Essential Film Awards

The Essential Film Awards

2009 Winners
2010 Winners

2011 Winners
2012 Winners
2013 Winners
2014 Winners
2015 Winners
2016 Winners
2017 Winners
2018 Winners

WINNERS

5 BROKEN CAMERAS (2012)

• Best Film - Documentary Feature

12 YEARS A SLAVE (2013)

• 2013 - Official Selection
• Best Actor in a Lead Role - Chiwetel Ejiofor
• Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Lupita Nyong'o
• Best Screenplay: Adapted Material - John Ridley based on 12 Years a Slave by Solomon Northup

13 ASSASSINS (2010)

• Best Action/Adventure Film

127 HOURS (2010)

• Top Ten Film of 2010

THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN (2011)

• Best Animated Feature
• Special Achievement - Andy Serkis (also for Rise of the Planet of the Apes)

AMERICAN HUSTLE (2013)

• 2013 - Official Selection
• Best Ensemble Cast - Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Jennifer Lawrence, Louis CK

AMOUR (2012)

• Best Actress in a Lead Role - Emmanuelle Riva
• Best Film - Foreign Language Feature

AMY (2015)

• Best Film - Documentary Feature

ANNIHILATION (2018)

• Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Film

ANOMALISA (2015)

• Best Film - Limited Theatrical Release

THE ARBOR (2011)

• Special Achievement - For its unique artistic production of blending stage play, documentary and narrative storytelling to create a compelling feature.For its unique artistic production of blending stage play, documentary and narrative storytelling to create a compelling feature.

ARGO (2012)

• 2012 - Official Selection
• Best Director - Ben Affleck

ARRIVAL (2016)

• 2016 - Official Selection
• Best Screenplay - Adapted or Historical Material
• Best Film Editing

THE ARTIST (2011)

• Top Ten Film of 2011
• Best Comedy Film

ATTACK THE BLOCK (2011)

• Best Horror Film

AVATAR (2009)

• Best Visual Effects

THE AVENGERS (2012)

• 2012 - Official Selection
• Best Science Fiction Film

AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (2018)

• Best Voice Acting/Motion Capture Performance - Josh Brolin
• Best Visual Effects
• Best Blockbuster Film

THE BABADOOK (2014)

• Best Horror/Thriller Film

BABY DRIVER (2017)

• Best Stunts

BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD (2012)

• Best Film - Limited Theatrical Release

BEFORE MIDNIGHT (2013)

• 2013 - Official Selection

THE BIG SHORT (2015)

• 2015 - Official Selection
• Best Film Editing

THE BIG SICK (2017)

• 2017 - Official Selection
• Best Screenplay - Original Material
• Best Film - Comedy or Musical

BIRDMAN (2014)

• 2014 - Official Selection
• Best Actor in a Leading Role - Michael Keaton

BLACK PANTHER (2018)

• 2018 - Official Selection
• Best Supporting Actor - Michael B. Jordan
• Best Art Direction/Visual Design
• Best Costumes
• Best Action/Adventure Film

BLACK SWAN (2010)

• Top Ten Film of 2010
• Best Cinematography - Matthew Libatique

BLACKFISH (2013)

• Best Film - Documentary Feature

BLACKKKLANSMAN (2018)

• 2018 - Official Selection
• Best Screenplay - Adapted

BLADE RUNNER 2049 (2017)

• Best Cinematography
• Best Production Design
• Best Visual Effects

BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR (2013)

• Best Film - Foreign Language Feature

BLUE JASMINE (2013)

• Best Actress in a Lead Role - Cate Blanchett (tie)

BLUE VALENTINE (2010)

• Best Film - Limited Theatrical Release

BOYHOOD (2014)

• 2014 - Official Selection
• Best Film of the Year
• Best Director - Richard Linklater
• Best Editing 

THE BREADWINNER (2014)

• Best Performance in a Voice Acting Role - Saara Chaudry

THE CABIN IN THE WOODS (2012)

• Best Horror Film

CALL ME BY YOUR NAME (2017)

• 2017 - Official Selection
• Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Michael Stuhlbarg

CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR (2016)

• 2016 - Official Selection
• Best Blockbuster Film

CAPTAIN PHILLIPS (2013)

• 2013 - Official Selection
• Best Action/Adventure Film

CAROL (2015)

