C-47 Houston magazine attended the Houston Film Critics Society 2008 Film Awards Presentation and Reception Saturday afternoon, December 20th, 2008 at the MFAH’s Brown Auditorium in Houston.
Mr. Nick Nicholson, President of the HFCS, presided over the awards presentation to an auditorium of film buffs, filmmakers and Houston Industry leaders. Speaking about the films and presenting the awards were: DailySmackDown.com's Eric Harrison, Houston Free Press writer and VP of HFCS  Michael Bergeron, Louis B.  Parks of the Houston Chronicle, Houston Public Radio's Regina Scruggs, Conroe Courier's Sally Hill, Michael Sicinski of Cinemascope and AcademicHack.net, KILT-FM's T.J. Callahan, Variety and MovieMaker's Joe Laydon and KHOU's "Jake's Take" Jake Hamilton. After the presentation there was a reception upstairs in the museum where a cornucopia of chocolates and desserts were provided by The Chocolate Bar and Treebeards. Below are some of the pictures of this annual event.

Below are the HFCS's 2008 picks:

The Outstanding Film Critics Award: Roger Ebert
Best Outstanding Achievement in Cinema: Andrea Grover and her work with the Aurora Picture Show.
Best Achievement in Film Programming: Marian Luntz and the MFAH-Film
Best Foreign Language Film: Mongol
Best Original Song: “Down to Earth” from Wall-E
Best Original Score: “Miracle at St. Anna” – Terence Blanchard
Best Animated Film: Wall-E
Best Documentary Film: “Man On Wire”
Best Cinematography: Claudio Miranda for “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Best Screenplay: “Slum Dog Millionaire” by Simon Beaufoy
Best Performance by an Ensemble Cast: “Doubt”
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight”
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: Viola Davis in “Doubt”
Best Performance by an Actor in a leading Role: Sean Penn in “Milk”
Best Performance by an Actress in a leading Role: Anne Hathaway in “Rachel Getting Married”
Best Direction of a Motion Picture: Danny Boyle in “Slum Dog Millionaire”
Best Picture: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

The Houston Film Critics Society is a non-profit voluntary Organization of print, Broadcast and internet film critics based in the Greater Houston Metropolitan area that meets its membership criteria. It encourages the publication and broadcasting of substantive critical commentary on film and cooperation among those regularly engaged in film criticism in the region; increases public awareness and appreciation of cinematic excellence; recognizes extraordinary accomplishment in film through the selection of annual recipients of Houston Film Critics Awards and the publicizing of those awards; and honors both current and former distinguished members of the Association and their contributions to the Association's mission. 

Visit: www.houstonfilmcritics.com 

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