:

MARGARET QUALLEY (DRIVE-AWAY DOLLS, KINDS OF KINDNESS, THE SUBSTANCE)

Margaret Qualley is an actress who I've been a fan basically since her film and television breakthrough a decade ago and with each new performance I've experienced from her my adoration has grown for her and hopes for wider recognition more hopeful which of course takes me to 2024 which feels like the year Qualley really entered the strathosphere of better actors of her generation.

I will say it took me till January of this year to see Poor Things and while her role is small in that film it is worth noting how impressive I felt she was in the film and certainly acted as a set up for the films starring Qualley that would follow. The first title I saw was Drive-Away Dolls the fun if slightly disappointing Ethan Coen directed feature film. Qualley played Jamie one of the central duo of this crime on the run comedy, Margaret if she weren't so impressive and committed to the part would've made me interest in the film far less than it was.

While not the immediate next film I saw featuring Qualley Kinds of Kindness is the second title I will discuss in regards to Margaret. The film marked her returning to the Yorgos Lanthomis universe having just had a part in Poor Things as I mentioned. Yet again Qualley didn't have the largest part in the film in either of the three mini stories but like with Poor Things whenever she showed up I was invested. I really would've liked to Qualley play leading parts of the film like her co-star Emma Stone because I honestly feel Qualley could've maybe played those parts greater and provided a newer energy for Lanthimos world.

And to finish it off there is The Substance which is sure to be the film most will associate with Margaret Qualley from 2024 and having watched the films multiple times I completely understand as Qualley playing Sue is such a breath taking performance. In the gross body horror drama Qualley in playing the younger version of the shared Elizabeth / Sue gets to have a whole bunch of fun physically whether that be dancing on her television show, owning her space during her time living and even as the horror affects her body it is such an attractive performance that has stayed with me since first seeing the film in May.

Margaret Qualley with these three titles and awards success she has received for them I'm so glad to say has proved herself more than just the daughter of Andie McDowell and an actor whose career should be followed. Of course she has proven herself multiple times on television I mean I myself awarded her two years ago for her leading performance in the miniseries Maid. Qualley just makes interesting choices and I look forward to what she will get up to during the next decade especially of her already incredible career.

OUTSTANDING CINEMATOGRAPHY

Ranabir Das for All We Imagine as Light

Sayombhu Mukdeeprom for Challengers

Michał Dymek for The Girl with the Needle

Dinh Duy Hung for Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell

Jarin Blaschke for Nosferatu

AND THE WINNER:

JARIN BLASCHKE FOR NOSFERATU

This is the first win and second nomination for Jarin Blaschke. Blaschke was previously nominated for The Lighthouse (2019).

Director Robert Eggers continuously working with cinematographer Jarin Blaschke has developed a great body of work that for me culminated with their latest Nosferatu. It was gonna be a difficult task for any DP to step into the world of Nosferatu given how iconic the original 1922 film is yet manage to make a piece of film all their own. There are many incredibly beautiful shots throughout this magnificent drama that I am sure to think about for a very long time.

A herculean task of photography here is how wonderful each the night time shots are and truly many major film makers could learn about lighting as displayed in this drama. The photography really made the film so captivating and a film that I will look forward to revisiting again and again as the years pass. I hope Blaschke and Eggers continue their great film relationship as both bring out the best in one another.

OUTSTANDING DOCUMENTARY

Dahomey (Directed by Mati Diop)

Daughters (Directed by Natalie Rae & Angela Patton)

No Other Land (Directed by Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor)

Sugarcane (Directed by Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie)

Will & Harper (Directed by Josh Greenbaum)

AND THE WINNER:

DAHOMEY (DIRECTED BY MATI DIOP)

This is the first win and nomination for Mati Diop.

2024 yet another impressive year for documentary film making featured many worthy titles I might've nominated in this top five but in the end these five titles are just the ones both story and structure wise I will take from this year when I think of documentary film making.

Mati Diop made such an impression on me five years ago with her feature film directorial debut Atlantics and I had been waiting desperately to witness what she would do next and since hearing of her Berlin winning documentary earlier this year I greatly anticipated it. When finally seeing the film I was majorly impressed by Diop's narrative style returning through the lens of a documentary too.

