The final critics group to hand out awards for the year, the Chicago Independent Critics didn’t create a nominations list that looked like many others and their winners were a mix of conventional and unconventional selections.

Award Tallies

(3) Black Panther, BlacKkKlansman, If Beale Street Could Talk, Roma
(2) Eighth Grade, Minding the Gap

The Awards

Best Independent Film (under $20M)

If Beale Street Could Talk

Best Studio Film (over $20M)

Black Panther

Best Animated Film

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Best Director

Spike Lee – BlacKkKlansman

Best Actor

Ethan Hawke – First Reformed

Best Actress

Elsie Fisher – Eighth Grade

Best Supporting Actor

Richard E. Grant – Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Best Supporting Actress

Regina King – If Beale Street Could Talk

Best Original Screenplay

Eighth Grade

Best Adapted Screenplay

BlacKkKlansman

Best Musical Score

If Beale Street Could Talk

Best Editing

Roma

Best Cinematography

Roma

Best Production Design

The Favourite

Best Makeup and Costume Design

Black Panther

Best Visual Effects

First Man

Best Foreign-Language Film

Roma

Best Documentary

Minding the Gap

Best Ensemble

Black Panther

Impact Award (positive impact in cinema)

Spike Lee – BlacKkKlansman

Trailblazer Award (audacious artist/film)

Bing Liu – Minding the Gap

Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle Data

First Awards: 2016 (3)