Toronto Film Critics Association 2009 Awards Winners

Today, the TFCA (Toronto Film Critics Association), has announced their picks for the best movies of the year. The 2009 TFCA Awards will be presented at a gala dinner on January 12, 2010, hosted by Cameron Bailey, co-director of the Toronto International Film Festival. Below are the 2009 winners in the TFCA’s annual awards:

BEST PICTURE (TIE)

Hunger (Maple Pictures)

Inglourious Basterds (Alliance Films)

Runner-up:

The Hurt Locker (Maple Pictures)

BEST PERFORMANCE, MALE

Nicolas Cage - The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans

Runners-up:

George Clooney - Up in the Air

Michael Fassbender - Hunger

Colin Firth - A Single Man

Viggo Mortensen - The Road

BEST PERFORMANCE, FEMALE

Carey Mulligan - An Education

Runners-up:

Arta Dobroshi - Le Silence de Lorna

Meryl Streep - Julie & Julia

BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE, MALE

Christoph Waltz - Inglourious Basterds

Runners-up:

Christian McKay - Me & Orson Welles

Timothy Olyphant - A Perfect Getaway

BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE, FEMALE

Anna Kendrick - Up in the Air

Runners-up:

Vera Farmiga - Up in the Air

Mo'nique - Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire

BEST DIRECTOR

Kathryn Bigelow - The Hurt Locker

Runners-up:

Steve McQueen - Hunger

Quentin Tarantino - Inglourious Basterds

BEST SCREENPLAY (TIE)

Inglourious Basterds - written by Quentin Tarantino

Up in the Air - written by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner, based on the novel by Walter Kirn

Runner-up:

A Serious Man - written by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen

BEST FIRST FEATURE

Hunger - directed by Steve McQueen

Runners-up:

District 9 - directed by Neill Blomkamp

(500) Days of Summer - directed by Marc Webb

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

Fantastic Mr. Fox (Fox Searchlight)

Runners-up:

Coraline (Alliance Films)

Up (Disney-Pixar)

BEST FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM

The White Ribbon (Mongrel Media)

Runners-up:

Police, adjective (filmswelike)

Summer Hours (E1 Entertainment)

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

The Cove (Maple Pictures)

Runners-up:

Anvil! The Story of Anvil (filmswelike)

The Beaches of Agnes (E1 Entertainment)

BEST FIRST FEATURE

Steve McQueen - Hunger

ROGERS BEST CANADIAN FEATURE AWARD (Winner TBA, Jan. 12th)

The Necessities of Life - Benoît Pilon

Polytechnique - Denis Villeneuve

Pontypool - Bruce McDonald

CLYDE GILMOUR AWARD FOR ADVANCING THE APPRECIATION OF FILM

Mark Peranson - editor and publisher of the internationally acclaimed Cinema Scope magazine, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.

JAY SCOTT PRIZE FOR EMERGING TALENT

Winner TBA, Jan. 12th

Some interesting choices here, as these are the opinions of 34 Toronto film critics. Brian D. Johnson, president of the TFCA said in a statement: “Toronto is home to a diverse and astute community of film critics. This year’s lack of clear consensus reflects the spirited discourse that’s vital to our profession. Our awards represent a vote of confidence in cinema that breaks new ground with passionate performances and audacious vision.” Indeed so. Many interesting and unique choices here.

-John C.