Tag: GALECA

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LGBTQ Critics Announce Nominations For Best Films Of 2020

L-R Stanley Tucci, Colin Firth in Supernova (image via The Bureau)
While the Golden Globe and SAG Awards have served up their choices for ‘Best of 2020,’ what did queer entertainment writers think about the past year’s films?

GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics, comprised of 250+ active professional journalists covering film and television, has announced the nominations for its 2021 Dorian Film Awards.

Due to the pandemic’s affect on the industry, GALECA extended the consideration period for full-length theatrical releases and digital theatrical releases to January 1, 2020 through February 28, 2021.

The highly-acclaimed Minari leads the list of nominations with six nods including Best Film and Best Foreign-Language Film.

Nomadland scored five nominations including Best Film, Best Director and Best Screenplay (Chloé Zhao), Best Actress (Frances McDormand), and Most Visually Striking Film.

Rounding out the Best Film category are Promising Young Woman (4 nominations), First Cow (3 nominations),  and Sound of Metal (3 nominations).

Emerald Fennell, another double-nominee, garnered nods for both writing and directing Promising Young Woman.

In the Best LGBTQ Film category, the queer critics nominated the romantic period film Ammonite, Spanish-language love story I Carry You with Me, the intimate Stanley Tucci-Colin Firth helmed Supernova, writer-director Alan Ball’s comedy Uncle Frank, the all-star screen adaptation of The Boys in the Band, and the acclaimed bio-pic Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.

A scene from Ammonite
A scene from Ammonite (courtesy of See Saw Films)

The folks at GALECA also like to have fun with their awards, so other featured categories include Campiest Flick and the “We’re Wilde About You!” Rising Star Award.

Additionally, the Wilde Artist Award honors “groundbreaking” artists in the world of entertainment. This year’s nominees include the late Chadwick Boseman, Chloé Zhao, Regina King, Elliot Page, and international superstar Dolly Parton.

Last September, queer streaming platform Revry presented the star-studded Dorians TV Toast of 2020 which featured appearances by Hollywood heavy-hitters including Hugh Jackman, Regina King, Janelle Monáe, Billy Porter, Dan Levy, Laverne Cox, Shangela, Thomas Roberts, Bruce Vilanch, Stephanie Miller, Dave Koz, Rafael Casal and more.

The winners will be announced on April 18 in a special event, the Dorians Film Toast 2021, set to air on queer streaming platform Revry.

Launched in 2009, the nonprofit GALECA celebrates both mainstream and LGBTQ-centered content.

View the complete list of nominations below. (Disclaimer: I am a voting member of GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics)

BEST FILM First Cow Minari Nomadland Promising Young Woman Sound of Metal

BEST LGBTQ FILM Ammonite The Boys in the Band I Carry You With Me Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom Supernova Uncle Frank

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM Another Round Bacurau I Carry You With Me La Llorona Minari Two of Us

BEST DIRECTOR Chloé Zhao, Nomadland Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman Kelly Reichardt, First Cow Lee Isaac Chung, Minari Regina King, One Night in Miami

BEST SCREENPLAY (original or adapted) Chloé Zhao, Nomadland Eliza Hittman, Never Rarely Sometimes Always Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman Lee Isaac Chung, Minari Radha Blank, The Forty-Year Version

BEST UNSUNG FILM Driveways First Cow The Forty-Year-Old Version Miss Juneteenth Never Rarely Sometimes Always Shirley The Assistant

BEST DOCUMENTARY Collective Crip Camp Dick Johnson Is Dead Disclosure Time Welcome To Chechnya

BEST LGBTQ DOCUMENTARY A Secret Love Born To Be Disclosure: Trans Lives On Screen Mucho Mucho Amor: The Legend of Walter Mercado Welcome To Chechnya

BEST FILM PERFORMANCE — ACTRESS Carey Mulligan, Promising Young Woman Frances McDormand, Nomadland Nicole Beharie, Miss Juneteenth Sidney Flanigan, Never Rarely Sometimes Always Viola Davis, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

BEST FILM PERFORMANCE — ACTOR Anthony Hopkins, The Father Chadwick Boseman, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom Delroy Lindo, Da 5 Bloods Riz Ahmed, Sound of Metal Steven Yeun, Minari

