National Society of Film Critics Awards: 'Nomadland' wins four titles

Awards season is starting, just at a slower pace in 2021

Frances McDormand as Fern in 'Nomadland'. Cor Cordium Productions

Awards season 2021 will, without a doubt, be different from previous years. It will be spaced out, both on the calendar and in attendance. However, it is still amping up in January, as it has in the past.

The National Society of Film Critics Awards took place last night, on schedule, and Nomadland took home four awards. The film, starring Frances McDormand, was named Best Picture, Chloe Zhao won the Best Director award and McDormand won the Best Actress for the film. It was also recognised with the Best Cinematography award.

The film tells the story of Fern (McDormand), who loses her job in the recession and so sells her belongings following her husband's death and buys a van, embarking upon a journey through America as a nomad.

Other winners on the night include Best Actor Delroy Lindo for Da 5 Bloods; Maria Bakalova, who was named Best Supporting Actress for her role in Borat Subsequent Moviefilm; and Paul Raci was named Best Supporting Actor for Sound of Metal.

Best Screenplay went to Never Rarely Sometimes Always, Best Foreign-Language Film was Romanian picture, Collective, and Time was named Best Non-Fiction Film.

The National Society of Film Critics Awards is known as one of the more high-brow film awards, voted for by approximately 60 critics at US publications, including The New Yorker, The Christian Science Monitor and The Wall Street Journal.

In 2020, Parasite was named Best Picture; Antonio Banderas won Best Actor for Pain and Glory; and Mary Kay Place won Best Actress for Diane.

Still to come on the awards season calendar are the IFP Gotham Awards ceremony on January 11 and the National Board of Review winners will be announced. Traditionally, the Golden Globes take place in January, however, in 2021 they are to be held on February 28.