Chloé Zhao’s Nomadland is the big winner this year with the Seattle Film Critics Society (“SFCS”), landing five 2020 Seattle Film Critics Society Awards, including Best Picture of the Year. The film also earned Zhao the Best Director award and a win for Best Film Editing. Frances McDormand was named Best Actress in a Leading Role, while Joshua James Richards’ work behind the camera secured a win for Best Cinematography.
Lee Isaac Chung’s Minari, followed with three SFCS awards including Best Film Not in the English Language, Best Youth Performance, honoring 7-year-old Alan Kim’s role as David, the family’s youngest child often tasked with dealing with his eccentric grandmother, played by Best Supporting Actress recipient Yuh-jung Youn.
Jon Bois’ unique and innovative 220-minute YouTube documentary The History of the Seattle Mariners: Supercut Edition won the Best Documentary Feature prize.
Riz Ahmed was named Best Actor for his powerful work as Ruben in Sound of Metal, portraying a punk rock drummer forced to deal with the rapid onset of hearing loss and changes in his life he seemingly cannot control.
Daniel Kaluuya’s blistering work as civil rights activist Fred Hampton in Judas and the Black Messiah earned him the Best Supporting Actor prize.
Emerald Fennell’s Promising Young Woman earned the first-time writer/director the Best Screenplay award.
2020 Seattle Film Critics Society Award Winners
Best Picture of the Year
Nomadland (Searchlight Pictures)
Best Director
Chloé Zhao – Nomadland
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Riz Ahmed – Sound of Metal
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Frances McDormand – Nomadland
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Daniel Kaluuya – Judas and the Black Messiah
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Yuh-jung Youn – Minari
Best Ensemble Cast
Da 5 Bloods – Kim Coleman, casting director
Best Action Choreography
Tenet
Best Screenplay
Promising Young Woman – Emerald Fennell
Best Animated Feature
Wolfwalkers – Tomm Moore, Ross Stewart, director
Best Documentary Feature
The History of the Seattle Mariners: Supercut Edition – Jon Bois, director
Best Film Not in the English Language
Minari – Lee Isaac Chung, director
Best Cinematography
Nomadland – Joshua James Richards
Best Costume Design
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom – Ann Roth
Best Film Editing
Nomadland – Chloé Zhao
Best Original Score
Soul – Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Jon Batiste
Best Production Design
Mank – Donald Graham Burt (Production Design); Jan Pascale (Set Decorator)
Best Visual Effects
Tenet – Andrew Jackson, Andrew Lockley, Scott Fisher, Mike Chambers
Best Youth Performance (18 years of age or younger upon start of filming):
Alan Kim – Minari
Villain of the Year:
The Invisible Man/Adrian Griffin – The Invisible Man – portrayed by Oliver Jackson-Cohen