• 2015 - Official Selection

CLOUD ATLAS (2012)

• 2012 - Official Selection
• Best Film Editing 
• Best MakeUp Effects
• Best Music - Score

COCO (2017)

• 2017 - Official Selection
• Best Music - Original Song - "Remember Me"
• Best Animated Feature

COLD WAR (2018)

• 2018 - Official Selection
• Best Cinematography
• Best Foreign Language Film

THE CONJURING (2013)

• Best Genre Film - Horror

CORALINE (2009)

• Official Selection

THE COVE (2009)

• Best Documentary

CREED (2015)

• 2015 - Official Selection
• Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Sylvester Stallone

CURFEW (2012)

• Best Film - Live Action Short

DALLAS BUYERS CLUB (2013)

• Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Jared Leto

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)

• 2012 - Official Selection
• Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Tom Hardy
• Best Stunt Choreography

DAY & NIGHT (2010)

• Best Short Film - Animated

DEADPOOL (2016)

• Best Action/Adventure Film

THE DESCENDANTS (2011)

• Top Ten Film of 2011

DISTRICT 9 (2009)

• Official Selection

DJANGO UNCHAINED (2012)

• 2012 - Official Selection
• Best Ensemble Cast
• Best Screenplay: Original Material - Quentin Tarantino

DOCTOR STRANGE (2016)

• Best Visual Effects

DOGTOOTH (2010)

• Best Foreign Film

DRIVE (2011)

• Top Ten Film of 2011
• Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Albert Brooks
• Best Ensemble Cast
• Best Cinematography - Newton Thomas Sigel
• Best Music - Soundtrack
• Best Sound Design

DUNKIRK (2017)

• 2017 - Official Selection
• Best Director - Christopher Nolan
• Best Film Editing
• Best Music - Original Score
• Best Sound Design

THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN (2016)

• Best Actress in a Lead Role - Comedy or Musical: Hailee Steinfeld

EIGHTH (2018)

• Best Screenplay - Original

ENEMY (2014)

• Best Film - Limited Theatrical Release

EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY (2015)

• Best Live Action Short Film

EX MACHINA (2015)

• 2015 - Official Selection
• Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Alicia Vikander
• Best Screenplay: Original Material - Alex Garland
• Best Visual Effects
• Best Science Fiction Film

FANTASTIC MR. FOX (2009)

• Official Selection

A FANTASTIC WOMAN (2017)

• Best Foreign Language Film

THE FAVOURITE (2018)

• 2018 - Official Selection
• Best Film - Comedy or Musical
• Best Actress: Comedy or Musical - Olivia Colman

FEAST (2014)

• Best Animated Short Film

FENCES (2016)

• Best Actress in a Lead Role - Drama: Viola Davis

THE FIGHTER (2010)

• Top Ten Film of 2010
• Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Christian Bale
• Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Amy Adams

FIRST MAN (2018)

• Best Film Editing

FIRST REFORMED (2018)

• Best Actor: Drama - Ethan Hawke

THE FLORIDA PROJECT (2017)

• Best Limited Theatrical Release Film

FROZEN (2013)

• Best Film - Animated Feature

FRUITVALE STATION (2013)

• 2013 - Official Selection

FURIOUS 7 (2015)

• Best Music - Original Song: "See You Again"

GET OUT (2017)

• 2017 - Official Selection
• Best Horror or Thriller Film

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO (2009)

• Official Selection

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO (2011)

• Best Film Editing

GONE GIRL (2014)

• 2014 - Official Selection
• Best Actress in a Leading Role - Rosamund Pike
• Best Screenplay: Adapted or Historical Material - Gillian Flynn

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL (2014)

• 2014 - Official Selection
• Best Ensemble Cast
• Best Comedy Film

GRAVITY (2013)

• 2013 - Official Selection
• Best Film of the Year
• Best Actress in a Lead Role - Sandra Bullock (tie)
• Best Director - Alfonso Cuaron
• Best Film Editing
• Best Visual Effects
• Best Music - Original Score
• Best Sound Design

GREEN ROOM (2016)

• Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Patrick Stewart
• Best Horror or Thriller Film

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2014)

• 2014 - Official Selection
• Best Visual Effects
• Best Make-Up Effects
• Best Music - Soundtrack Compilation
• Best Voice Acting Performance - Bradley Cooper