The film isn't your traditional or expected film without talking heads, interview scenes or just what you'd regularly expect from a documentary. Diop challenges your expectations and does it so impressively with great photography, use of narration to add mystery to the subjects at the centre and just making something so staggering I expect many to discuss the films greatness for decades to come.

OUTSTANDING BREAKTHROUGH/DEBUT

Lily Collias (Good One)

Clarence Maclin (Sing Sing)

Katy O'Brian (Love Lies Bleeding)

Maisy Stella (My Old Ass)

Brandon Wilson (Nickel Boys)

AND THE WINNER:

KATY O'BRIAN (LOVE LIES BLEEDING)

Yes Love Lies Bleeding isn't the first film in Katy O'Brian's career but for me having seen the films and television shows she'd previously starred in I truly believe that her compelling work in Love Lies Bleeding marks a distinct direction change in her career. In the great Rose Glass directed feature she plays Jackie one of the films central couple and truly this is a star making turn. Such a physical performance for O'Brian to play and I'm not just talking about the physical shape she had to get into in playing a body builder but also the experiences her character goes through in the film.

Throw in her fun Twisters supporting turn and 2024 really was a breakthrough year for Katy O'Brian and now I'll look forward to whatever film she stars in next.

OUTSTANDING FILM EDITING

Clément Pinteaux for All We Imagine as Light

Dávid Jancsó for The Brutalist

Marco Costa for Challengers

Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham & Rachel Szor for No Other Land

Coralie Fargeat, Jérôme Eltabet & Valentin Feron for The Substance

AND THE WINNER:

MARCO COSTA FOR CHALLENGERS

This is the first win and nomination for Marco Costa.

I mean similar to the films original score achievement the film editing of Challengers is another impressive film making feat that as soon as I saw the film I knew would be high among my favourite film edited pieces of the year. The film which I have watched multiple times moves so beautifully from each high paced moment to the next and I'll never not think about each cut shot to the next.

The film is high paced throughout and I can only marvel at the brilliance of it's quick and swift film editing.

OUTSTANDING VISUAL EFFECTS

Paul Lambert, Stephen James, Rhys Salcombe & Gerd Nefzer for Dune: Part Two

Andy Williams, Eric Whipp, Dan Bethell & Andrew Jackson for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Mike Cheslik & Jerry Kurek for Hundreds of Beavers

Bryan Jones, Chevin Shafaghi, Pierre Olivier Persin & Jean Miel for The Substance

Pablo Helman, Jonathan Fawkner, Paul Corbould & David Shirk for Wicked

AND THE WINNER:

PAUL LAMBERT, STEPHEN JAMES, RHYS SALCOMBE & GERD NEFZER FOR DUNE: PART TWO

These are the first wins and nominations for Stephen James & Rhys Salcombe. Paul Lambert and Gerd Nefzer previously won for Blade Runner 2049 (2017) & Dune (2021). Lambert was also nominated for First Man (2018).

I mean it's no surprise that the Dune franchise yet again wins my visual effects prize. Say what you will about the franchise one element of this massive production you can never fault is the impressive created effects that enhance this epic story. We shall see what future Dune films compete against but given the quality of both so far a future effects win makes the most sense for this franchise given how strong these first two films have been.

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR

Yura Borisov as Igor in "ANORA"

John Earl Jelks as La'Ron in "EXHIBITING FORGIVENESS"

Clarence "Divine Eye" Maclin as himself in "SING SING"

Adam Pearson as Oswald in "A DIFFERENT MAN"

Richard Roundtree as Ben in "THELMA"

AND THE WINNER:

CLARENCE "DIVINE EYE" MACLIN AS HIMSELF IN "SING SING"

This is the first win and nomination for Clarence "Divine Eye" Maclin. He wins for his performance as himself in Sing Sing.

Ever since seeing Sing Sing I knew it was gonna be pretty difficult for any supporting actor performance to beat Clarence Maclin. This was then confirmed when I revisited the film a few weeks later yet again being impressed by his magnificent heartfelt performance.

In the prison and life drama Maclin plays a version of himself and from the minute he is introduced you the audience become so involved in his simple journey whether that be him discovering his love of theatre as well as reaching his later release from prison by the films end. Maclin doesn't get many overblown dramatic acting moments instead his performance is mostly composed of vibing through the films love for performing that he executes so beautifully.

