The 2021 Austin Film Critics Association Award Winners

The AFCA presents their winners list for the 2021 awards season

The Austin Film Critics Association (AFCA) announced its 2021 awards, with The Power of the Dog leading the way, winning 5 awards from its 9 nominations.

Acting award winners include Agathe Rousselle as Best Actress for Titane, Nicolas Cage as Best Actor for Pig, Kirsten Dunst as Best Supporting Actress for The Power of the Dog, with her co-star Kodi Smit-McPhee taking Best Supporting Actor. The outstanding performers in The French Dispatch garnered that film the AFCA’s Best Ensemble award.

The winner of this year’s Robert R. “Bobby” McCurdy Memorial Breakthrough Artist Award is Alana Haim for her memorable performance in Licorice Pizza.

Other major awards include Pig winning Best Original Screenplay (Vanessa Block and Michael Sarnoski) and Best First Film (Michael Samoski), and The Mitchells vs. the Machines winning Best Animated Feature and Best Animated Performance (Abbi Jacobson). Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) was awarded Best Documentary. Drive My Car won Best Adapted Screenplay for the team of Ryūsuke Hamaguchi and Takamasa Oe, as well as Best International Film.

The full list of winners, including the AFCA Best Austin Film and AFCA Top Ten Films of 2021, is included below.

Best Film: The Power of the Dog

Best Director: Jane Campion, The Power of the Dog

Best Actress: Agathe Rousselle, Titane

Best Actor: Nicolas Cage, Pig

Best Supporting Actress: Kirsten Dunst, The Power of the Dog

Best Supporting Actor: Kodi Smit-McPhee, The Power of the Dog

Kodi Smit-McPhee and Benedict Cumberbatch in AFCA award winner THE POWER OF THE DOG.

Best Ensemble: The French Dispatch

Best Original Screenplay: Vanessa Block and Michael Sarnoski, Pig

Best Adapted Screenplay: Ryūsuke Hamaguchi and Takamasa Oe, Drive My Car

Best Cinematography: Andrew Droz Palermo, The Green Knight

Best Editing: Joe Walker, Dune

Best Original Score: Jonny Greenwood, The Power of the Dog

Best International Film: Drive My Car

Best Documentary: Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)

Best Animated Film: The Mitchells vs. The Machines

Best Voice Acting/Animated/Digital Performance: Abbi Jacobson, The Mitchells vs. The Machines

Best Stunts: No Time to Die

Best First Film: Michael Samoski, Pig

The Robert R. “Bobby” McCurdy Memorial Breakthrough Artist Award: Alana Haim, Licorice Pizza

SPECIAL AWARD: to director Shatara Michelle Ford for Test Pattern, the Best Film Made in Austin by a Non-Austin Filmmaker

As part of the organization’s annual voting, the Austin Film Critics Association awards titles with local ties — works made by directors who live in Austin. This award is distinct to our group of critics.

2021 Austin Film Award Winner: Without Getting Killed or Caught (dirs. Tamara Saviano and Paul Whitfield)

Without Getting Killed or Caught

With the gracious support of the Austin Film Society, Without Getting Killed or Caught will celebrate this win with a special screening at the AFS Cinema at 7pm on January 25th right here in Austin, TX.

AFCA Top 10 Films of 2021

1. Pig
2. The Power of the Dog
3. Licorice Pizza
4. Dune
5. Drive My Car
6. The Green Knight
7. Titane
8. The Tragedy of Macbeth
9. Parallel Mothers and The Worst Person in the World (tie)

Founded in 2005 by Cole Dabney & Bobby McCurdy, the AFCA has seen its membership grow from single digits to well over 35 members. The diverse outlets our members contribute to include Austin American-Statesman, the Austin Chronicle, Austin360.com, Bloody Disgusting, But Why Tho Podcast, Certified Forgotten, Cinapse, Daily Grindhouse, the Daily Dot, the Daily Texan, Double Toasted, Fangoria, Film School Rejects, FirstShowing.net, GotchaMovies, Hammer to Nail, Hill Country News, Horror’s Not Dead, KOOP 91.7 FM Radio, Movies.com, Nerdist, Next Projection, One Movie Punch, One Of Us, Slashfilm, Smells Like Screen Spirit, True View Reviews, and Uproxx.