Winners Announced: The 46th London Critics’ Circle Film Awards
Image courtesy of the Critics' Circle
The 46th annual London Critics’ Circle Film Awards were held this afternoon at London’s May Fair Hotel, where One Battle After Another won the big prize for Film of the Year.
Films are automatically eligible if they are released in UK cinemas or on premiere streaming services between mid-February 2025 and mid-February 2026. The London Critics' Circle Film Awards are voted for by the 207-member Film Section of the Critics' Circle, the UK's longest-standing and most prestigious critics' organisation. The vast majority of Film Review’s roster of critics are members of the London Film Critics’ Circle, including Executive Editor James Cameron-Wilson, Mansel Stimpson, Michael Darvell, George Savvides and Wendy Lloyd. Held since 1980, the annual awards ceremony is a star-studded event that honours the best of the year’s cinematic achievements. Each year showcases established performers and filmmakers alongside up-and-coming talent, with an effort to spotlight a group of winners who represent the ideals of the Critics’ Circle. For the third year running, the ceremony was hosted by venerable film critic Mark Kermode.
The Derek Malcolm Award for Innovation was presented to Cynthia Erivo by Hannah Waddingham. Sally Hawkins presented Guillermo del Toro with the Dilys Powell Award for Excellence in Film, making him the 35th recipient of the London Critics' top honour. Jane Crowther, chair of the Critics’ Circle Film section, said, “The winners of the London Critics’ Circle Film Awards show the passion of our voting membership for fresh intriguing stories, committed performances and exemplary craft. We congratulate each and every one of them.”
46th London Critics’ Circle Film Awards:
And the winners are…
FILM OF THE YEAR Sponsored by Hollywood Authentic
One Battle After Another
FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM OF THE YEAR
Sentimental Value
DOCUMENTARY OF THE YEAR
The Perfect Neighbor
ANIMATED FILM OF THE YEAR
KPop Demon Hunters
DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Paul Thomas Anderson - One Battle After Another
SCREENWRITER OF THE YEAR Sponsored by Celtx
Paul Thomas Anderson - One Battle After Another
ACTRESS OF THE YEAR Sponsored by WS Hair Pro – Imperial Collection
Jessie Buckley - Hamnet
ACTOR OF THE YEAR Sponsored by Cinemadix
Timothée Chalamet - Marty Supreme
SUPPORTING ACTRESS OF THE YEAR
Amy Madigan - Weapons
SUPPORTING ACTOR OF THE YEAR Sponsored by Seesaw Media
Sean Penn - One Battle After Another
BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMER OF THE YEAR Sponsored by Regent Street Cinema
Robert Aramayo - I Swear/Palestine 36
THE ATTENBOROUGH AWARD: BRITISH/IRISH FILM OF THE YEAR Sponsored by BFI Player
Pillion
THE PHILIP FRENCH AWARD: BREAKTHROUGH BRITISH/IRISH FILMMAKER
Harry Lighton - Pillion
BRITISH/IRISH PERFORMER OF THE YEAR (for body of work) Sponsored by BritBox
Josh O’Connor - The Mastermind/The History of Sound/Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
YOUNG BRITISH/IRISH PERFORMER OF THE YEAR
Alfie Williams - 28 Years Later
BRITISH/IRISH SHORT FILM OF THE YEAR
Neil Armstrong and the Langholmites - Directed by Duncan Cowles
TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Sponsored by Abbey Road Studios
Sinners - Music, Ludwig Göransson
THE DILYS POWELL AWARD: EXCELLENCE IN FILM
Guillermo del Toro
THE DEREK MALCOLM AWARD FOR INNOVATION
Cynthia Erivo
Click here for a list of all the nominees.
About The Critics' Circle:
Established in 1913, the Critics' Circle is the oldest organisation of its kind in the world, with more than 450 members who work in the UK media as critics of art and architecture, books, dance, drama, film, and music. Chaired by Jane Crowther, the Film Section membership is made up of 207 UK film critics, broadcasters and writers, including Mark Kermode, Metro's Larushka Ivan-Zadeh, Guardian critic Peter Bradshaw, and Film Review’s Executive Editor James Cameron-Wilson. The awards have been presented annually since 1980. For further information, please visit: https://criticscircle.org.uk/
