NEWS: Atlanta Film Critics Circle Announces Its 2018 Winners

Courtesy of Fox Searchlight

On Monday, the Atlanta Film Critics Circle's 25 voting members - including yours truly - awarded its top films of the year. While some of my picks made the cut and some missed out, I have to say I'm thoroughly impressed with our choices this year. 2018 boasted dozens of incredible films (my first stab at a Top 10 list had about 40 contenders).

The AFCC's number one film is Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos’s dark comedic tale of female jockeying for power during Queen Anne’s reign in 18th century England, The Favourite. Featuring a powerhouse female cast including Olivia Colman, Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz, the film also garnered a Best Actress Award for Olivia Colman, a Best Supporting Actress nod for Emma Stone, as well as Best Screenplay and Best Ensemble Cast awards.

“The film is defined by incredible performances and a powerful rendering of the viciousness behind class divisions,” says AFCC co-founder Felicia Feaster. “Though set in the 18th century, there is clear resonance for our current age and the often brutal circumstances for women who are powerless and lack social standing in Yorgos Lanthimos’ trenchant rendering of gender divisions and power,” says Feaster.

Actor Bradley Cooper’s directorial debut A Star Is Born was the second of the top 10 films, with Alfonso Cuarón’s unconventional semi-autobiographical tale Roma centered on his beloved housekeeper coming in third. Roma also netted awards for Best Foreign Language Film, for Best Director and Best Cinematography.

Other notable winners included Best Documentary Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, which spotlights the revered PBS television program Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood host Fred Rogers, who brought uncommon kindness, civility and a social conscience to his work with children.

For his role as a morally conflicted priest in the somber Paul Schrader-directed drama First Reformed, Ethan Hawke won a Best Actor Award. Sam Elliott garnered a Best Supporting Actor award for his turn as the older brother and surrogate father to Bradley Cooper’s country music star in A Star Is Born.

The AFCC also presented special awards for Best Breakthrough Performer, a category that was tied between Elise Fisher, as the painfully awkward teenager at the center of the funny, poignant Bo Burnham film Eighth Grade, and Grammy-winning Lady Gaga as a rising pop star in the musical melodrama A Star Is Born.

“Our list includes period dramas, inventive horror, commentary on religion, race relations and the environment, minimalist art-house fare, stark social media observations, sci-fi fantasy and a fresh take on the traditional Hollywood epic,” says AFCC co-founder Michael Clark. “It covers the gamut and I’m very pleased with the members’ collective enthusiasm.”

Complete AFCC Award List

Top 10 Films
1. The Favourite
2. A Star Is Born
3. Roma
4. A Quiet Place
5. First Reformed
6. Eighth Grade
7. BlacKkKlansman
8. Tie: First Man and Won't You Be My Neighbor?
9. Black Panther

Best Lead Actor Ethan Hawke in First Reformed

Best Lead Actress Olivia Colman in The Favourite

Best Supporting Actor Sam Elliott in A Star Is Born

Best Supporting Actress Emma Stone in The Favourite

Best Ensemble Cast The Favourite

Best Director Alfonso Cuarón for Roma

Best Screenplay Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara for The Favourite

Best Documentary Won't You Be My Neighbor?

Best Foreign Language Film Roma

Best Animated Film 

Isle of Dogs

Best Cinematography Alfonso Cuarón for Roma

Best Original Score Justin Hurwitz for First Man

AFCC Special Award for Breakthrough Performer
Tie: Elsie Fisher (Eighth Grade) and Lady Gaga (A Star Is Born)

AFCC Special Award for Best First Film Bradley Cooper for A Star Is Born