Under the shimmering lights of New York City, the National Board of Review wove a narrative of cinematic excellence last Thursday. Guided by the charismatic Willie Geist, the evening unfolded like a thrilling movie itself, culminating in the presentation of coveted awards across categories like Best Film, Best Director, and performances that ignited the screen. From the wit of award-winning screenwriters to the audacity of debut filmmakers and the artistry of master cinematographers, the Board lauded the diverse talents who orchestrate the magic of cinema.
And in a heart-stopping moment, the gala unveiled a new chapter in its own story: the inauguration of the Outstanding Achievement in Stunt Artistry award. This bold move was a testament to the Board’s commitment to recognizing the often-invisible heroes who push the boundaries of physical performance and breathe life into action sequences.
The night resonated with a powerful message: cinema is a tapestry woven from countless threads of talent, each playing its part in weaving stories that move, inspire, and leave us breathless.
The evening’s honorees included:
- Killers of the Flower Moon (Best Film) – Award presented by: Ethan Hawke
- Martin Scorsese (Best Director, Killers of the Flower Moon) – Award presented by: Daniel Day-Lewis
- Paul Giamatti (Best Actor, The Holdovers) – Award presented by: Amy Sedaris
- Lily Gladstone (Best Actress, Killers of the Flower Moon) – Award presented by: Patti Smith
- Mark Ruffalo (Best Supporting Actor, Poor Things) – Award presented by: Laura Linney
- Da’Vine Joy Randolph (Best Supporting Actress, The Holdovers) – Award presented by: Noma Dumezweni
- Bradley Cooper (Icon Award) – Award presented by: Anne Hathaway
- David Hemingson (Best Original Screenplay, The Holdovers) – Award presented by: Alexander Payne
- Tony McNamara (Best Adapted Screenplay, Poor Things) – Award presented by: Ira Glass
- Teyana Taylor (Breakthrough Performance, A Thousand and One) – Award presented by: A.V. Rockwell
- Celine Song (Best Directorial Debut, Past Lives) – Award presented by: Zazie Beetz
- Zac Efron, Maura Tierney (Best Ensemble, The Iron Claw) – Award presented by: Elizabeth Olsen
- Michael J. Fox, Davis Guggenheim (Best Documentary, Still, A Michael J. Fox Movie) – Award presented by: Wendell Pierce
- Justine Triet (Best International Film, Anatomy of a Fall) – Award presented by: Jessica Chastain
- Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson (Best Animated Feature: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse) – Award presented by: Luna Lauren Velez
- Rodrigo Prieto (Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography, Barbie & Killers of the Flower Moon) – Award presented by: Brigitte Lacombe
- Director Chad Stahelski, Stunt Coordinators Stephen Dunlevy & Scott Rogers, Fight CoordinatorJeremy Marinas (Outstanding Achievement in Stunt Artistry, John Wick: Chapter 4 – Award presented by Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee
ABOUT THE NATIONAL BOARD OF REVIEW
Since 1909, the National Board of Review has dedicated its efforts to the support of cinema as both art and entertainment. Each year, this select group of film enthusiasts, filmmakers, professionals and academics participates in illuminating discussions with directors, actors, producers and screenwriters before announcing their selections for the best work of the year. Since first citing year-end cinematic achievements in 1929, NBR has recognized a vast selection of outstanding studio, independent, foreign-language, animated and documentary films, often propelling recipients such as Peter Farrelly’sGreen Book and George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road into the larger awards conversation. In addition, one of the organization’s core values is identifying new talent and nurturing young filmmakers by awarding promising talent with ‘Directorial Debut’ and ‘Breakthrough Actor’ awards as well as grants to rising film students. With its continued efforts to assist up-and-coming artists in completing and presenting their work, NBR honors its commitment to not just identifying the best that current cinema has to offer, but also ensuring the quality of films for future generations to come. Join the conversation @NBRfilm