We look forward to honoring the best films, actors, and filmmakers of the year. A tentative timeline for our 2024 awards appears below:
Awards Timeline
- Nomination viewing deadline: December 3
- Nominees announced: December 6
- Final viewing deadline: December 14
- Awards announced: December 16
Categories
Our awards honor the breadth of feature film with awards for the best in the following categories:
- Best Picture
- Director
- Actor in a Leading Role
- Actress in a Leading Role
- Actor in a Supporting Role
- Actress in a Supporting Role
- Ensemble Cast
- Screenplay
- Animated Feature
- Documentary Feature
- International Film
(Not in the English Language)
- Cinematography
- Costume Design
- Film Editing
- Original Score
- Production Design
- Visual Effects
- Action Choreography
- Youth Performance
(18 years or younger upon start of filming) - Villain of the Year
- Pacific Northwest Award
Eligibility
For eligibility purposes, a feature-length film is defined as any film with a running time in excess of 40 minutes.
- Films must have received a regular (non-festival) theatrical run during the eligibility period (January 1 – December 31 2024) in:
- (a) The greater Seattle area; or
- (b) An Oscar-qualifying market (as specified in Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Rules and Eligibility section for the 97th Academy Awards) with:
- (i) subsequent digital and/or VOD platform release, or
- (ii) if screened for SFCS Members in a theater, via digital streaming link, or DVD/Blu-ray screener discs during the nomination period. Such screenings/screeners must be open to all members.
- Films deemed eligible by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for Animated Feature, Documentary Feature, and International Feature will also be eligible for awards consideration by the SFCS.
Films may qualify for SFCS awards consideration in multiple years, but may only be nominated in one year (e.g., a film qualifying via Rule 2 in 2023 that was not nominated for awards may also qualify via Rule 1 in 2024).
The Pacific Northwest Award
The SFCS Board convenes a nominating committee for the Pacific Northwest Award. All traditionally eligible films are available for consideration, with a focus on those whose primary production was in the Pacific Northwest: specifically in Washington, Oregon, or Idaho (USA). Both feature-length documentary and narrative films are eligible for this award.
Films may additionally qualify for this award via theatrical or streaming presentation at the Seattle International Film Festival, the Local Sightings Film Festival, or others deemed appropriate by the Board.
The nominating committee will present a slate of PNW nominees to the full membership no later than one month prior to the SFCS general nomination deadline. The winner of the Pacific Northwest Award will be decided by a vote of the full SFCS membership.
For additional information and updates, see Pacific Northwest Award page.
John Hartl Pacific Northwest Spotlight Award
As part of our annual awards highlighting the best in film, the Seattle Film Critics Society (SFCS) has added a new award to specifically honor the outstanding work of a person with local ties to the region.
The John Hartl Pacific Northwest Spotlight award is named in honor of John Hartl, the late Seattle Times film critic whose legacy remains a beacon in the region and beyond when it comes to writing about film. The SFCS Board will present the award annually to acknowledge an exceptional body of work, rather than a single film or performance.
The inaugural award was presented to Lily Gladstone in December 2024.