Awards season is off and running, with the year's biggest films vying for prizes and bragging rights. Fruitvale Station and 12 Years a Slave can add to their tally. The films were each awarded prizes by both the National Board of Review and the New York Film Critics Circle.
Fruitvale Station had a stellar showing at the NBR Awards, winning Breakthrough Performance for Michael B. Jordan, Best Supporting Actress for Octavia Spencer and Best Directorial Debut for Ryan Coogler. Along with 12 Years a Slave, it was also recognized by the organization as one of the Top Films of the Year.
The National Board of Review, which describes itself as “a select group of knowledgeable film enthusiasts and professionals, academics, young filmmakers and students,” isn't regarded as an Oscars taste maker, but is prestigious in its own right.
The New York Film Critics Circle, by contrast, is known to have a strong correlation with Oscar wins, particularly in acting categories. Fruitvale Station took home the Best First Film award by New York's elite critics, while Steve McQueen earned his first Best Director nod of the season.
For a complete list of winners for the National Board of Review awards, click here, and here for all the winners of the New York Film Critics Circle Awards.
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(photo: The Weinstein Company)