Advertisement

African American film critics name ’12 Years a Slave’ best film

Share

The African American Film Critics Assn. on Friday named Steve McQueen’s “12 Years a Slave” the best film of 2013.

The historical drama was the big winner with the organization, earning four awards. Besides best film, “!2 Years a Slave” won director honors for McQueen, screenplay for John Ridley and breakout performance for Lupita Nyong’o.

Forest Whitaker was named best actor for “Lee Daniels’ The Butler,” while Sandra Bullock received best actress honors for “Gravity.”

Advertisement

The critics chose Oprah Winfrey for supporting actress for “The Butler,” and Jared Leto for supporting actor for “Dallas Buyers Club.”

WATCH: Cast and crew discuss ’12 Years a Slave’

“Frozen” won best animated film and “Mother of George” was the recipient of the best world cinema honor. Raphael Sadiq won best music for “Black Nativity” and “Fruitvale Station” was honored with the best independent film award. “American Promise” won top documentary.

The group also announced its top 10 films of 2013: “12 Years a Slave”; “Lee Daniels’ The Butler”; “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom”; “American Hustle”; “Gravity”; “Fruitvale Station”; “Dallas Buyers Club”; “Saving Mr. Banks”; “Out of the Furnace”; and “42.”

After “12 Years a Slave” failed to win best picture honors with the Los Angeles Film Critics Assn. and New York Film Critics Circle earlier this month, the critically lauded drama has rebounded this week. Besides winning four awards Friday, “12 Years a Slave” received an AFI Award naming it one of the top 10 films of the year, dominated the Screen Actors Guild Award nominations and tied with “American Hustle” for the most Golden Globe nods.

Bob and Harvey Weinstein, Cheryl Boone Isaacs, Paris Barclay, Zola Mashariki and Justin Chang were previously announced as winners of the group’s Special Achievement Awards.

Advertisement

The critics will present the awards at a ceremony Jan. 31 at the Taglyan Complex in Hollywood.

ALSO:

Oscar 8 Ball: ‘Dallas Buyers Club’ and ‘Her’ could land academy gold

How early awards might shake up Oscar predictions

In ‘American Hustle,’ the costumes are practically characters

Advertisement