BEST FILM PERFORMANCE — SUPPORTING ACTRESS Amanda Seyfried, Mank Candice Bergen, Let Them All Talk Maria Bakalova, Borat Subsequent Movie Film Olivia Colman, The Father Yuh-Jung Youn, Minari

BEST FILM PERFORMANCE — SUPPORTING ACTOR Chadwick Boseman, Da 5 Bloods Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah Leslie Odom Jr., One Night In Miami Paul Raci, Sound of Metal Sacha Baron Cohen, The Trial of the Chicago 7

MOST VISUALLY STRIKING FILM Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn Mank Nomadland Soul Wolfwalkers

CAMPIEST FLICK Bad Hair Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga The Prom Wonder Woman 1984

“We’re Wilde About You!” Rising Star Award Alan S. Kim Kingsley Ben-Adir Maria Bakalova Radha Blank Sidney Flanigan

Wilde Artist Award (to a truly groundbreaking force in entertainment) Chadwick Boseman Chloé Zhao Dolly Parton Elliot Page Regina King

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Podcast: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Jane Fonda, LGBTQ Critics Honor Best Of 2020 TV

The Randy Report podcast

The Randy Report podcast delivers the week's top stories in a quick, convenient podcast - 'the 60 Minutes of gay news - only shorter' In this week’s podcast: • Remembering the life of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a fierce champion for LGBTQ rights, who died this week at the age of 87 • A Navy veteran sues the Veteran’s Administration claiming he tested positive for HIV over 20 years ago and his doctors never informed him of the diagnosis • A sportscaster suspended for using a gay slur on-air says he’s ‘never said the word’ before that moment • A woman denied Social Security survivor benefits after a 27-year relationship wins in federal court • New data shows the number of same-sex households rising in the US • Burger King lays a whopper on Ronald McDonald for LGBTQ Pride • Academy Award winner Jane Fonda reminds us what an awesome ally she is • And GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Critics announces the best in 2020 TV entertainment. Click here to watch the glitzy honors special on Revry TV (free). All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report

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LGBTQ Entertainment Critics Honor The Best (And Campiest) In TV

Hugh Jackman, Janelle Monáe, Regina King, Billy Porter, Laverne Cox, Dan Levy, and political satirist John Oliver are among the slew of actors, comics, and performers lending cheer to GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics’ inaugural Dorians TV Toast 2020 on Revry, airing Sunday, September 13th on the first LGBTQ+ global streaming network Revry. Disclaimer – yours truly is a voting member of GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics The two-hour star-studded virtual event, hosted by entertainer and talk show host Karel, will reveal the stars and TV shows the LGBTQ+ organization’s 270 members deemed the best, most visually stunning, and campiest of the past TV season. In addition to raising a glass to the honorees—many of whom will appear via virtual acceptance videos—GALECA members discuss the nominees’ merits and even controversies (Randy Rainbow and Tiger King don’t get off lightly). Actor/producer/co-creator Dan Levy’s riches-to-rags comedy Schitt’s Creek leads the pack with seven nominations, while Hollywood whiz Ryan Murphy’s ambitious, star-studded reimagining of Tinseltown’s early days  – Hollywood – sashays down the red carpet with six nods. HBO’s TV movie Bad Education and daring miniseries Watchmen each have four Dorian nominations, with the respective stars, Jackman and King, earning best performance nominations. Singer and actress Monáe, now seen in the centuries-spanning horror film Antebellum, and Porter share a nomination for TV Musical Performance of the Year for their vibrant opening number in this year’s Academy Awards telecast. For a full list of nominees, spanning 14 categories, head over to DoriansToast.com. You can check out a quick highlights reel from the 2020 Dorian Film Toast, including appearances by Antonio Banderas and Olivia Wilde, below.