Maclin being overlooked by the end of awards season this year is gonna upset for me for such a long time as his performance is so expertly delivered and all I can hope is that he will have many more incredible performances like his great turn in Sing Sing.

OUTSTANDING INTERNATIONAL FILM

All We Imagine as Light (Directed by Payal Kapadia)

Dahomey (Directed by Mati Diop)

Flow (Directed by Gints Zilbalodis)

Green Border (Directed by Agnieszka Holland)

I'm Still Here (Directed by Walter Salles)

AND THE WINNER:

ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT (DIRECTED BY PAYAL KAPADIA)

This is the first win and second nomination for Payal Kapadia. She was also nominated for the same films original screenplay.

Similar to my international film choice last year I was lucky enough to see All We Imagine as Light for the first time when I went to the Cannes Film Festival in May of 2024. When I went to Cannes I managed to watch the film twice and having seen the film a third time in November I become more certain in my love of this stunning film. What I find most impressive about this film is how passionate and respectful the film is of it's characters and location that I find so thrilling in the most quiet of ways. Payal Kapadia has instantly jumped up the top of my list of exciting directing talents based solely on this film that I look forward to returning to many times throughout my life.

OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN

Jonathan Anderson for Challengers

Jacqueline West for Dune: Part Two

Massimo Cantini Parrini for Maria

Emmanuelle Youchnowski for The Substance

Paul Tazewell for Wicked

AND THE WINNER:

PAUL TAZEWELL FOR WICKED

This is the second win and nomination for Paul Tazewell. He previously won for costume designing West Side Story (2021).

Adapting Wicked for the cinema screens required a lot of pressure and expectations for all involved yet for me no department but the costume department had more pressure to match the iconicness of the stage show as well as the history of Oz films too. Paul Tazewell had already done wonderful work three years ago on West Side Story another impressive stage to screen adaptation yet with Wicked he managed to even improve upon the spectacle and wonder possible.

He successfully for me created some iconic looks including but not limited to Glinda's entire pink wardrobe both in present and flashback scenes, the interesting structure of Elphaba's black witches hat and the weather inspired gowns worn by Michelle Yeoh's Madame Morrible. Even if some have their issues with the photography of the film I do not see how you could have issues with the scale and great execution of the films costume work.

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION DESIGN

Production Design by Judy Becker; Set Decoration by Patricia Cuccia for The Brutalist

Production Design by Stefano Baisi; Set Decoration by Lorenzo De Cillis & Lisa Scoppa for Queer

Production Design by Inbal Weinberg; Set Decoration by Carlota Casado for The Room Next Door

Production Design by Stanislas Reydellet; Set Decoration by Cécilia Blom, Marion De Villechabrolle, Jacques Oursin & Pierre Strub for The Substance

Production Design by Nathan Crowley; Set Decoration by Lee Sandales for Wicked

AND THE WINNER:

PRODUCTION DESIGN BY JUDY BECKER; SET DECORATION BY PATRICIA CUCCIA FOR THE BRUTALIST

This is the first win and nomination for Patricia Cuccia. Judy Becker receives her second win and fourth nomination. Becker previously won for Carol (2015) and was nominated for I'm Not There (2007) & American Hustle (2013).

When a film is about a craft I find it very difficult not to award anything but that film it that given technical category and this has proven true this year by The Brutalist easily winning my production design award this year. My viewing of The Brutalist came very late in the year but even upon first viewing I was so impressed by the simplistic beauty of each and every set piece of the film.

I mean just thinking of the large scale sets being built throughout and how this was accomplished on such a small budget is an even more impressive craft achievement. Congrats to the team of Judy and Patricia for their shared production design this year.

OUTSTANDING MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING

Christine Blundell, Lesa Warrener, Charmaine Fuller, Mona Turnbull, Chloe Meddings & Susan Cole for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Mike Marino, Sarah Graalman & Aaron Saucier for A Different Man

Marie Deehan for Femme

Stéphanie Guillon & Pierre-Olivier Persin for The Substance

Frances Hannon, Sarah Nuth & Laura Blount for Wicked

AND THE WINNER:

STÉPHANIE GUILLON & PIERRE-OLIVIER PERSIN FOR THE SUBSTANCE

These are the first wins and nominations for Stéphanie Guillon & Pierre-Olivier Persin.