HACKSAW RIDGE (2016)

• Best Stunts/Stunt Choreography

HAIL, CAESAR (2016)

• 2016 - Official Selection
• Best Ensemble
• Best Production Design

THE HANDMAIDEN (2016)

• 2016 - Official Selection
• Best Foreign Language Film

THE HANGOVER (2009)

• Best Comedy Film

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART I (2010)

• Best Make-Up Effects

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART II (2011)

• Top Ten Film of 2011
• Best Fantasy Film

HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE (2009)

• Best Cinematography
• Best Music - Original Score
• Best Fantasy Film

THE HATEFUL EIGHT (2015)

• Best Ensemble
• Best Cinematography - Robert Richardson

HELIUM (2013)

• Best Film - Live Action Short

HELL OR HIGH WATER (2016)

• 2016 - Official Selection

HER (2013)

• 2013 - Official Selection
• Best Screenplay: Original Material - Spike Jonze
• Best Music - Original Song: "The Moon Song"
• Special Achievement - Best Voice Acting: Scarlett Johannson

HEREDITARY (2018)

• 2018 - Official Selection
• Best Actress: Drama - Toni Collette 
• Best Horror or Thriller Film

THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG (2013)

• Best Make-Up Effects
• Best Genre Film - Fantasy

HOLY MOTORS (2012)

• Best Fantasy Film

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON (2010)

• Top Ten Film of 2010
• Best Fantasy Film

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2 (2014)

• Best Fantasy Film

HUGO (2011)

• Top Ten Film of 2011

THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE (2013)

• Best Visual Design

THE HURT LOCKER (2009)

• Official Selection
• Best Film Editing

I, TONYA (2017)

• Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Allison Janey

ICARUS (2017)

• Best Documentary

IDA (2014)

• Best Film - Foreign Language Feature
• Best Cinematography

IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK (2018)

• 2018 - Official Selection
• Best Film - Drama
• Best Supporting Actress - Regina King
• Best Music - Original Score

INCEPTION (2010)

• Best Film of the Year
• Top Ten Film of 2010
• Best Director - Christopher Nolan
• Best Screenplay (Original Material) - Christopher Nolan
• Best Film Editing - Lee Smith
• Best Visual Effects
• Best Stunts
• Best Musical Score - Hans Zimmer
• Best Science Fiction Film

INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS (2009)

• Official Selection
• Best Film of the Year
• Best Director - Quentin Tarantino
• Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Christoph Waltz
• Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Melanie Laurent
• Best Ensemble
• Best Screenplay - Original Material
• Best Soundtrack
• Best Action/Adventure Film

INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS (2013)

• 2013 - Official Selection

INSIDE OUT (2015)

• 2015 - Official Selection
• Best Film - Animated Feature
• Best Voice Acting Performance - Amy Poehler as "Joy"

INSIDIOUS (2010)

• Best Horror Film

THE INTERRUPTERS (2011)

• Best Documentary Feature

INTERSTELLAR (2014)

• 2014 - Official Selection
• Best Music - Original Score
• Best Science Fiction Film

IT FOLLOWS (2015)

• Best Music: Original Score - Disasterpiece
• Best Horror/Thriller Film

THE KING'S SPEECH (2010)

• Top Ten Film of 2010
• Best Actor in a Leading Role - Colin Firth

LA LA LAND (2016)

• 2016 - Official Selection
• Best Film of the Year - Comedy or Musical
• Best Director - Damian Chazalle 
• Best Sound Design

LADY BIRD (2017)

• 2017 - Official Selection

THE LEGEND OF BEAVER DAM (2010)

• Best Short Film - Live Action

THE LEGO MOVIE (2014)

• Best Film - Animated Feature
• Best Music: Original Song - "Everything is Awesome" 

LES MISÉRABLES (2012)

• Best Actress in a Supporting Role
• Best Visual Design

LIFE ITSELF (2014)

• Best Film - Documentary Feature

LIFE OF PI (2012)

• 2012 - Official Selection
• Best Visual Effects

LINCOLN (2012)

• Best Actor in a Lead Role - Daniel Day-Lewis

LOGAN (2017)