Just a few of the presenters for the TV Dorians are: Drag icon Shangela; out news anchor Thomas Roberts; GLEE star Alex Newell; RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars champ Chad Michaels; actress-comedian Margaret Cho; veteran talk radio host Stephanie Miller; legendary saxophonist Dave Koz; actress/singer Lea DeLaria; and iconic comic Bruce Vilanch. The Society’s Dorian Awards, which in the past have gone to both film and television titles combined, announced the nominees for its first separate Dorian TV Awards on June 30. The Dorians are awarded to both general and LGBTQ content, reminding bigots, bullies and at-risk youth that the world looks to the Q eye for leads on great entertainment. “With September being Suicide Prevention Month and next month being LGBTQ History Month, this is a lovely and loving time to celebrate not just great television, but also how ‘rainbow’ journalists have boosted Hollywood from day one,” said John Griffiths, GALECA.org’s Executive Director and Founder. The show will air Sunday, Sept. 13 at 8pm EST, 5pm PST for free on Revry, the LGBTQ+ streaming network, available globally at watch.revry.tv.

Celebrities set to appear: Hugh Jackman Regina King Rafael Casal Margaret Cho Laverne Cox Lea DeLaria Harvey Guillén Dave Koz Dan Levy Damon Lindelof Chad Michaels Stephanie Miller Annie Murphy Michael Musto Alex Newell John Oliver Janell Monáe Billy Porter Shangela Thomas Roberts Fiona Shaw Josh Thomas Jane Velez-Mitchell Bruce Vilanch Kate Rose Wilburn GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics’ Dorian Awards, a nonprofit professional organization, was founded in 2009. Today, GALECA consists of 270 active critics and journalists who write on entertainment for major and distinctly unique media outlets in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and the U.K. Visit GALECA.org for more info, and follow us @DorianAwards on Twitter and Facebook, and @Dorian_Awards on Instagram. 

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LGBTQ Entertainment Critics Announce Nominees For 2020 TV Honors

