Critics' Choice Association

Critics' Choice Association
Name	Critics' Choice Association
Type	Professional association
Founded	1995
Founder	Broadcast Film Critics Association
Headquarters	Los Angeles, California
Region	United States
Membership	Film and television critics
Leader title	President
Leader name	Joey Berlin

Critics' Choice Association is a professional group of film and television critics that presents annual awards for cinematic and television achievement. Founded from antecedent organizations in the 1990s, the association organizes the Critics' Choice Awards and related events that influence awards-season momentum for films and television programs. It has members across North America and engages with media outlets and industry organizations.

History

The association originated from the Broadcast Film Critics Association in 1995 and expanded through mergers and rebranding with groups like the Broadcast Television Journalists Association. Early milestones include the inauguration of the Critics' Choice Awards and partnerships with broadcasters such as The CW and VH1. Over time the organization interacted with institutions including the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists during awards-season discourse. Key historical moments involved adaptations to digital journalism and the rise of critics from outlets such as The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Variety, and The Hollywood Reporter. Leadership changes connected the group to figures associated with Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone, and regional press bodies.

Organization and Membership

The association's governance has included presidents and boards drawn from critics at publications and outlets like USA Today, The Guardian (London), Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Magazine, Entertainment Tonight, and major online platforms such as Vulture and IndieWire. Membership categories encompass critics from newspapers, magazines, online outlets, and broadcast outlets including NPR, BBC News, CNN, ABC, and CBS News. Affiliations and cross-membership exist with organizations such as National Society of Film Critics, New York Film Critics Circle, and regional critics' groups in cities like Chicago, San Francisco, and Toronto. Administrative offices operate in hubs including Los Angeles, California and connections extend to entertainment centers like New York City and industry gatherings at Cannes Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, and Toronto International Film Festival.

Critics' Choice Awards

The association administers the Critics' Choice Awards covering categories in film and television, with separate ceremonies for events like the Critics' Choice Movie Awards and Critics' Choice Television Awards. The ceremonies have been televised on networks including VH1, The CW, and streaming partners tied to companies such as Netflix and Paramount Global. Award categories have honored achievements associated with films like The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Titanic, Everything Everywhere All at Once, and television programs such as Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, and The Crown. The trophies have become part of awards-season forecasting alongside honors from Golden Globe Awards, BAFTA, and the Academy Awards.

Selection Process and Voting

Voting is conducted by credentialed critics from outlets across print, broadcast, and digital media, with ballots circulated among members drawn from organizations like The New Yorker, Time, Esquire, and The Atlantic. Nomination procedures and final voting have at times been administered by staff and committees with oversight from the board and involved engagement with publicists and studios such as Warner Bros., Universal Pictures, Walt Disney Studios, and independent distributors present at festivals like Sundance Film Festival and Telluride Film Festival. The association has updated rules to address eligibility windows, campaign conduct, and submission materials in ways comparable to policies from Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.

Notable Winners and Records

Multiple Critics' Choice winners include performers and filmmakers such as Meryl Streep, Daniel Day-Lewis, Frances McDormand, Kathryn Bigelow, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Alfonso Cuarón, Bong Joon-ho, Greta Gerwig, Brad Pitt, and Cate Blanchett. Films that dominated Critics' Choice categories mirror broader awards recognition for titles like No Country for Old Men, Argo, La La Land, Moonlight, and The Social Network. Television series with multiple wins include The Sopranos, Mad Men, The Handmaid's Tale, Succession, and The Americans. Individual records for most wins or nominations have been tracked for creatives associated with studios and networks including HBO, Netflix, AMC, and FX.

Controversies and Criticism

The association has faced scrutiny similar to other awards bodies, including debates over transparency, eligibility, and the influence of studio campaigns from companies like Sony Pictures, Lionsgate, and Amazon Studios. Critiques have referenced comparisons to controversies involving Golden Globe Awards and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association concerning governance and diversity. Accusations of bloc voting, regional bias, and representation prompted procedural revisions and discussions with groups such as Laurel Award proponents and diversity advocates linked to outlets like The New York Times and Variety. The association has responded with membership reviews and public statements engaging with critics from publications including The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and trade press such as Deadline Hollywood.

Category:American film awards organizations