Winners Announced: 2026 National Society of Film Critics Awards
The National Society of Film Critics has announced the winners for the 2026 National Society of Film Critics Awards. This prestigious organization, established in 1966, consists of over 60 critics from leading media outlets across the United States. Each year, they conduct a thorough voting process to recognize excellence in various film categories.
Voting Process
The unique voting system employs a weighted ballot. Critics select their top three choices for each category, with points assigned as follows:
- First Choice: 3 points
- Second Choice: 2 points
- Third Choice: 1 point
The nominee accumulating the highest point total and appearing on most ballots wins the award. If no clear winner emerges, a second ballot is held, continuing until a nominee achieves majority support.
2026 Winners
Here are the winners and notable nominees from the recent awards:
Best Picture
The Best Picture award went to Nickel Boys from the previous year. Competing titles included:
- Hard Truths
- A Real Pain
- All We Imagine as Light
Best Director
The Best Director award was presented to Ethan Hawke for his work on Blue Moon. Notable runners-up included:
- Wagner Moura, The Secret Agent
- Michael B. Jordan, Sinners
Best Actor
Winner of Best Actor was Ethan Hawke for Blue Moon. The competition featured:
- Wagner Moura, The Secret Agent
- Michael B. Jordan, Sinners
Best Actress
Kathleen Chalfant secured the Best Actress award for Familiar Touch. Her closest competitors were:
- Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
- Renate Reinsve, Sentimental Value
Best Supporting Actor
Benicio del Toro won Best Supporting Actor for his role in One Battle After Another, with notable mentions including:
- Delroy Lindo, Sinners
- Stellan Skarsgard, Sentimental Value
Best Supporting Actress
The Best Supporting Actress award was given to Teyana Taylor for One Battle After Another. Runners-up included:
- Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Sentimental Value
- Wunmi Mosaku, Sinners
Best Screenplay
The award for Best Screenplay went to Jafar Panahi for It Was Just an Accident, with competition from:
- Robert Kaplow, Blue Moon
- Kleber Mendonça Filho, The Secret Agent
Best Cinematography
Autumn Durald Arkapaw was recognized with the Best Cinematography award for Sinners. Other notable cinematographers included:
- Adolpho Veloso, Train Dreams
- Michael Bauman, One Battle After Another
The awards also featured several special categories such as Best Nonfiction Film, Best Film Not in the English Language, and the Film Heritage Award. This year, the Film Heritage Award honored the late Ken and Flo Jacobs.
For the latest updates and more details about the winners of the 2026 National Society of Film Critics Awards, visit El-Balad.
