The start of the New Year means a lot to a lot of people, like a new start and a chance for people to start over. The film industry, however, sees it as an opportunity to reflect on the year before and recognize the best of the best in cinema. Yep, it’s awards season, folks. And it looks like the Hollywood Critics Association is one of the first to launch it with their list of applications for the fifth annual HCA Film Awards, to be held on January 8. Fortunately, some of our favorite Wizarding World alumni received nods for their work last year, most notable being Sir Kenneth Branagh, known for playing Gilderoy Lockhart in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, including the semi-autobiographical film Belfastmanaged a total of nine appointments.
Written and Directed by Branagh, Belfast is a coming-of-age film about a boy who grew up in Northern Ireland in the late 1960s, whom Branagh described as his “most personal movie. “ As well as getting a nod for Best Picture, it also earned Branagh nods for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay while also netting Best Supporting Actor recognition for. Potter alum Ciarán Hinds (Aberforth Dumbledore).
Written and directed by Sir Kenneth Branagh, “Belfast” has been nominated for nine HCA Film Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.
Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy) is also nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Mass as a grieving parent who confronts the parents of a school shooter, a role he described as “Watch an acting master class.” “ And finally, Alexandre Desplat, the composer behind the scores of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, was nominated for music for Wes Anderson’s latest film, The French dispatch.
While not named by name, there are several films on the nominations list that feature Wizarding World alumni such as Spencer which stars Timothy Spall (Peter Pettigrew), Last night in Soho with James and Oliver Phelps (Fred and George Weasley), Cruel which stars Dame Emma Thompson (Professor Trelawney), and Raya and the last dragon starring Gemma Chan (Madame Ya Zhou in fantastic beasts and where to find them).
Congratulations to all nominees for the fifth edition of the HCA Awards. Check out the list of relevant appointments below:
BEST PICTURE
Being the Ricardos
Belfast
CODA
Dune
king richard
Last night in Soho
Licorice Pizza
Spencer
The power of the dog
tick, tick… Boom!
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Ciarán Hinds, Belfast
Jamie Dornan, Belfast
Jason Isaacs, Mass
Robin of Jesus, tick, tick… BOOM!
Troy Kotsur, CODA
BEST CAST SET
Belfast
CODA
Do not seek
king richard
The more they fall
BEST DIRECTOR
Denis Villeneuve, Dune
Guillermo del Toro, Alley of nightmares
Jane Campion, The power of the dog
Kenneth Branagh, Belfast
Lin-Manuel Miranda, tick, tick… BOOM!
Pablo Larrain, Spencer
Rebecca Hall, Who passed
Reinaldo Marcus Green, king richard
Siân Heder, CODA
Steven Spielberg, West Side Story
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Aaron Sorkin, Being the Ricardos
Edgar Wright and Krysty Wilson-Cairns, Last night in Soho
Fran Kranz, Mass
Kenneth Branagh, Belfast
Zach Baylin, king richard
BEST ANIMATED FILM
Encanto
To flee
Luca
The Mitchells vs. the Machines
Raya and the last dragon
BEST HORROR
A Quiet Place, Part II
Fear Street Trilogy
Last night in Soho
Smart
The night house
BEST INDIE FILM
CODA
Mass
Pig
baby shiva
Spencer
BEST SCORE
Alexandre Desplat, The French dispatch
Hans Zimmer, Dune
Jonny Greenwood, Spencer
Jonny Greenwood, The power of the dog
Steven Price, Last night in Soho
If you’re also interested in more technical rewards like production design and editing, be sure to read the complete list nominations for the HCA Film Awards.
Are you excited for Sir Kenneth Branagh? What category do you think Belfast has the best chance of winning? Let us know in the comments.
