32nd London Critics’ Circle Film Awards 2012 winners announced

The Artist

London Critics' Circle LogoLate last year, the London Critics’ Circle announced their nominations for the 32nd London Critics’ Circle Film Awards. At a ceremony in London last night, the group announced the winners, along with their Top 10 films for 2011.

The Artist  once again topped the list, following suit with the rest of the world and making this a virtual lock for an Academy Award next month. The Circle also award the film Director of the Year for Michel Hazanavicius, and actor for Jean Dujardin. We Need to Talk About Kevin took out the top prize for British film.

Also following suit was Asghar Farhadi’s A Separation, another favourite for Foreign Language Film of the year, with the Circle also giving it the No. 2 slot in their Top 10 along with a screenwriter nod for Asghar Farhadi and a supporting actress award for Sareh Bayat.

Margaret is perhaps the only real surprise, not only sneaking into the Top 10 but tying Anna Paquin with Meryl Streep for Best Actress (in The Iron Lady). Apparently, Paquin can do more than whine in the vicinity of Vampire Bill!

A full list of winners, with UK distributors in brackets, are below.

CRITICS’ CIRCLE TOP 10 FILMS of 2011

  1. The Artist 
  2. A Separation
  3. Drive
  4. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy 
  5. The Tree of Life
  6. We Need to Talk About Kevin
  7. Melancholia
  8. Shame
  9. Margaret
  10. The Descendants 

FILM OF THE YEAR
The Artist  (Entertainment)

The Attenborough Award: BRITISH FILM OF THE YEAR
We Need to Talk About Kevin (Artificial Eye)

FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM OF THE YEAR
A Separation  (Artificial Eye)

DOCUMENTARY OF THE YEAR
Senna (Universal)

DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Michel Hazanavicius – The Artist (Entertainment)

SCREENWRITER OF THE YEAR
Asghar Farhadi – A Separation (Artificial Eye)

The Virgin Atlantic Award: BREAKTHROUGH BRITISH FILM-MAKER
Andrew Haigh – Weekend (Peccadillo)

ACTOR OF THE YEAR
Jean Dujardin – The Artist (Entertainment)

ACTRESS OF THE YEAR (Tied)
Anna Paquin – Margaret (Fox)
Meryl Streep – The Iron Lady (Fox/Pathé)

SUPPORTING ACTOR OF THE YEAR
Kenneth Branagh – My Week With Marilyn (Entertainment)

SUPPORTING ACTRESS OF THE YEAR
Sareh Bayat – A Separation (Artificial Eye)

BRITISH ACTOR OF THE YEAR
Michael Fassbender – A Dangerous Method (Lionsgate), Shame (Momentum)

The Moët & Chandon Award: BRITISH ACTRESS OF THE YEAR

Olivia Colman – The Iron Lady (Fox/Pathé), Tyrannosaur (StudioCanal)

YOUNG BRITISH PERFORMER OF THE YEAR

Craig Roberts – Submarine (StudioCanal)

The Sky 3D Award: TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT

Maria Djurkovic, production design – Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (StudioCanal)

The Dilys Powell Award: EXCELLENCE IN FILM
Nicolas Roeg