The cast of ‘Schitt’s Creek’ (via Instagram)
GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics has announced the nominees for its first separate Dorian TV Awards. The Pop network comedy Schitt’s Creek leads the pack with 7 nominations, while Hollywood — Netflix’s ambitious, star-studded reimagining of Tinseltown’s early days — says hooray to six nods. HBO’s fact-based TV movie Bad Education and daring miniseries Watchmen have four Dorian nominations each. One series that definitely breaks the mold is CBS All Access’ The Good Fight, the tense, socially relevant and increasingly inventive drama set at a Black-run law firm in Chicago. Fight is up for Best TV Drama (as well as Best Unsung TV Show) alongside Netflix’s ever-polished Brit royals opus The Crown and tricky-couple crime drama Ozark, and two other twisty morality tales, AMC networks’ Killing Eve and Better Call Saul. In addition to Creek — a previous Dorian Award winner when GALECA combined its film and TV kudos in one package — the Best TV Comedy contenders include three past Dorian Award nominees: Insecure (HBO), Better Things (FX) and The Good Place (NBC). Competing against them are Netflix’s gallows-humored, female-powered mystery-comedy Dead to Me (stars Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini vie for Best TV Performance — Actress) and FX’s bloody-fun vampire comedy, What We Do in the Shadows (which counts two additional nods). The Best TV Movie or Limited Series race is lively, with each nominee offering a bold, controversial approach to an ever-burning topic. HBO’s comic book fantasy Watchmen aggressively tackles themes of white supremacy and police brutality, the same network’s fact-based TV film Bad Education exposes greed and corruption (in public schools, no less), and FX’s ‘70s-set historical drama Mrs. America, produced by and starring double-nominee Cate Blanchett, shows how far we have not come, baby, in regards to advancing women’s rights. Also in the mix: Hulu shows Little Fires Everywhere (dealing with inherent racism) and Normal People (sex—lots of it). Although the miniseries Hollywood, from bad boy producer Ryan Murphy, didn’t make that short list, it did nab four acting nominations as well as ones for LGBTQ Show of the Year and Visually Striking Show. Other cinematic eye-fillers in the latter race include the likes of Disney+’s The Mandalorian and HBO’s Westworld. And no Dorian Awards list would be complete without GALECA’s trademark category, Campiest TV Show. Vying for that cheeky honor are Hulu’s royal romp The Great, perennial members favorite RuPaul’s Drag Race (VH1), and Netflix hmmm-inducers AJ and the Queen, Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings and a certain expose of some exotic Oklahomans and Floridians, Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness. Via its original banner Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, GALECA’s Dorian Awards have gone to the best of all of film and TV — not only LGBTQ-themed — since 2010. While this year marks the inaugural Dorian TV Awards, this is actually the 11th go-around for members voting on their best-loved TV programs and stars. TV winners will be announced on August 21, when the Society will also name the recipient of its first “You Deserve an Award!” Award, going to what the group deems “a uniquely talented TV icon (they) adore.” In full disclosure, as I’ve noted before, I am a voting member of GALECA. 2019-20 DORIAN TV AWARDS NOMINEES — FULL LIST* BEST TV DRAMA Better Call Saul (AMC) Killing Eve (BBC America/AMC) Ozark (Netflix) The Crown (Netflix) The Good Fight (CBS All Access) BEST TV COMEDY Better Things (FX) Dead to Me (Netflix) Insecure (HBO) Schitt’s Creek (Pop) The Good Place (NBC) What We Do in the Shadows (FX) BEST TV MOVIE OR LIMITED SERIES Bad Education (HBO) Little Fires Everywhere (Hulu) Mrs. America (FX/Hulu) Normal People (Hulu) Watchmen (HBO) BEST TV PERFORMANCE – ACTRESS Christina Applegate, Dead to Me (Netflix) Cate Blanchett, Mrs. America (FX/Hulu) Linda Cardellini, Dead to Me (Netflix) Jodie Comer, Killing Eve (BBC America/AMC) Regina King, Watchmen (HBO) Laura Linney, Ozark (Netflix) Catherine O’Hara, Schitt’s Creek (Pop) BEST TV PERFORMANCE – ACTOR Hugh Jackman, Bad Education (HBO) Eugene Levy, Schitt’s Creek (Pop) Paul Mescal, Normal People (Hulu) Jeremy Pope, Hollywood (Netflix) Ramy Youssef, Ramy (Hulu) BEST SUPPORTING TV PERFORMANCE – ACTRESS Uzo Aduba, Mrs. America (FX/Hulu) Julia Garner, Ozark (Netflix) Allison Janney, Bad Education (HBO) Patti LuPone, Hollywood (Netflix) Annie Murphy, Schitt’s Creek (Pop) Jean Smart, Watchmen (HBO) BEST SUPPORTING TV PERFORMANCE – ACTOR Billy Crudup, The Morning Show (Apple TV+) Harvey Guillén, What We Do in the Shadows (FX) Dan Levy, Schitt’s Creek (Pop) Joe Mantello, Hollywood (Netflix) Josh O’Connor, The Crown (Netflix) Jim Parsons, Hollywood (Netflix) BEST TV MUSICAL PERFORMANCE Cynthia Erivo, “Stand Up”, 92nd Academy Awards (ABC) Jake Gyllenhaal, “Music, Music Everywhere!”, John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch (Netflix) Jennifer Lopez & Shakira, Halftime Show, Super Bowl LIV (Fox) Janelle Monáe & Billy Porter, Opening Number, 92nd Academy Awards (ABC) Noah Reid, “Always Be My Baby”, Schitt’s Creek (Pop) BEST LGBTQ TV SHOW Bad Education (HBO) Hollywood (Netflix) RuPaul’s Drag Race (VH1) Schitt’s Creek (Pop) Vida (Starz) We’re Here (HBO) Work in Progress (Showtime) BEST CURRENT AFFAIRS PROGRAM Cheer (Netflix) The Daily Show with Trevor Noah (Comedy Central) Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (TBS) Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO) The Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC) Visible: Out on Television (Apple TV+) BEST UNSUNG TV SHOW Everything’s Gonna Be Okay (Freeform) Gentified (Netflix) The Good Fight (CBS All Access) Mrs. Fletcher (HBO) One Day at a Time (Pop) Vida (Starz) What We Do in the Shadows (FX) Work in Progress (Showtime) MOST VISUALLY STRIKING SHOW Hollywood (Netflix) The Crown (Netflix) The Mandalorian (Disney+) Watchmen (HBO) Westworld (HBO) CAMPIEST TV SHOW AJ and the Queen (Netflix) Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings (Netflix) The Great (Hulu) RuPaul’s Drag Race (VH1) Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness (Netflix) WILDE WIT AWARD (Honoring a performer, writer or commentator whose observations both challenge and amuse) Dan Levy Randy Rainbow Hannah Gadsby Cate Blanchett Trevor Noah (via press release)

