Hollywood Critics Association
Formation2016
FounderScott Menzel
Scott Mantz
Ashley Menzel
PurposeFilm Critics
Location
Chairman
Scott Menzel
Websitewww.hollywoodcriticsassociation.com
Formerly called
Los Angeles Online Fllm Critics Society

The Hollywood Critics Association (HCA) is a film critic organization in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 2016 as the Los Angeles Online Film Critics Society and renamed in 2019.[1]

History

In 2016, Scott Menzel, Scott Mantz, and Ashley Menzel noted that Los Angeles only had one film critic organization.[2] They founded the Los Angeles Online Film Critics Society to be a critics group that is diverse and supports underrepresented voices.[2]

The group originally separated directing honors by gender.[3] "There has been so much conversation about the power of female filmmakers and we wanted to embrace it," said Scott Mantz.[4]

On January 10, 2018, the group held its first annual Film Awards at the Taglyan Complex in Los Angeles.[5]

In early 2019, the HCA had a film discussion podcast called "Film Critics Weekly" on the defunct online broadcasting network "Popcorn Talk".[6]

On August 29, 2021, the HCA held its inaugural Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards. The event was originally to take place in-person but was shifted to virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[7] Ashley Menzel said, “Over these past 14 months, many of us have been watching more television than ever before. This is why we are absolutely delighted that our first in-person event for 2021 will begin with a brand-new event paying tribute to the best of television”.[8]

On February 28, 2022, the HCA held its 5th Annual Film Awards at the Avalon Hollywood. Apple TV+'s CODA took home Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor for Troy Kotsur. Kristen Stewart won Best Actress for her role in Spencer and Andrew Garfield won Best Actor for his performance in Tick, Tick... BOOM![9]

On August 13 and 14, 2022, the HCA hosted their 2nd Annual HCA TV Awards at the Beverly Hilton. The two-night event dedicated one night to broadcast and cable networks and the other to streaming platforms. Dulcé Sloan hosted night one while Cameron Esposito hosted night two.[10]

On August 30, 2022, The Hollywood Reporter reported that nine of the group's members had recently resigned, "roughly 7 percent of its membership tally just two weeks ago" as a result of one member's actions and ultimate removal "for violating numerous HCA bylaws, including harassment, bullying, slander, sharing member-only information with non-members and breaking the code of conduct."[11]

On October 13, 2022, HCA President Nikki Fowler announced the Inaugural Creative Arts Awards, "dedicated to celebrating those behind the scenes who don’t often get the level of recognition they deserve."[12]

Organization

The board of directors and officers of the organization, as of 2022, are:

Fund-raising

In 2020, the Hollywood Critics Association organized a Film & Television Triviathon to collect funds for Covid-19 recovery.[13]

Film Award categories

Each December, the association releases the nominations for the HCA Film Awards, which are held in January of the following year.[4]

Current Categories

Discontinued Categories

Honorary Awards

End of a Decade Awards

Midseason Award categories

Halfway through the year, the association releases the nominations for the HCA Midseason Film Awards, which honor films that come out in the first half of the respected year. The nominations are announced the last week of June, and winners are announced the first week of July.

Current Categories

Discontinued Categories

TV Award categories

The Hollywood Critics Association announced that they were launching the HCA TV Awards on March 24, 2021.[14] The inaugural TV awards ceremony took place on August 22, 2021.[15] The following is a list of the current and discontinued categories of the television awards as of 2022.[16]

Current Categories

Discontinued Categories

Honorary Awards

Creative Arts categories

The Hollywood Critics Association announced the launch of the HCA Creative Arts Awards on October 13, 2022. The inaugural Creative Awards Awards ceremony will take place on February 24, 2023.[17] The following is a list of the current categories of the Creative Arts awards as of 2022.

Current Categories

Award ceremonies

Film

Midseason

TV

Creative Arts

References

  1. ^ Schneider, Michael (March 24, 2021). "Hollywood Critics Association Launches New TV Awards, First to Separate Streaming From Broadcast/Cable". Variety. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "About Us". LA Online Film Critics Society. 2017. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
  3. ^ Carita, Rizzo (January 11, 2017). "'Shape of Water,' 'Lady Bird' Win Top Honors at L.A. Online Film Critics Society Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
  4. ^ a b Achar, Alberto (December 5, 2017). "New Film Critics Group Separates Best Director Category Between Men and Women for 2017 Nominations". Indiewire. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
  5. ^ Rizzo, Carita (January 11, 2018). "'Shape of Water,' 'Lady Bird' Win Top Honors at L.A. Online Film Critics Society Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  6. ^ "LAOFCS Weekly". Popcorn Talk. December 21, 2018. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
  7. ^ Schneider, Michael (August 17, 2021). "Hollywood Critics Association Cancels Sunday's In-Person TV Awards, Shifts to Virtual on Aug. 29 (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  8. ^ "Hollywood Critics Association Announces Dates for TV Awards & Film Awards – Hollywood Critics Association". Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  9. ^ Urban, Sasha (March 1, 2022). "Hollywood Critics Association Awards 2022: 'CODA' Wins Best Picture, Jane Campion and Denis Villeneuve Tie for Director". Variety. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  10. ^ Tinoco, Armando (August 15, 2022). "HCA TV Awards: 'Severance' Tops Streaming Winners In Night 2, Joining 'The White Lotus', 'Abbott Elementary', 'Better Call Saul'". Deadline. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  11. ^ Feinberg, Scott (August 30, 2022). "Hollywood Critics Association in Turmoil as Numerous Members Resign, Including President, Amid Questions About Finances and Voting". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  12. ^ "Hollywood Critics Association Announces Inaugural Creative Arts & 6th Annual Film Awards Dates – Hollywood Critics Association". Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  13. ^ Graff, Gary (May 15, 2020). "Hollywood Critics Association hosts Trviathon fund-raiser". The Morning Sun. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  14. ^ Schneider, Michael (March 24, 2021). "Hollywood Critics Association Launches New TV Awards, First to Separate Streaming From Broadcast/Cable". Variety.
  15. ^ Pedersen, Erik (July 8, 2021). "HCA TV Awards Nominations: 'Ted Lasso' Leads Programs For Inaugural Honors; NBC, HBO & Netflix Lead Nets". Deadline Hollywood.
  16. ^ Moye, Clarence (May 21, 2022). "HCA TV Awards Planned As 2-Night Event and Will Feature Over 60 Categories". Awards Daily.
  17. ^ "2022/2023 Film Awards Calendar". AwardsWatch. May 13, 2022. Retrieved October 13, 2022.