Indiana film critics give top honors to "12 Years a Slave" and "Her"
The Indiana Film Journalists Association, an organization of writers dedicated to promoting quality film criticism in the Hoosier State, is proud to announce its annual film awards for 2013.
"12 Years a Slave" won top honors, taking the prize for Best Film and earning a total of four awards. Chiwetel Ejiofor won for Best Actor, Steve McQueen won in the Best Director category and Hans Zimmer took the prize for Best Musical Score.
"Her," which was the runner-up for Best Film, made a strong showing with Spike Jonze earning the award for Best Original Screenplay. It also won the Original Vision Award, which recognizes a film that is especially innovative or groundbreaking. Eight other movies were named Finalists for Best Film.
Adele Exarchopoulos took Best Actress honors for "Blue is the Warmest Color," which also was awarded the prize for Best Foreign Language Film. Jennifer Lawrence earned the Best Supporting Actress award for "American Hustle," while Best Supporting Actor went to Barkhad Abdi for his work in "Captain Phillips."
"Frozen" won Best Animated Feature, and "The Act of Killing" took Best Documentary. In their third cinematic go-round together, Richard Linklater, Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy won the Best Adapted Screenplay prize for "Before Midnight."
The Hoosier Award, which recognizes a significant cinematic contribution by a person or persons with roots in Indiana, or a film that depicts Hoosier State locales and stories, went to "Medora," a documentary film directed by Andrew Cohn and Davy Rothbart.
IFJA members issued this statement with regard to the Hoosier Award: "In chronicling the plight of a hapless high school basketball team from a tiny, economically depressed Indiana town, Cohn and Rothbart managed to tap into the way Hoosiers are transfixed by their hoops obsession, as well as explore the harsh choices Indiana teenagers often face. In many ways, the film stands as stark counterpoint to the seminal "Hoop Dreams." These players aren't vying for a spot in the NBA, but to win a single game and lay claim to their dignity, both on and off the court. It is a quintessentially Hoosier story told with craftsmanship, unique insight and uncommon grace."
The following is a complete list of honored films:
Best Film Winner: "12 Years a Slave" Runner-Up: "Her" Other Finalists (listed alphabetically): "All Is Lost" "Before Midnight" "Captain Phillips" "Frances Ha" "Mud" "Prisoners" "Spring Breakers" "The Wolf of Wall Street"
Best Animated Feature Winner: "Frozen" Runner-Up: "The Wind Rises"
Best Foreign Language Film Winner: "Blue is the Warmest Color" Runner-Up: "The Grandmaster"
Best Documentary Winner: "The Act of Killing" Runner-Up: "Stories We Tell"
Best Original Screenplay Winner: Spike Jonze, "Her" Runner-Up: Peter Morgan, "Rush"
Best Adapted Screenplay Winner: Richard Linklater, Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, "Before Midnight" Runner-Up: John Ridley, "12 Years a Slave"
Best Director Winner: Steve McQueen, "12 Years a Slave" Runner-Up: Spike Jonze, "Her"
Best Actress Winner: Adele Exarchopoulos, "Blue is the Warmest Color" Runner-Up: Brie Larson, "Short Term 12"
Best Supporting Actress Winner: Jennifer Lawrence, "American Hustle" Runner-Up: June Squibb, "Nebraska"
Best Actor Winner: Chiwetel Ejiofor, "12 Years a Slave" Runner-Up: Matthew McConaughey, "Dallas Buyers Club"
Best Supporting Actor Winner: Barkhad Abdi, "Captain Phillips" Runner-Up: Jeremy Renner, "American Hustle"
Best Musical Score Winner: Hans Zimmer, "12 Years a Slave" Runner-Up: Hans Zimmer, "Rush"
Original Vision Award Winner: "Her" Runner-Up: "Gravity"
The Hoosier Award "Medora," Andrew Cohn and Davy Rothbart, directors (As a special award, no runner-up is declared in this category.)
About IFJA: The Indiana Film Journalists Association was established in February 2009. Members must reside in the Hoosier State and produce consistent, quality film criticism or commentary in any medium.