Boston Film Critics Choose "12 Years a Slave" as Best Picture of 2013

by Amos Semien

The Boston Society of Film Critics (BSFC) named 12 Years a Slave the "Best Picture" of 2013, one of two best picture awards the film received from film critics societies over this past weekend.  12 Years a Slave also earned BSFC Awards for "Best Director" (Steve McQueen) and "Best Actor" (Chiwetel Ejiofor)  The society chose Hiyao Miyazaki's final film, The Wind Rises, "Best Animated Film."

The Boston Society of Film Critics (BSFC) was formed in 1981.  The group claims that its mission is to make “Boston's unique critical perspective heard on a national and international level by awarding commendations to the best of the year's films and filmmakers and local film theaters and film societies that offer outstanding film programming.”  One of the society’s members, Wesley Morris, won 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.

2013 Boston Society of Film Critics Awards Winners:

Best Picture  - 12 Years a Slave

Best Actor -  Chiwetel Ejiofor for 12 Years a Slave

Best Actress - Cate Blanchett for Blue Jasmine

Best Supporting Actor -  James Gandolfini for Enough Said

Best Supporting Actress -  June Squibb for Nebraska

Best Director - Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave

Best Screenplay -  Nicole Holofcener for Enough Said

Best Cinematography - Emmanuel Lubezki for Gravity

Best Documentary - The Act of Killing

Best Foreign-Language Film -  Wadjda

Best Animated Film -  The Wind Rises

Best Film Editing (awarded in memory of Karen Schmeer) - Daniel P. Hanley and Mike Hill for Rush

Best New Filmmaker (awarded in memory of David Brudnoy) -  Ryan Coogler for Fruitvale Station

Best Ensemble Cast -  Nebraska

Best Use of Music in a Film  - Inside: Llewyn Davis


BSFC 2013 Awards, Commendations and Rediscoveries
Best Film Series:

“The Complete Alfred Hitchcock” at Harvard Film Archive

“A Burt Lancaster Centennial Tribute” at Harvard Film Archive and the Brattle Theatre

“Action, Action, Action: A Raoul Walsh Retrospective” at Harvard Film Archive

“The Films of Pierre Etaix” at the Museum of Fine Arts

“Chris Marker: Guillaume-en-Egypte” at Harvard Film Archive and the List Visual Arts Center at M.I.T.

Best Rediscoveries:

Journey to Italy at the Brattle Theatre

Yo-yo at the Museum of Fine Arts

Cattle Annie and Little Britchesat the Brattle Theatre

Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains at Coolidge Corner Theatre

Daughters of the Dust at Harvard Film Archive

Commendations:
Coolidge @fter Midnight – The midnight movies series at the Coolidge Corner Theatre

http://www.bostonfilmcritics.org/

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