The countdown is on—and for true movie lovers, this is where the awards season really begins. The 2025 New York Film Critics Circle Awards are currently in the voting stage, and cinephiles across the globe are buzzing with anticipation. These awards don’t just forecast the Oscars; they reveal the tastes and passions of one of cinema’s most discerning groups. The NYFCC’s choices often spark conversation because they’re guided not by industry politics but by pure love of film. Among its members are respected voices such as IndieWire’s Kate Erbland, David Ehrlich, and Ryan Lattanzio—critics who define what it truly means to live and breathe cinema.
In 2024, the NYFCC crowned Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist as Best Film, a bold and unconventional choice that set the tone for the season. Several of its winners—like Flow (Best Animated Feature), Kieran Culkin (Best Supporting Actor for A Real Pain), Adrien Brody (Best Actor for The Brutalist), and Sean Baker (Best Screenplay)—later found success at the Oscars, reinforcing the Circle’s reputation as early trendsetters. But here’s where the conversation gets interesting: some NYFCC favorites, like Best Actress winner Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Best Director RaMell Ross, and Best Cinematography winner Nickel Boys (which IndieWire hailed as 2024’s top film), were completely overlooked by the Academy. It’s a reminder that the NYFCC doesn’t chase popularity—they celebrate artistry.
The New York Film Critics Circle has never been about the glitz of awards hype. Its members are purists—people driven by thoughtful criticism and an enduring respect for the craft of filmmaking. One of the most telling examples of this reverence dates back to January 1942, when legendary director John Ford personally attended the NYFCC dinner to accept his Best Director award for How Green Was My Valley. Ford famously skipped every other ceremony that year, including the Oscars, choosing instead to dedicate his time to Navy service. But even he recognized the NYFCC dinner as the one event worth showing up to—a testament to how seriously filmmakers regard this circle’s honors.
That tradition continues. The 2025 NYFCC Awards dinner is already set for January 6, 2026, and expectations are sky-high. This year’s winners so far include:
- Best First Film: Eephus
- Best Animated Feature: KPop Demon Hunters
- Best Non-Fiction Feature: My Undesirable Friends: Part I – Last Air in Moscow
- Best Supporting Actor: Benicio Del Toro, One Battle After Another
- Best International Film: The Secret Agent
Other categories—Best Supporting Actress, Best Cinematography, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, and Best Film—remain under wraps for now, keeping cinephiles on edge.
And this is the part most people miss: the NYFCC Awards matter not because they predict the Oscars, but because they influence them. Their picks often ignite debates about what truly defines great cinema. So what do you think—should awards honor popularity, artistry, or something in between? Drop your thoughts below and let the conversation begin.
