Toronto Film Critics Climb "The Tree of Life"

The Toronto Film Critics Association was established in 1997 and is comprised of Toronto based journalists and broadcasters who specialize in film criticism and commentary. All major dailies, weeklies and a variety of other print and electronic outlets are represented.

Under the TFCA’s guidelines, contenders eligible for the awards include films released in Canada in 2011 plus films that qualify for the 2011 Oscars and have Canadian distribution scheduled by the end of February 2012.

The 2011 TFCA Awards will be presented at a gala dinner on January 10, 2012 in a ceremony hosted by Cameron Bailey, co-director of the Toronto International Film Festival. During the ceremony, the TFCA will also reveal the winner of the Rogers Best Canadian Film Award, which carries a $15,000 cash prize. David Cronenberg will also be on hand to present a special award.

The full list of Toronto Film Critics Association Awards 2011 winners and runners-up:

BEST PICTURE
“The Tree of Life” (eOne Films)

Runners-up:
“The Artist” (Alliance Films)
“The Descendants” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

BEST ACTOR
Michael Shannon, “Take Shelter”

Runners-up:
George Clooney, “The Descendants”
Michael Fassbender, “Shame”

BEST ACTRESS
Michelle Williams, “My Week With Marilyn”

Runners-up:
Elizabeth Olsen, “Martha Marcy May Marlene”
Meryl Streep, “The Iron Lady”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Christopher Plummer, “Beginners”

Runners-up:
Albert Brooks, “Drive”
Patton Oswalt, “Young Adult”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Jessica Chastain, “Take Shelter”

Runners-up:
Jessica Chastain, “The Tree of Life”
Shailene Woodley, “The Descendants”

BEST DIRECTOR
Terrence Malick, “The Tree of Life”

Runners-up:
Michel Hazanavicius, “The Artist”
Nicolas Winding Refn, “Drive”

BEST SCREENPLAY
“Moneyball”, written by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin; story by Stan Chervin, based on the book by Michael Lewis

Runners-up:
“The Descendants”, written by Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon & Jim Rash, based on the novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings
“The Tree of Life”, written by Terrence Malick

BEST FIRST FEATURE
“Attack the Block”, directed by Joe Cornish

Runners-up:
“Margin Call”, directed by J.C. Chandor
“Martha Marcy May Marlene”, directed by Sean Durkin

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
“The Adventures of Tintin” (DreamWorks Animation)

Runners-up:
“Puss in Boots” (DreamWorks Animation)
“Rango” (Paramount Pictures)

BEST FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM
“Mysteries of Lisbon” (Alfama Films)

Runners-up:
“Attenberg” (filmswelike)
“Le Havre” (filmswelike)
“A Separation” (Mongrel Media)

ALLAN KING DOCUMENTARY AWARD
“Nostalgia for the Light” (Icarus Films)

Runners-up:
“Into the Abyss” (Mongrel Media)
“Project Nim” (Mongrel Media)

ROGERS CANADIAN FILM AWARD FINALISTS
1. “Café de Flore,” directed by Jean-Marc Vallée
2. “A Dangerous Method”, directed by David Cronenberg
3. “Monsieur Lazhar”, directed by Philippe Falardeau