Recent recipients include Isabelle Huppert, Kenneth Branagh and Gary Oldman. The awards ceremony, hosted by actors Alice Lowe and Steve Oram at the May Fair Hotel in Central London, ended with Jude Law presenting Kate Winslet with the Dilys Powell Award, the Critics’ Circle’s highest career-achievement honor. “Blade Runner 2049” production designer Dennis Gassner was singled out for the Circle’s multi-disciplinary technical achievement award, in which nominees had ranged from the makeup of “The Love Witch” to the music of “ Dunkirk.” Christopher Nolan’s war epic was named British/Irish Film of the Year, however, while Sally Hawkins and Daniel Kaluuya were named top British/Irish actress and actor.įirst-time writer-director Francis Lee took the Breakthrough Filmmaker award for his beloved gay romance “God’s Own Country,” while another newcomer, 21-year-old Harris Dickinson, won Young British/Irish Performer honors for his striking turn in another acclaimed gay-themed drama, U.S. Release-date discrepancies also surfaced in the foreign-language and documentary races, where “Elle” and “I Am Not Your Negro” won a year after their Oscar run. Grant is Oscar-ineligible because of the film’s January release date stateside, though given the raves from American critics, you wonder what could have happened with an earlier U.S. The London crowd opted for hometown favorites in the supporting categories, with Lesley Manville (“Phantom Thread”) and Hugh Grant (“Paddington 2”) emerging victorious. After months have passed without a culprit in her daughter’s murder case. critics’ awards across the pond: He was named Actor of the Year for “Call Me by Your Name.” THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI is a darkly comic drama from Academy Award winner Martin McDonagh (IN BRUGES). Timothée Chalamet extended his dominance of the U.S. Sean Baker was named Director of the Year for “The Florida Project” - some consolation, perhaps, after the scrappy indie was mostly shut out of this week’s Oscar nominations. The last film that depicted this was Miss Sloane, and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is another welcome addition. The triple win for McDonagh’s film aside, however, the London critics spread the love around. We are overdue for another film that pits a woman, acting singularly, working against the establishment. “Three Billboards” had led this year’s field of nominees, announced last month, with seven bids it beat out a diverse shortlist of titles, ranging from “Get Out” to “Lady Bird” to “Loveless,” to the top prize. The dark revenge comedy was named Film of the Year, in addition to two other major wins: Frances McDormand took Actress of the Year honors, while McDonagh was additionally recognized for his peppery screenplay. It may be proving the most critically divisive of this year’s top Oscar contenders, but Martin McDonagh’s “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” united enough opinion to emerge victorious in this year’s London Film Critics’ Circle awards Sunday.