The Alliance of Women Film Journalists Awards Don't Just Name Best Picture; They Say What Needs To Be Said.
The best picture award from a film journalist organization is great; it's better to hear those journalists take note of what we all say in private and make it public.
The Alliance of Women Film Journalists (AWFJ) don’t follow the standard formula when it comes to bestowing awards on movies — and you should love them for it. They have the standard Best Film of the year and Best Director categories, plus screenplay (adapted and original), Best Documentary, and actor and actress categories. But it’s the other categories they give awards in that make me giggle with appreciation.
For example, Actress Most in Need of a New Agent. For 2018, that went to Jennifer Lawrence because of Red Sparrow. Then there’s Most Egregious Age Difference Between the Lead and the Love Interest Award; awarded to Tom Cruise and Rebecca Ferguson in Mission: Impossible – Fallout.
We can all surely understand the importance of the Remake or Sequel That Shouldn’t Have Been Made award. Sorry Overboard, you nabbed this award for 2018.
I like to look at these Alliance of Women Film Journalists awards as the water cooler inspired awards. They’re what you say to a friend after you see a movie but aren’t necessarily considered appropriate for ranking methods unless you’re a member of AWFJ.
And for the #MeToo and Time’s Up devotees, they have a Hall of Shame award. In 2018, Harvey Weinstein, Les Mooves, Louis C.K., Kevin Spacey, James Franco, Bryan Singer, Charlie Rose, and Matt Lauer received the shameful honor in addition to every other alleged abuser.
Awards season can be very monotonous, and predictable. It’s always nice to see a group of film journalists break from the pack and develop awards categories that shake things up and make them a great deal more fun.
The AWFJ also honors women specifically with five awards: Director; screenwriter; animated female; breakthrough performance; and outstanding achievement. I’m not normally a fan of gender-based awards but every AWFJ winner is deserving, so there’s no reason to not support these award categories, too.
The Alliance of Women Film Journalists EDA Award Winners
Best Film – Roma
Best Director – Alfonso Cuarón, Roma
Best Screenplay, Original – The Favourite, Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara
Best Screenplay, Adapted – Can You Ever Forgive Me?, Nicole Holofcener and Jeff White
Best Documentary – Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, Morgan Neville
Best Animated Film – Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Peter Ramsay, Bob Persichetti, Rodney Rothman
Best Actress – Olivia Colman, The Favourite
Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Regina King, If Beale Street Could Talk
Best Actor – Ethan Hawke, First Reformed
Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Richard E. Grant, Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Best Ensemble Cast – Black Panther, Sarah Finn, Casting Director
Best Cinematography – Alfonso Cuarón, Roma
Best Editing – Roma, Alfonso Cuarón and Adam Gough
Best Non-English Language Film – Roma, Alfonso Cuarón
EDA Female Focus Awards
Best Woman Director – Marielle Heller, Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Best Woman Screenwriter – Deborah Davis, The Favourite
Best Animated Female – Elastagirl, Holly Hunter, Incredibles 2
Best Breakthrough Performance – Thomasin McKenzie, Leave No Trace
Outstanding Achievement by a Woman in the Film Industry – Rachel Morrison: “For paving the road for women cinematographers with her Oscar nomination for Mudbound and scoring as DP on Black Panther.”
EDA Special Mention Awards
Actress Defying Age and Ageism – Viola Davis, Widows
Bravest Performance – Olivia Colman, The Favourite
Actress Most in Need of a New Agent – Jennifer Lawrence, Red Sparrow
