The first list of honorees has been released by the Hollywood Critics Association (HCA), as the 4th Annual HCA Awards Ceremony will take place on March 5, 2021 in Los Angeles.
The honorees include Kiera Allen, Nicole Beharie, Jo Ellen Pellman, Sidney Flanigan, Cristin Milioti, Aubrey Plaza, Paul Raci, Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross and Dante Spinotti.
The HCA presents a variety of honorary awards every year, which highlights actors, artisans, and filmmakers with remarkable work, which call for recognition. The HCA’s Vice-Chair Ashley Menzel states, “even in this strange and unusual year, there is so much to celebrate in terms of achievements in cinema. 2020 offered the world a wide variety of films with a big focus on inclusivity and underrepresented voices.”
Existing as an organization, the HCA’s mission is to be inclusive with the talent they work with every year, not leaving their membership behind. The HCA Chairman Scott Menzel points out, “when you hear about the lack of representation in the entertainment industry, that is something that we as an organization take very seriously. This organization has always taken great pride in being inclusive since day one. We believe that natural inclusivity has always been and will continue to be reflective in all of our nominees, winners, and honorees.”
Dante Spinotti is a two-time Oscar nominated cinematographer, set to receive the first award for the HCA as “Timeless Award,” in similarity to the Lifetime Achievement Award. Being honored with a Breakthrough Performance Actor is the Sound of Metal’s Paul Raci, following Cristin Milioti as she will receive Breakthrough Performance Actress from her role in Palm Springs, a Neon and Hulu’s existential comedy.
The Acting Achievement Award this year, will be given to Aubrey Plaza for the Momentum Picture’s Black Bear, after her tour-de-force performance. Also receiving this year’s Game-Changer Award is Nicole Beharie after performing in Channing Godfrey Peoples’ Miss Juneteenth. BothTrent Reznor and Atticus Ross, being amongst the most memorable scores in 2020, the two Academy Award winning composers will receive the Artisan Achievement Award, honoring their work on Pixar’s Soul followed by Netflix’s Mank.
“There was no shortage of great performances in 2020 and we are pleased to be able to highlight some of the spectacular new talents,” states HCA President Nestor Bentancor, as they will continue last year’s tradition of celebrating and highlighting new or up and coming actor’s work for the HCA special honors. The star of Eliza Hittman’s critically acclaimed Never Rarely Sometimes Always, Sidney Flanigan will receive the HCA’s Standout Performance by an Actor or Actress 23 or Under Award. Receiving the Spotlight Award (formerly known as the Newcomer Award) is Run star Kiera Allen, following the Star on the Rise Award for Jo Ellen Pellman, who stars as Emma Nolan in Ryan Murphy’s film adaption of The Prom.
Announcing mid-January will be the recipients of The Filmmakers on the Rise, Artisan on the Rise, Filmmaker Achievement, Trailblazer, and Inspire Award. The HCA Awards’ full list of nominations will be unveiled on February 2, 2021, following the winners being announced on March 5, 2021 ceremony.