• 2017 - Official Selection
• Best Actor in a Lead Role - Drama: Hugh Jackman
• Best Screenplay - Adapted Material
• Best Action/Adventure Film

LOOPER (2012)

• 2012 - Official Selection

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD (2015)

• 2015 - Official Selection
• Best Film of the Year
• Best Director - George Miller
• Best Costumes
• Best Stunts/Stunt Choreography
• Best Make-Up
• Best Sound Design
• Best Action/Adventure Film

MANCHESTER BY THE SEA (2016)

• 2016 - Official Selection
• Best Film of the Year - Drama
• Best Actor in a Lead Role - Drama: Casey Affleck

THE MARTIAN (2015)

• 2015 - Official Selection
• Best Screenplay: Adapted or Historical Material - Drew Goddard

THE MESSENGER (2009)

• Best Film - Limited Theatrical Release

MIDNIGHT IN PARIS (2011)

• Top Ten Film of 2011
• Best Screenplay: Original Material - Woody Allen

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - FALLOUT (2018)

• Best Stunts/Stunt Choreography

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - GHOST PROTOCOL (2011)

• Best Stunts/Stunt Choreography

MOANA (2016)

• 2016 - Official Selection
• Best Animated Feature Film

MONEYBALL (2011)

• Top Ten Film of 2011
• Best Screenplay: Adapted Material - Steve Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin

MOON (2009)

• Official Selection
• Best Actor in a Leading Role - Sam Rockwell
• Best Science Fiction Film
• Best Voice Actor - Kevin Spacey

MOONLIGHT (2016)

• 2016 - Official Selection
• Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Naomi Harris

MOONRISE KINGDOM (2012)

• 2012 - Official Selection
• Best Comedy

MR. HUBLOT (2013)

• Best Film - Animated Short

MY WEEK WITH MARILYN (2011)

• Best Actress in a Leading Role - Michelle Williams

NEBRASKA (2013)

• 2013 - Official Selection

THE NEON DEMON (2016)

• Best Cinematography

NEVER SLEEP AGAIN: THE ELM STREET LEGACY (2010)

• Best Documentary

NIGHTCRAWLER (2014)

• 2014 - Official Selection
• Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Rene Russo
• Best Screenplay: Original Material - Dan Gilroy

NOCTURNAL ANIMALS (2016)

• Best Music - Original Score

O.J.: MADE IN AMERICA (2016)

• Best Documentary

PAPERMAN (2012)

• Best Film - Animated Short

PARTLY CLOUDY (2009)

• Best Film - Animated Short

PHANTOM THREAD (2009)

• Best Costume Design

PHOENIX (2015)

• Best Film - Foreign Language Feature

THE PHONE CALL (2014)

• Best Live Action Short Film

PIPER (2016)

• Best Animated Short Film

PRISONERS (2013)

• Best Cinematography - Roger Deakins

A QUIET PLACE (2018)

• 2018 - Official Selection
• Best Sound Design

THE RAID: REDEMPTION (2011)

• Best Action/Adventure Film

THE RAID 2 (2014)

• 2014 - Official Selection
• Best Stunts and Stunt Choreography
• Best Action/Adventure Film

RED STATE (2011)

• Special Achievement - Pioneering new distribution model

RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES (2011)

• Best Visual Effects
• Special Achievement - Andy Serkis (also for The Adventures of Tin Tin)

ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY (2016)

• Best Costumes
• Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Film
• Best Performance in a Voice Acting Role

ROMA (2018)

• 2018 - Official Selection
• Breakthrough Performance - Yalitza Aparicio
• Best Independent or Limited Release Film

ROOM (2015)

• 2015 - Official Selection
• Best Actress in a Leading Role - Brie Larson

RUSH (2013)

• Best Stunts/Stunt Choreography

SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WORLD (2010)

• Best Comedy Film

THE SECRET IN THEIR EYES (2009)

• Official Selection
• Best Screenplay - Adapted or Historical Material
• Best Foreign Film

SELMA (2014)

• 2014 - Official Selection

A SEPARATION (2011)

• Best Foreign Film

A SERIOUS MAN (2009)

• Official Selection

SHAME (2011)

• Top Ten Film of 2011
• Best Actor in a Leading Role - Michael Fassbender
• Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Carey Mulligan

THE SHAPE OF WATER (2017)