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LGBTQ Entertainment Critics Announce 2020 Award Winners

This year’s LGBTQ Critics’ top honors went to artists from Pose, Parasite and Judy
GALECA, the Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics, has announced its picks for 2019’s best films, TV and events — and the big winner is Parasite snagging five awards. One of the best-reviewed films of the year, the South Korean flick was recognized for Film of the Year, Foreign Language Film of the Year, Director of the Year (Bong Joon-ho), Film Performance of the Year – Supporting Actor (Song Kang-ho) and Screenplay of the Year (Bong Joon-ho & Han Jin-won). “GALECA members strive to determine the best cinematic experiences through the distinct LGBTQ lens, and this year was particularly rich in options,” said GALECA President Diane Anderson-Minshall, Editorial Director of The Advocate. “Yet when director Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite practically swept our awards roster with five wins, I was not surprised. The dynamic, darkly comic drama about a poor family conniving to live the good life speaks to the times we live in, with vivid commentary on class, inequity and even climate change. Parasite is a perfect film for the Trump era.” Also in the mix: Renée Zellweger honored with Film Performance of the Year – Actress for Judy; Antonio Banderas’s stunning performance snatched up the award for Film Performance of the Year – Actor for Pain and Glory; and Catherine O’Hara was honored for career achievement with the Timeless Star Award. Billy Porter won TV Performance of the Year – Actor for his powerhouse turn as “Pray Tell” in Pose and Phoebe Waller-Bridge scored in TV Performance of the Year – Actress for Fleabag. Céline Sciamma’s Portrait of a Lady on Fire was honored as LGBTQ Film of the Year while Cats and Netflix’s The Politician were recognized as the Campy Flick and Campy TV Show of the Year, respectively. Lady Gaga won in two categories: TV Musical Performance of the Year performing “Shallow” with Bradley Cooper at the Academy Awards and special accolade as Wilde Artist of the Decade. As a voting member of GALECA, I’m quite proud of not only this year’s winners but the diverse list of nominees. Formed in 2009, GALECA aims to generate camaraderie and solidarity in an unsettling media environment, champion constructive film and television criticism, and elevate the craft of entertainment journalism. Complete list of nominees (winners noted by *): Film of the Year Hustlers Little Women Once Upon a Time in … Hollywood Pain and Glory *Parasite Portrait of a Lady on Fire Director of the Year Pedro Almodóvar, Pain and Glory Greta Gerwig, Little Women *Bong Joon-ho, Parasite Sam Mendes, 1917 Céline Sciamma, Portrait of a Lady on Fire Film Performance of the Year — Actress Awkwafina, The Farewell Scarlett Johansson, Marriage Story Lupita Nyong’o, Us Alfre Woodard, Clemency *Renée Zellweger, Judy Film Performance of the Year — Actor *Antonio Banderas, Pain and Glory Adam Driver, Marriage Story Adam Sandler, Uncut Gems Joaquin Phoenix, Joker Taron Egerton, Rocketman Film Performance of the Year — Supporting Actress Laura Dern, Marriage Story Florence Pugh, Little Women *Jennifer Lopez, Hustlers Margot Robbie, Bombshell Zhao Shuzhen, The Farewell Film Performance of the Year — Supporting Actor Tom Hanks, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood Al Pacino, The Irishman  Joe Pesci, The Irishman Brad Pitt, Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood *Song Kang-ho, Parasite LGBTQ Film of the Year Booksmart End of the Century Pain and Glory *Portrait of a Lady on Fire Rocketman Foreign Language Film of the Year Atlantics Pain and Glory *Parasite Portrait of a Lady on Fire The Farewell Screenplay of the Year Noah Baumbach, Marriage Story *Bong Joon-ho & Han Jin-won, Parasite Greta Gerwig, Little Women Céline Sciamma, Portrait of a Lady on Fire Rian Johnson, Knives Out Documentary of the Year American Factory Apollo 11 For Sama *Honeyland One Child Nation LGBTQ Documentary of the Year Circus of Books  Gay Chorus Deep South The Gospel of Eureka 5B *Scream, Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street Visually Striking Film of the Year ** TIE Midsommar *1917 The Lighthouse Parasite *Portrait of a Lady on Fire Unsung Film of the Year *Booksmart Her Smell Gloria Bell The Last Black Man in San Francisco Waves Campy Flick of the Year *Cats Greta Knives Out Ma Serenity TV Drama of the Year Chernobyl Euphoria *Pose Succession Unbelievable TV Comedy of the Year *Fleabag The Other Two PEN15 Russian Doll Schitt’s Creek TV Performance of the Year — Actor Bill Hader, Barry Dan Levy, Schitt’s Creek Jharrel Jerome, When They See Us *Billy Porter, Pose  Jeremy Strong, Succession TV Performance of the Year — Actress Natasha Lyonne, Russian Doll Catherine O’Hara, Schitt’s Creek MJ Rodriguez, Pose *Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Fleabag Michelle Williams, Fosse/Verdon LGBTQ TV Show of the Year Euphoria The Other Two *Pose Schitt’s Creek Tales of the City  Unsung TV Show of the Year Gentleman Jack On Becoming a God in Central Florida *The Other Two PEN15 Years and Years TV Current Affairs Show of the Year Full Frontal with Samantha Bee The Rachel Maddow Show Last Week Tonight with John Oliver The Late Show with Stephen Colbert *Leaving Neverland   TV Musical Performance of the Year *Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga, “Shallow,” 91st Academy Awards Lizzo, “Truth Hurts,” VMAs 2019 Megan Mullally, “The Man That Got Away,” Will & Grace Annie Murphy, “A Little Bit Alexis,” Schitt’s Creek Michelle Williams, “Who’s Got the Pain?,” Fosse/Verdon Campy TV Show of the Year American Horror Story: 1984 Big Little Lies RuPaul’s Drag Race *The Politician Riverdale The “We’re Wilde About You!” Rising Star Award Roman Griffin Davis Kaitlyn Dever Beanie Feldstein *Florence Pugh Hunter Schafer Wilde Wit of the Year  (Honoring a performer, writer or commentator whose observations both challenge and amuse) Dan Levy Billy Porter Randy Rainbow Taika Waititi *Phoebe Waller-Bridge Wilde Artist of the Decade (Special Accolade) *Lady Gaga Greta Gerwig Ryan Murphy Billy Porter Phoebe Waller-Bridge Timeless Star (Career achievement award) *Catherine O’Hara

