‘Nomadland,’ ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’ top Las Vegas Film Critics Society winners

A woman who embarks on a journey through the American West, living as a van-dwelling modern-day nomad, took home the society’s top Sierra Awards for 2020 – Best Picture, Best Director for Chloé Zhao and Best Actress for Frances McDormand. “Nomadland” was also awarded Best Cinematography.

Riz Ahmed received Best Actor as a heavy-metal drummer whose life is thrown into freefall when he begins to lose his hearing in “Sound of Metal.” Best Supporting Actor was awarded to Daniel Kaluuya for his portrayal of activist Fred Hampton in “Judas and the Black Messiah.” The film also won Best Original Screenplay and Best Song.

Amanda Seyfried was recognized as Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Marion Davies in the biographical drama “Mank.”

Other highlights this year were Best Animated Film for “Soul,” Best Costume Design for “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” “Boys State” for Best Documentary, “Another Round” for Best Foreign Film and Best Adapted Screenplay for “One Night in Miami.”

The William Holden Lifetime Achievement Award was bestowed upon actress Rita Moreno.

The Las Vegas Film Critics Society is a non-profit, progressive organization dedicated to the advancement and preservation of film and is composed of select print, television, radio and internet critics in the Las Vegas and Reno areas. The LVFCS presents its Sierra Awards each year for the best in film, including the William Holden Lifetime Achievement Award, which is named for the brilliant Academy Award winning actor.

Best Picture
“Nomadland”

Best Actor
Riz Ahmed, “Sound of Metal”

Best Actress
Frances McDormand, “Nomadland”

Best Supporting Actor
Daniel Kaluuya, “Judas and the Black Messiah”

Best Supporting Actress
Amanda Seyfried, “Mank”

Best Director
Chloé Zhao, “Nomadland”

Best Original Screenplay
Shaka King & Will Berson, “Judas and the Black Messiah”

Best Adapted Screenplay
Kemp Powers, “One Night in Miami”

Best Cinematography
Joshua James Richards, “Nomadland”

Best Film Editing
Mikkel E.G. Nielsen, “Sound of Metal”

Best Score
Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross & Jon Batiste, “Soul”

Best Song
“Fight For You,” by H.E.R., D’Mile & Tiara Thomas, “Judas and the Black Messiah”

Best Documentary
“Boys State”

Best Animated Film
“Soul”

Best Foreign Film
“Another Round” – Denmark

Best Costume Design
Ann Roth, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”

Best Art Direction
“Mank”

Best Visual Effects
“The Invisible Man”

Best Action Film
“Birds of Prey”

Best Comedy
“Palm Springs”

Best Horror/Sci-Fi
“The Invisible Man”

Best Family Film
“Soul”

Breakout Filmmaker
Emerald Fennell, “Promising Young Woman”

Best Male Youth Performance (under 21)
Alan S. Kim, “Minari”  

Best Female Youth Performance (under 21)
Millie Bobby Brown, “Enola Holmes”

William Holden Lifetime Achievement Award
Rita Moreno

LVFCS Top 10 Films of 2020
1. Nomadland
2. Sound of Metal
3. Promising Young Woman 
4. Minari
5. The Outpost
6. Selah and the Spades
7. Da 5 Bloods
8. Mank
9. The Trial of the Chicago 7
10. Judas and the Black Messiah