ROMA Feels the Love with D.C. Film Critics

"Roma" triumphed with four wins when The Washington, D.C. Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA) announced their top honorees for 2018 this morning. A poignantly observed, Mexico-set period drama dedicated to director Alfonso Cuarón's real-life childhood nanny, "Roma" won Best Film and Best Director, as well as Best Foreign Language Film and Best Cinematography for its sweeping black-and-white lensing.

WAFCA awarded Best Actor to Bradley Cooper and Best Actress to Lady Gaga for their transformative turns in star-crossed musical love story "A Star Is Born." Cooper also made his directorial debut with this acclaimed modern remake. Best Supporting Actor was awarded to Mahershala Ali, starring as classical pianist Don Shirley in Peter Farrelly's socially conscious comedy-drama "Green Book." Best Supporting Actress went to Regina King, touching as a mother seeking justice for her pregnant daughter's wrongfully incarcerated beau in BARRY Jenkins' "If Beale Street Could Talk."

Best Acting Ensemble accolades were awarded to Yorgos Lanthimos' 18th-century historical satire "The Favourite," co-starring Olivia Colman as Queen Anne and Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone as cutthroat cousins vying for their royal highness' affections. "The Favourite" additionally took home Best Original Screenplay honors for Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara's sharp-tongued writing.

For their enthralling adaptation of author Lee Israel's acclaimed 2008 memoir, Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty earned the Best Adapted Screenplay award for "Can You Ever Forgive Me?" Melissa McCarthy stars in the film as Israel, a hard-drinking, down-on-her-luck writer who discovers a potentially lucrative-and criminal-way to make money: forging and selling letters from deceased authors and playwrights.

Wes Anderson's exquisitely crafted stop-motion ode to canines "Isle of Dogs" was awarded Best Animated Feature. Bryan Cranston, one of the film's stars, earned Best Voice Performance. For his intense, surprisingly layered turn as villain Thanos in "Avengers: Infinity War," Josh Brolin claimed the award for Best Motion Capture Performance. Elsie Fisher clinched the Best Youth Performance category for her sensitive and touching work in "Eighth Grade."

Best Documentary kudos went to the lovely, feel-good "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" The film centers on the life and philosophy of the late Fred Rogers, host of long-running, often groundbreaking children's program "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood."

In technical categories, Best Production Design went to thrilling superhero adventure "Black Panther," Best Editing was awarded to intimate Neil Armstrong biographical drama "First Man," and Best Original Score was given to "If Beale Street Could Talk."

The Joe Barber Award for Best Portrayal of Washington, DC, given each year in honor of one of WAFCA's cherished late members, went to Adam McKay's offbeat Dick Cheney biopic "Vice."

The Washington, D.C. Area Film Critics Association comprises 60 DC-VA-MD-based film critics from television, radio, print and the Internet. Voting was conducted from November 30-December 2, 2018. A full list of the nominees is available at http://www.wafca.com/index.htm.

THE 2018 WAFCA AWARD WINNERS:

Best Film: Roma	Best Original Screenplay: Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara (The Favourite)
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón (Roma)	Best Adapted Screenplay: Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty (Can You Ever Forgive Me?)
Best Actor: Bradley Cooper (A Star Is Born)	Best Animated Feature: Isle of Dogs
Best Actress: Lady Gaga (A Star Is Born)	Best Documentary: Won't You Be My Neighbor?
Best Supporting Actor: Mahershala Ali (Green Book)	Best Foreign Language Film: Roma
Best Supporting Actress: Regina King (If Beale Street Could Talk)	Best Production Design: Production Designer: Hannah Beachler; Set Decorator: Jay Hart (Black Panther)
Best Acting Ensemble: The Favourite	Best Cinematography: Alfonso Cuarón (Roma)
Best Youth Performance: Elsie Fisher (Eighth Grade)	Best Editing: Tom Cross, ACE (First Man)
Best Voice Performance: Bryan Cranston (Isle of Dogs)	Best Original Score: Nicholas Britell (If Beale Street Could Talk)
Best Motion Capture Performance: Josh Brolin (Avengers: Infinity War)	The Joe Barber Award for Best Portrayal of Washington, DC: Vice

SOURCE Washington DC Area Film Critics Association

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