• 2017 - Official Selection
• Best Film of the Year - Drama
• Best Actress in a Lead Role: Drama - Sally Hawkins
• Best Ensemble
• Best Make Up
• Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Film

SHERLOCK HOLMES (2009)

• Best Stunts/Stunt Choreography

SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK (2012)

• Best Screenplay: Adapted Material - David O. Russell

SING STREET (2016)

• 2016 - Official Selection
• Best Music - Original Song: "Drive it Like You Stole It"
• Best Music - Soundtrack

SKYFALL (2012)

• 2012 - Official Selection
• Best Cinematography - Roger Deakins
• Best Music - Original Song - "Skyfall" by Adele
• Best Action/Adventure Film

SMALL FRY (2011)

• Special Achievement - Animated Short Film

SNOWPIERCER (2014)

• Best Visual Design

THE SOCIAL NETWORK (2010)

• Top Ten Film of 2010
• Best Screenplay (Adapted Material) - Aaron Sorkin

SORRY TO BOTHER YOU (2018)

• Best Actor: Comedy/Musical - Lakeith Stanfield 

SPIDER-MAN INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE (2018)

• 2018 - Official Selection
• Best Animated Feature

SPOTLIGHT (2015)

• 2015 - Official Selection
• Best Actor in a Leading Role - Mark Ruffalo

A STAR IS BORN (2018)

• 2018 - Official Selection
• Best Director - Bradley Cooper
• Best Music - Original Song - "Shallow"
• Best Music - Song Score or Soundtrack

STAR TREK (2009)

• Best Visual Design
• Best Sound Design
• Best Make-Up

STAR TREK BEYOND (2016)

• Best Make-Up

STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (2013)

• Best Genre Film - Science Fiction

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS (2015)

• 2015 - Official Selection
• Best Production Design
• Best Fantasy Film

STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON (2015)

• Best Music - Soundtrack Compilation

SUPER 8 (2011)

• Top Ten Film of 2011
• Best Music - Score

SWISS ARMY MAN (2016)

• Best Actor in a Lead Role - Comedy or Musical: Daniel Radcliffe

THOR (2011)

• Best Visual Design

THE TOWN (2010)

• Top Ten Film of 2010

TOY STORY 3 (2010)

• Top Ten Film of 2010
• Best Animated Feature Film

THE TREE OF LIFE (2011)

• Top Ten Film of 2011
• Best Film of the Year
• Best Director - Terrence Malick
• Best Film Editing

TRON: LEGACY (2010)

• Best Visual Design 
• Best Soundtrack - Daft Punk
• Best Sound Design

TRUE GRIT (2010)

• Top Ten Film of 2010
• Best Actress in a Leading Role - Hailee Steinfeld
• Best Ensemble Cast

UP (2009)

• Official Selection
• Best Animated Feature Film

UPSTREAM COLOR (2013)

• Best Film - Limited Theatrical Release

VICE (2018)

• Best Make-Up & Hair

WEEKEND (2011)

• Best Film - Limited Theatrical Release

WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS (2015)

• Best Comedy

WHIPLASH (2014)

• 2014 - Official Selection
• Best Actor in a Supporting Role - JK Simmons
• Best Sound Design

WIDOWS (2018)

• Best Ensemble - Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki, Cynthia Erivo, Colin Farrell, Brian Tyree Henry, Daniel Kaluuya, Jacki Weaver, Carrie Coon, Robert Duvall, Liam Neeson, Lukas Haas

THE WITCH (2016)

• Best Screenplay - Original Material
• Best Limited Theatrical Release Film

THE WOLF OF WALL STREET (2013)

• 2013 - Official Selection
• Best Comedy Film

WON'T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? (2018)

• Best Documentary

WONDER WOMAN (2017)

• 2017 - Official Selection
• Best Blockbuster Film

WORLD OF TOMORROW (2015)

• Best Animated Short Film

WRECK-IT RALPH (2012)

• Best Film - Animated Feature

X-MEN: FIRST CLASS (2011)

• Best Make-Up Effects
• Best Science Fiction Film

YOUR NAME (2017)

• 2017 - Official Selection

ZERO DARK THIRTY (2012)

• 2012 - Official Selection
• Best Film of the Year
• Best Sound Design

ZOMBIELAND (2009)

• Best Horror Film