This afternoon the Kansas City Critics Circle, the second oldest professional film critic organization in the United States which I have been honored to be a member of for several years, gathered to vote for the best in film for 2020. Nomadland and Promising Young Woman shared the top honor (with both films also taking home other awards as well).
PRESS RELEASE
“NOMADLAND” AND “PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN” SHARE BEST FILM CROWN OF 2020 BY KANSAS CITY FILM CRITICS CIRCLE
For the sixth time in its esteemed 55-year history, the Kansas City Film Critics Circle (KCFCC) was deadlocked in its Best Film category. At this year’s James Loutzenhiser Awards, “Nomadland” by Chloé Zao and “Promising Young Woman” by Emerald Fennell ended up sharing the group’s top honor. “Nomadland” also received awards in the Best Director and Adapted Screenplay categories, while “Promising Young Woman” won Best Actress and Original Screenplay. They were the only films to win multiple awards.
The KCFCC, the second oldest professional film critic organization in the United States, was founded in 1966 by the late Dr. James Loutzenhiser (1931-2001) who served as the group’s president for over 30 years. The 22-member group also selected the Czech Republic’s “Another Round,” starring Mads Mikkelsen, as 2020’s Best Foreign Film and “Kajillionaire” receiving recognition with the Tom Poe Award for Best LGBT Film.
Below is a complete list of the winners of the 55th Annual James Loutzenhiser Awards
BEST FILM: “Nomadland” and “Promising Young Woman”
ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTOR: Chloé Zao, “Nomadland”
(Runner-up: Aaron Sorkin, “The Trial of the Chicago 7”)
BEST ACTOR: Riz Ahmed, “Sound of Metal”
(Runner-up: Chadwick Boseman, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”)
BEST ACTRESS: Carey Mulligan, “Promising Young Woman”
(Runner-up: Frances McDormand, “Nomadland”)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Leslie Odam, Jr., “One Night in Miami”
(Runner-up: Paul Raci, “Sound of Metal”)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Youn Yuh-Jung, “Minari”
(Runner-up: Maria Bakalova, “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm”)
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: “Promising Young Woman”
(Runner-up: “The Trial of the Chicago 7”)
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: “Nomadland”
(Runner-up: “I’m Thinking of Ending Things”)
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: “The Vast of Night”
(Runner-up: “Mank”)
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE: “Wolfwalkers”
(Runner-up: “Soul”)
BEST FOREIGN FILM: “Another Round” – Czech Republic
(Runner-ups: “76 Days” – China; “Bacurau” – Brazil; “The Life Ahead” – Italy)
BEST DOCUMENTARY: “The Dissident”
(Runner-up: “Crip Camp”)
VINCE KOEHLER AWARD FOR THE BEST SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY/HORROR FILM: “The Invisible Man”
(Runner-up: “The Vast of Night”
TOM POE AWARD FOR THE BEST LGBT FILM: “Kajillionaire”
(Runner-up: “The Prom”)