When one thinks about makeup and hairstyling from the film year of 2024 I do not understand how The Substance isn't everyone's choice. Yes the design is flashy given the body horror element of the plot and while those effects are impressive it's the subtle build up to the gore at the end that really sold the design fully for me. When character designs like what is featured in The Substance becomes known in the popular culture then you know the work is standout.

The team behind The Substance should be really proud of themselves for creating some of the great makeup/hairstyling work that I have had the honour to witness in my lifetime.

OUTSTANDING ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Screenplay by Richard Linklater & Glen Powell; Based on "Hit Man" by Skip Hollandsworth, Hit Man

Screenplay by Murilo Hauser & Heitor Lorega; Based on I'm Still Here by Marcelo Rubens Paiva, I'm Still Here

Screenplay by RaMell Ross & Joslyn Barnes; Based on The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead, Nickel Boys

Screenplay by Pedro Almodóvar; Based on What Are You Going Through by Sigrid Nunez, The Room Next Door

Screenplay by Clint Bentley & Greg Kwedar; Story by Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Clarence Maclin & John "Divine G" Whitfield; Based on "The Sing Sing Follies" by John H. Richardson & Breakin' the Mummy's Code by Brent Buell, Sing Sing

AND THE WINNER:

SCREENPLAY BY MURILO HAUSER & HEITOR LOREGA; BASED ON I'M STILL HERE BY MARCELO RUBENS PAIVA, I'M STILL HERE

These are the first wins and nominations for Murilo Hauser & Heitor Lorega.

I'm Still Here is one of the most fantastic international films of 2024 and as the film reaches a wider audience I am grateful that many more are seeing and appreciating the films brilliance. Of course the film is anchored by Fernanda Torres' brilliant performance but there is so much more on top of her great leading turn to appreciate about the film. In specifically speaking of the films screenplay which I am awarding the film for how it handles the passage of time, telling of violent truths and having such distinct chapters to it's story telling is so impressive and I appreciate every element of the film.

The writing team of Hauser & Lorega really did any impressive adaptation here and in a close race between five equally as great screenplays I'm Still Here has come out on top.

OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Payal Kapadia for All We Imagine as Light

Justin Kuritzkes for Challengers

Mike Leigh for Hard Truths

Azazel Jacobs for His Three Daughters

Coralie Fargeat for The Substance

AND THE WINNER:

MIKE LEIGH FOR HARD TRUTHS

This is the first win and fourth nomination for Mike Leigh. He was previously nominated for writing Secrets & Lies (1996), Vera Drake (2004) & Happy-Go-Lucky (2008).

Mike Leigh such a vital and important voice in the history of British cinema is a director/screenwriter who I've loved for basically my whole life of watching great cinema and with his latest Hard Truths this year I am yet again impressed how the director can continue to make such fantastic cinema. When it comes to the screenplay of his films anyone who knows the smallest amount of information about Leigh knows his scripts are developed through rehearsal and character work and with such strong characters in this drama I have to praise the situations and distinct personalities created for this film.

I am not soon to forget about many of the great elements of Hard Truths and not only am I happy to award Leigh for his great screenwriting but also a moment to award such a brilliant film maker whose work when great must always be valued as we never know if the film we are currently watching will be his last.

OUTSTANDING ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

Chicken for Linda! (Directed by Chiara Malta and Sébastien Laudenbach)

Flow (Directed by Gints Zilbalodis)

Memoir of a Snail (Directed by Adam Elliot)

SPY x FAMILY CODE: White (Directed by Takashi Katagiri)

Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (Directed by Nick Park & Merlin Crossingham)

AND THE WINNER:

FLOW (DIRECTED BY GINTS ZIBALODIS)

This is the first win and nomination for director Gints Zibalodis.

Ever since sitting down to watch Flow without any knowledge of what the film was about back in May when I attended Cannes earlier this year when Flow finished I knew it would take another all timer animated feature to dethrone Flown as being my favourite animated film of the year. The film tells the story of a group of animals sort've coming together to survive a world ending flood and without a single word uttered we follow the physical relationships of these bunch of wild animals.

