Philadelphia’s film critics have to be the farthest outside the mainstream with their selections this year. While I applaud their approach to diversity, it’s hard to fathom how Ma Rainey’s Bottom could win the Best Picture award when even the other stage-to-screen adaptation, One Night in Miami, is significantly better.

Awards Tallies

(2) Da 5 Bloods, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Nomadland, Soul

The Awards

Best Picture

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Runner-Up: Da 5 Bloods)

Best Animated Film

Soul (Runner-Up: Wolfwalkers)

Best Director

Chloé Zhao – Nomadland (Runner-Up: Kelly Reichardt – First Cow)

Best Actor

Delroy Lindo – Da 5 Bloods (Runner-Up: Chadwick Boseman – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom)

Best Actress

Viola Davis – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Runner-Up: TIE: Aubrey Plaza – Black Bear, Carey Mulligan – Promising Young Woman)

Best Supporting Actor

Chadwick Boseman – Da 5 Bloods (Runner-Up: Leslie Odom Jr. – One Night in Miami)

Best Supporting Actress

Amanda Seyfried – Mank (Runner-Up: Maria Bakalova – Borat Subsequent Moviefilm)

Best Script

First Cow (Runner-Up: Never Rarely Sometimes Always)

Best Soundtrack / Score

Soul (Runner-Up: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom)

Best Cinematography

Nomadland (Runner-Up: First Cow)

Best Foreign Film

Jumbo (Runner-Up: La Llorona)

Best Documentary

Time (Runner-Up: Dick Johnson Is Dead)

Best Breakthrough Performance

Sidney Flanigan – Never Rarely Sometimes Always (Runner-Up: Maria Bakalova – Borat Subsequent Moviefilm)

Best Directorial Debut

Regina King – One Night in Miami (Runner-Up: Andrew Patterson – The Vast of Night)

Philadelphia Film Critics Data

Year Founded: 2017
First Awards: 2017 (4)