AFCA Announces 2009 Awards

The Austin Film Critics Association announced its 2009 award winners on Wednesday, Dec. 16, with critical favorite The Hurt Locker taking first place. The AFCA also honored Kathryn Bigelow and cinematographer Barry Ackroyd for their work on the Iraq war action film, which premiered regionally at the 2009 South by Southwest Film Festival. Other films receiving multiple nods include Inglourious Basterds (from Austin spiritual son Quentin Tarantino), Me and Orson Welles (from actual Austin son Richard Linklater), and Up in the Air (no relation).

---

Best Film: The Hurt Locker

Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker

Best Actor: Colin Firth, A Single Man

Best Actress: Mélanie Laurent, Inglourious Basterds

Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds

Best Supporting Actress: Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air

Best Original Screenplay: Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds

Best Adapted Screenplay: Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner, Up in the Air

Best Cinematography: Barry Ackroyd, The Hurt Locker

Best Original Score: Michael Giacchino, Up

Best Foreign Language Film: Sin Nombre

Best Documentary: Anvil! The Story of Anvil

Best Animated Feature: Up

Best First Film: Neill Blomkamp, District 9

Breakthrough Artist Award: Christian McKay, Me and Orson Welles

Austin Film Award: Me and Orson Welles

---

Top 10 Films:

1) The Hurt Locker

2) Star Trek

3) Up

4) A Serious Man

5) Up in the Air

6) Avatar

7) Inglourious Basterds

8) District 9

9) Where the Wild Things Are

10) (Tie) Moon, The Messenger

---

Top 10 Films of the Decade:

1) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

2) There Will Be Blood

3) The Lord of the Rings

4) The Dark Knight

5) Requiem for a Dream

6) Kill Bill

7) No Country for Old Men

8) The Incredibles

9) Children of Men

10) (Tie) Memento, The Departed

---

The membership of the Austin Film Critics Association includes Cole Abaius (Film School Rejects), Marjorie Baumgarten (The Austin Chronicle), C. Robert Cargill (Film.com), Laurie Coker (Hill Country News), Korey Coleman (Spill), Chris Cox (Spill), Cole Dabney (Cole and Bobby ... at the Movies!! and INsite magazine), Victor Diaz (News 8 Austin), Charles Ealy (Austin American-Statesman), Chris Garcia (Austin American-Statesman), Kimberley Jones (The Austin Chronicle), Jette Kernion (Cinematical), Harry Knowles (Ain't It Cool News), Bobby McCurdy (Cole and Bobby ... at the Movies!! and INsite magazine), Neil Miller (Film School Rejects), Marc Savlov (The Austin Chronicle), Martin Thomas (Spill), and Eric Vespe (Ain't It Cool News). For more info, visit www.austinfilmcritics.org.