This film was such an emotional experience where these animals became such an odd group of friends and I loved every second of following their journey. The film even with it's world ending event feels so minuscule in the story it is telling and with director Gints Zibalodis it just tells it so strongly that I simply adored every second of this magnificent film. I have watched the film again since and was so glad to be yet entertained by the magnificence of the feature film.

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE OF THE YEAR

Ghostlight (Keith Kupferer, Dolly de Leon, Katherine May Kupferer, Tara Mallen, Hana Dworkin, Tommy Rivera-Vega, Alma Washington, H.B. Ward, Dexter Zollicoffer, Lia Cubilete, Deanna Dunagan, Francis Guinan)

Hard Truths (Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Michele Austin, David Webber, Tuwaine Barrett, Ani Nelson, Sophia Brown, Jonathan Livingstone)

His Three Daughters (Carrie Coon, Natasha Lyonne, Elizabeth Olsen, Rudy Galvan, Jose Febus, Jasmine Bracey, Jay O. Sanders, Jovan Adepo)

The Piano Lesson (John David Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, Ray Fisher, Danielle Deadwyler, Michael Potts, Corey Hawkins, Erykah Badu)

Sing Sing (Colman Domingo, Clarence "Divine Eye" Maclin, Sean San José, Paul Raci, David "Dap" Giraudy, Patrick "Preme" Griffin, Jon-Adrian "JJ" Velazquez, Sean "Dino" Johnson)

AND THE WINNER:

HIS THREE DAUGHTERS (CARRIE COON, NATASHA LYONNE, ELIZABETH OLSEN, RUDY GALVAN, JOSE FEBUS, JASMINE BRACEY, HAY O. SANDERS, JOVAN ODEPO)

When the Independent Spirit Awards announced His Three Daughters had won their Robert Altman award which recognises the work of a films whole ensemble, it's casting director and directing talent I thought what a perfect choice that awards body could've made. As soon as this occurred I knew in that moment that unless a films cast completely blew my expectations that I too would have to award His Three Daughters my ensemble category.

I loved this Azazel Jacobs directed feature especially for it's cast which not only is incredible for the titular three daughters but also for the rest of the cast who appears for far less screen time and still make a lasting impression. In speaking of the central trio Carrie Coon, Natasha Lyonne & Elizabeth I adore all three women and have really struggled to nail down which performance I preferred most which is why this ensemble choice made the most sense. It's a hard task to sell a family relationship yet everyone in this film did so whether it was playing a form of blood family, chosen family or just interacting with other energies in your life.

His Three Daughters is one of my favourite films to be released this year and I look forward to revisiting it to celebrate the brilliance of it's cast.

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Michele Austin as Chantelle in "HARD TRUTHS"

Joan Chen as Chungsing Wang in "DIDI"

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor as Joyce in "EXHIBITING FORGIVENESS"

Sophie Okonedo as Regina in "JANET PLANET"

Jurnee Smollett as Dolores in "WE GROWN NOW"

AND THE WINNER:

JOAN CHEN AS CHUNGSING WANG IN "DIDI"

This is the first win and nomination for Joan Chen. She wins for her performance as Chungsing Wang in Didi.

Honestly speaking making a list of five worthy supporting actress performances proved more difficult then usual this year (goes to show why this awards season so many Leading Actresses are frauding to supporting because of lack of competition) which is something I'm not accustomed to saying. While making a list of five might've proved difficult my winner I was very certain from the moment I saw her performance all the way back in July.

Joan Chen a divine actress of great potential has been a fascinating performer for decades with many standout parts yet something about the energy she portrays in Didi feels almost revolutionary. Chen managing to play this loveable mother part in a coming of age dramedy honestly is the type of performance I so gravitate towards yet Chen managed to perform at a level even I was unprepared for. Chen never makes her mother figure into what could be a one note sympathetic part playing both the deep sadness of the fractured mother/son relationship but also getting moments to play her mother as person all her own.

There are countless moments throughout the film where she quietly breaks your heart and honestly I look forward to future viewings as I will continue to grow more in love with this performance as if I haven't already fallen head over heels in love. I shall end this praise for Chen's performance by stating my sadness of the fact that Joan's performance was undeservedly overlooked this major awards season in favour of larger names and leading women frauding into supporting. Chen's is the type of supporting part which deserves to be atop the conversation of best supporting performances of the film year 2024.