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LGBTQ Entertainment Critics Announce Nominees For Best In 2019 Film & TV

Via press release: GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics, comprised of 260 mainly U.S. journalists covering film and television, has named its nominees for 2019’s finest movies, performances and more across a host of mainstream and LGBTQ-focused categories. Full disclosure – I’m a voting member of GALECA “International” films lead the pack: South Korean director Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite—the left-field hit satire comparing the lives of the rich and the poor—and the French lesbian romance Portrait of a Lady on Fire each counts 6 nominations, while director Pedro Almodovar’s semi-autobiographical opus Pain and Glory has 5 nods. Those films join Hustlers, Little Women and director Quentin Tarantino’s florid alternate-reality trip Once Upon a Time in … Hollywood on the group’s eclectic, diverse Film of the Year shortlist. “It’s a true testament to the rising impact of global films—and the ability of film to move us in any language—to see films from a variety of countries rank so highly with our Dorian Awards voters,” says GALECA President Diane Anderson-Minshall, Editorial Director of The Advocate. “We’re proud to help remind everyone that the world can connect through cinema.” For Director of the Year, Bong competes with the likes of Sam Mendes, helmer of the stunning World War I epic 1917, and Women director Greta Gerwig, a previous Dorian winner in the category for Lady Bird. Renée Zellweger (Judy), Lupita Nyong’o (Us) and Alfre Woodard (Clemency) add excitement to the award season race with their nominations for Film Performance of the Year—Actress nominations, while fresh faces Florence Pugh (Little Women) and Zhao Shuzen (The Farewell) perk up the respective Supporting category. As for the Actor categories, they’re peppered with notable surnames: Banderas, Driver and Sandler; Pitt, Pesci and Pacino. Among the professional LGBTQ journalists group’s trademark categories, Booksmart and The Last Black Man in San Francisco are among the contenders for Unsung Film of the Year, while Cats and the cheeky, crazy-popular murder mystery Knives Out duke it out for Campy Flick of the Year HBO’s acerbic rich-family soap Succession, Netflix’s searing and female-centric mystery Unbelievable and last year’s multi-winner Pose, all up for TV Drama of the Year, with Hulu’s high-school friendship spoof PEN15 and Comedy Central’s tart The Other Two making nice-surprise showings in the comedy arena. Phoebe Waller-Bridge, star-creator of the also-nominated comedy Fleabag star-creator, is up for three Dorians, including TV Performance of the Year—Actress and Wilde Wit of the Year. All Dorian Award Winners, including the recipient of the Society’s annual Timeless career-achievement award, will be revealed Wednesday, January 8. Olivia Wilde, the first-time director of Booksmart, will be receiving a special honor at the group’s Dorian Awards Winners Toast, which will be held on Sunday, February 2, in Los Angeles, before football fever kicks in. The invitation-only event will include a raise of the glass to Wilde, named GALECA’s Wilde Artist of the Year. It bears noting that the acclaimed Booksmart’s stars, Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever, each hold a Dorian nomination for GALECA’s “We’re Wilde About You!” Rising Star award. You can follow the Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics on Instagram,  Twitter, and Facebook. FULL LIST OF 11TH DORIAN AWARDS NOMINATIONS (Note: Categories with six or more contenders involve a tie) Film of the Year