The Los Angeles Film Critics Association voted on the best films and performances of 2021 on Saturday, with Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Japanese Oscar entry drive my car winning Best Picture and Best Screenplay, and taking second place from Hamaguchi in the Best Director race.
The power of the dogJane Campion won in this last category, with red rocket‘s Simon Rex winning Best Actor and Parallel mothers‘ Penélope Cruz voted best actress. The award for Best Documentary went to Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson’s soul summerwith the prize for best animation for the animated photo Neon by Jonas Poher Rasmussen, To run awayand Best Non-English Film goes to Celine Sciamma’s Little mom.
Traditionally, LAFCA categories intertwine with honorary awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, which this year went to Mel Brooks.
Today’s vote comes after the New York Film Critics Circle was selected earlier this month drive my car as his Best Picture, and Monday’s Critics Choice Awards movie nominations that saw Belfast and West Side Story punctuate the field.
The full list of today’s winners can be found below.
Best Picture
Winner: drive my car
Finalist: The power of the dog
Best Director
Winner: Jane Campion, The power of the dog
Finalist: Ryusuke Hamaguchi, drive my car
Best Actress
Winner: Penelope Cruz, Parallel mothers
Finalist: Renate Reinsve, The worst person in the world
Best actor
Winner: Simon Rex, red rocket
Finalist: Benedict Cumberbatch, The power of the dog
Best Documentary
Winner: soul summer
Finalist: Procession
Best Screenplay
Winner: drive my carRyusuke Hamaguchi and Takamasa Oe
Finalist: Licorice PizzaPaul Thomas Anderson
Best Animation
Winner: To run away
Finalist: Beautiful
Best Supporting Actress
Winner: Ariana DeBose, West Side Story
Finalist: Aunjanue Ellis, King Richard
Best Supporting Actor
Winner (tie): Vincent Lindon, Titanium and Kodi Smit-McPhee, The power of the dog
Editing
Winner: Joshua L. Pearson, soul summer
Finalist: Andy Jürgensen, Licorice Pizza
Best Production Design
Winner: Steve Saklad, Barb and Star go to Vista Del Mar
Finalist: Tamara Deverell, alley of nightmares
Best Music/Score
Winner: Alberto Iglesias, Parallel mothers
Finalist: Jonny Greenwood, The power of the dog and spencer
Best Cinematography
Winner: Ari Wegner, The power of the dog
Finalist: Greig Fraser, Dunes
Best Non-English Film
Winner: Little mom
Finalist: Quo Vadis, Aida?
Douglas Edwards Experimental Film Award
Labors and Days (from Tayoko Shiojiri in Shiotani Basin)
New generation
Winner (tie): Shatara Michelle Ford, Testing model and Tatiana Huezo, Prayers for the Stolen
Career Excellence Award
Mel Brooks
