Arts & Entertainment

Washington DC Area Film Critics Name Their Top 2013 Movies, Actors

See if you agree with their choices.

By Leslie Combemale

The Washington DC Area Film Critics Association voted this weekend to award their top honors to films released this year.  As a member of WAFCA, Cinema Siren got to weigh in on the chosen movies. 

The winners were announced Monday morning:

THE 2013 WAFCA AWARD WINNERS:
Best Film: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón (Gravity)
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave)
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)
Best Supporting Actor: Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club)
Best Supporting Actress: Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave)
Best Acting Ensemble: 12 Years a Slave
Best Youth Performance: Tye Sheridan (Mud)
Best Adapted Screenplay: John Ridley (12 Years a Slave)
Best Original Screenplay: Spike Jonze (Her)
Best Animated Feature: Frozen
Best Documentary: Blackfish
Best Foreign Language Film: The Broken Circle Breakdown
Best Art Direction: Production Designer: Catherine Martin, Set Decorator: Beverley Dunn (The Great Gatsby)
Best Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki, ASC, A.M.C. (Gravity)
Best Editing: Alfonso Cuarón, Mark Sanger (Gravity)
Best Original Score: Hans Zimmer (12 Years a Slave)
The Joe Barber Award for Best Portrayal of Washington, DC: Lee Daniels' The Butler

As Cinema Siren I review films and am a member of WAFCA, and am proud 12 Years A Slave got such a number of awards, and thrilled Alfonso Cuaron won for best director for Gravity

The Broken Circle Breakdown is a gorgeous movie and i’m pleased it took the Best Foreign Language Film award. 

Chiwetel Ejiofor and Lupita Nyong’o deserve their wins as lead actor and best supporting actress in 12 Years A Slave, and it is hoped these awards will further compel those who haven’t yet seen the film to go before it leaves theaters.

Spike Jonzes’ Her is being released Dec. 20, and this award speaks to how it was enthusiastically received by DC critics. 

Founded in 2002, WAFCA is comprised of DC-based film critics in television, radio, print, and the Internet.  As of 2012, it has grown to include more than 50 dedicated members. One of the first groups of critics who have their say in the awards season, their choices can have an effect on later nominations and awards.   

To hear Washington-area critics discuss the winners, go to:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/filmgordon/2013/12/09/12th-annual-wafca-awards-announcement


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