Hustlers Little Women Once Upon a Time in … Hollywood Pain and Glory Parasite Portrait of a Lady on Fire Director of the Year  Pedro Almodovar, Pain and Glory Greta Gerwig, Little Women Bong Joon-ho, Parasite Sam Mendes, 1917 Celine Sciamma, Portrait of a Lady on Fire Film Performance of the Year — Actress  Awkwafina, The Farewell Scarlett Johansson, Marriage Story Lupita Nyong’o, Us Alfre Woodard, Clemency Renée Zellweger, Judy Film Performance of the Year — Actor Antonio Banderas, Pain and Glory Adam Driver, Marriage Story Adam Sandler, Uncut Gems Joaquin Phoenix, Joker Taron Egerton, Rocketman Film Performance of the Year — Supporting Actress  Laura Dern, Marriage Story Florence Pugh, Little Women Jennifer Lopez, Hustlers Margot Robbie, Bombshell Zhao Shuzhen, The Farewell Film Performance of the Year — Supporting Actor Tom Hanks, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood Al Pacino, The Irishman Joe Pesci, The Irishman Brad Pitt, Once Upon a Time in … Hollywood Song Kang-ho, Parasite LGBTQ Film of the Year  Booksmart End of the Century Pain and Glory Portrait of a Lady on Fire Rocketman Foreign Language Film of the Year The Atlantics Pain and Glory Parasite Portrait of a Lady on Fire The Farewell Screenplay of the Year Noah Baumbach, Marriage Story Bong Joon-ho, Han Jin-won, Parasite Greta Gerwig, Little Women Céline Sciamma, Portrait of a Lady on Fire Rian Johnson, Knives Out Documentary of the Year  American Factory Apollo 11 For Sama Honeyland One Child Nation LGBTQ Documentary of the Year  Circus of Books Gay Chorus Deep South The Gospel of Eureka 5B Scream, Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street Visually Striking Film of the Year  Midsommar 1917 The Lighthouse Parasite Portrait of a Lady on Fire Unsung Film of the Year Booksmart Her Smell Gloria Bell The Last Black Man in San Francisco Waves Campy Flick of the Year  Cats Greta Knives Out Ma Serenity TV Drama of the Year Chernobyl Euphoria Pose Succession Unbelievable TV Comedy of the Year Fleabag The Other Two PEN15 Russian Doll Schitt’s Creek TV Performance of the Year — Actor  Bill Hader, Barry Dan Levy, Schitt’s Creek Jharrel Jerome, When They See Us Billy Porter, Pose Jeremy Strong, Succession TV Performance of the Year — Actress  Natasha Lyonne, Russian Doll Catherine O’Hara, Schitt’s Creek Mj Rodriguez, Pose Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Fleabag Michelle Williams, Fosse/Verdon LGBTQ TV Show of the Year  Euphoria The Other Two Pose Schitt’s Creek Tales of the City Unsung TV Show of the Year Gentleman Jack On Becoming a God in Central Florida The Other Two PEN15 Years and Years TV Current Affairs Show of the Year Full Frontal with Samantha Bee The Rachel Maddow Show Last Week Tonight with John Oliver The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Leaving Neverland TV Musical Performance of the Year Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga, “Shallow,” The 91st Academy Awards Lizzo, “Truth Hurts,” VMAs 2019 Megan Mullally, “The Man That Got Way,” Will & Grace Annie Murphy, “A Little Bit Alexis,” Schitt’s Creek Michelle Williams, “Who’s Got the Pain?,” Fosse/Verdon Campy TV Show of the Year  American Horror Story 1984 Big Little Lies RuPaul’s Drag Race The Politician Riverdale The “We’re Wilde About You!” Rising Star Award Roman Griffin Davis Kaitlyn Dever Beanie Feldstein Florence Pugh Hunter Schafer Wilde Wit of the Year  (Honoring a performer, writer or commentator whose observations both challenge and amuse) Dan Levy Billy Porter Randy Rainbow Taika Waititi Phoebe Waller-Bridge Wilde Artist of the Decade (Special Accolade) Lady Gaga Greta Gerwig Ryan Murphy Billy Porter Phoebe Waller-Bridge  

