‘The Favourite’ Leads Houston Film Critics Society Nominations

The Favourite, Black Panther, and If Beale Street Could talk lead the HFCS 2018 nominations

“Oscar-style” event returns to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston on January 3, 2019

The Favourite – director Yorgos Lanthimos’ irreverent look at the life of Britain’s Queen Anne in the 18th century – leads the nominees for the Houston Film Critics Society’s 12th Annual Movie Awards. The film is nominated for seven awards including Best Picture.

This prestigious body of film journalists annually nominates and recognizes the best work in films. Winners will be announced on Thursday, January 3, 2019 at the awards ceremony at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.  The event, which is open to the public at no charge, begins at 7 PM.

In addition to Best Picture, other nominations for The Favourite include Best Director (Lanthimos), Actress (Olivia Colman), Supporting Actress (Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz), Screenplay and Cinematography.

“Once again, the HFCS nominations tell the story of the year in film,” says Joshua Starnes, President of the organization. “By celebrating popular blockbusters as well as acclaimed independent films, the nominations remind us why we love to go to the movies.”

Following The Favourite in total nominations are Black Panther and If Beale Street Could Talk, each with six nods including Best Picture, as well as A Star is Born and Vice, each with five nominations including Best Picture. Other contenders for Best Picture are BlackKklansman, Eighth Grade, First Reformed, Green Book, Hereditary and Roma.

“What a year in film we celebrate for 2018,” Starnes continues, “with as varied a slate of nominees as we can remember since the Society began honoring film.”

Nominated for Best Actor are Christian Bale, Vice; Bradley Cooper, A Star is Born; Ethan Hawke, First Reformed; Rami Malek, Bohemian Rhapsody and Viggo Mortenson, Green Book. For Best Actress, the Society honors Glenn Close, The Wife; Toni Collette, Hereditary; Olivia Colman, The Favourite; Lady Gaga, A Star is Born; and Melissa McCarthy, Can You Ever Forgive Me?

The critics also poke fun at some of the year’s lesser titles by naming the Best Worst Film of the Year. This year’s nominees are The 5:17 to Paris, The Happytime Murders, Life Itself, Peppermint and Venom.

Members of the HFCS are working film journalists on television, radio, online and in traditional print. Together, they reach millions of people each week across the United States with their commentaries on film. The organization also actively promotes the advancement of film in the Houston community.

2018 Houston Film Critics Society Nominations

The HFCS Texas Independent Film Award

1985, An American in Texas, The Standoff at Sparrow Creek, Support the Girls, Tejano

Best Picture

A Star is Born, Black Panther, BlackKklansman, Eighth Grade, If Beale Street Could Talk, The Favourite, First Reformed, Green Book, Hereditary, Roma, Vice

Best Director

Bradley Cooper, A Star is Born; Alfonso Cuaron, Roma; Barry Jenkins, If Beale Street Could Talk; Yorgos Lanthimos, The Favourite; Adam McKay, Vice

Best Actor

Christian Bale, Vice; Bradley Cooper, A Star is Born; Ethan Hawke, First Reformed; Rami Malek, Bohemian Rhapsody; Viggo Mortensen, Green Book

Best Actress

Glenn Close, The Wife; Toni Collette, Hereditary; Olivia Colman, The Favourite; Lady Gaga, A Star is Born; Melissa McCarthy, Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Best Supporting Actor

Mahershala Ali, Green Book; Timothée Chalamet, Beautiful Boy; Adam Driver, BlackKklansman; Richard E. Grant, Can You Ever Forgive Me?; Michael B. Jordan, Black Panther

Best Supporting Actress

Amy Adams, Vice; Claire Foy, First Man; Regina King, If Beale Street Could Talk; Emma Stone, The Favourite; Rachel Weisz, The Favourite

Best Screenplay

Bo Burnham, Eighth Grade; Deborah Davis & Tony McNamara, The Favourite; Paul Schrader, First Reformed; Barry Jenkins, If Beale Street Could Talk; Adam McKay, Vice

Best Cinematography

Rachel Morrison, Black Panther; Linus Sandgren, First Man; Robbie Ryan, The Favourite; James Laxton, If Beale Street Could Talk; Alfonso Cuaron, Roma

Best Animated Film

Incredibles 2, Isle of Dogs, Mirai, Ralph Breaks the Internet, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Best Original Score

Ludwig Göransson, Black Panther; Justin Hurwitz, First Man; Nicholas Britell, If Beale Street Could Talk; Alexandre Desplat, Isle of Dogs; Thom Yorke, Suspiria

Best Original Song

All the Stars, Black Panther; Ashes, Deadpool 2; Hearts Beat Loud, Hearts Beat Loud; Revelation, Boy Erased; Shallow, A Star is Born

Best Foreign Language Film

Burning, Border, Cold War, Roma, Shoplifters

Best Documentary Feature

Free Solo, Minding the Gap, RBG, Three Identical Strangers, Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

Visual Effects

Black Panther, First Man, Mission: Impossible – Fallout

Best Poster

BlacKkKlansman (two), Mandy, Suspiria (two)

Best Worst Film of the Year

The 5:17 to Paris, The Happytime Murders, Life Itself, Peppermint, Venom


The 12th Annual Houston Film Critics Society’s Movie Awards are underwritten by Allied Siding and Windows – A Courtright Family Company with promotional assistance from Gow Media’s ESPN 97.5 FM and SportsMap 94.1 FM.


A silent auction benefitting the HFCS (a 501c3 organization), will include unique movie industry collectibles and will be staged at the awards show after-party at the Hotel ZaZa, Houston Museum District. While there is no charge for admission to the awards show, tickets are required to ensure a manageable level of attendance.   You may secure your complimentary tickets here.