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Olivia Wilde To Be Honored By LGBTQ Entertainment Critics

Olivia Wilde (image via Instagram)
GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics (GALECA.org) has chosen Olivia Wilde as its Wilde Artist of the Year for 2019, with a special tribute to the Booksmart filmmaker set for Sunday, February 2 at the national group’s 11th Dorian Awards Winners Toast in L.A. Full disclosure – I’m a voting member of GALECA 🙂 The accolade, named for GALECA’s “patron saint” Oscar Wilde, goes to “a truly groundbreaking force in film, theater and/or television.” “Olivia’s inventive direction of Booksmart, with its vivid, heartbreaking and humanly funny depiction of teen lives—be they straight or gay—makes the movie a much-needed enlightened update to even the most beloved genre classics,” said GALECA Executive Director John Griffiths. “As an organization whose awards go to all of film and TV, not only LGBTQ-centric, we love how Olivia’s dedication to keeping all of Booksmart‘s characters’ emotions so affectingly real—amid the movie’s fresh and layered plot, no less—practically leaps off the screen. She’s too smart to ever let the cast—a diverse group that reflects actual high school campus experience for a change—slip into stereotypes. No wonder Booksmart’s become such a touchstone for Gen Z.” Wilde’s ability to get “such moving, bold and even star-making performances” out of Booksmart’s stars Kaitlyn Dever, Beanie Feldstein and Diana Silvers, “shows how wildly talented a director she is,” added GALECA President Diane Anderson-Minshall, Editorial Director of The Advocate magazine. “And the awkward first-love scenes were beyond evocative. All said, we’re thrilled to be able to raise a glass to the woman who directed one of the year’s best-reviewed films.” In addition to earning raves for her first-time directorial effort, Wilde also scored excellent notices earlier this year for her brave and raw performance as Sadie, a victim of domestic abuse turned vigilante, in the independent film A Vigilante. She previously appeared in such films as director Spike Jonze’s Her, Ron Howard’s Rush and the indie hit Butter. Currently, she can be seen on-screen alongside Sam Rockwell and Kathy Bates in director Clint Eastwood’s Richard Jewell. Away from acting, Wilde is a strong activist who works with major organizations in the push for women’s rights, voter rights, and education and health for the poor. Past GALECA’s Dorian Award for Wilde Artist of the Year winners include the likes of Jordan Peele, Todd Haynes, Kate McKinnon, Jill Soloway and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Dorian Award nominations across 27 film and TV categories—including the group’s trademark Campy and Unsung honors—will be announced January 3, 2020. Winners aside from Olivia Wilde will be revealed January 8.   (via press release)