2025 Awards

2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021

The Critics Association of Central Florida is an organization of critics based in or around the Central Florida area and consists of critics and journalists with a wide reach to a diverse and expansive audience.

Our membership represents outlets of all sizes, from independent blogs to major outlets such as FandomWire and Flickering Myth.

Best Picture
WINNER: Sinners
RUNNER-UP: One Battle After Another

Best Director
WINNER: Ryan Coogler, Sinners
RUNNER-UP: Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another

Best Lead Actor
WINNER: Timothee Chalamet, Marty Supreme
RUNNER-UP: Leonardo DiCaprio, One Battle After Another

Best Lead Actress
WINNER: Jessie Buckley, Hamnet
RUNNER-UP: Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You

Best Actor in a Supporting Role
WINNER: Sean Penn, One Battle After Another
RUNNER-UP: Benicio del Toro, One Battle After Another

Best Actress in a Supporting Role
WINNER: Amy Madigan, Weapons
RUNNER-UP: (Tie) Ariana Grande, Wicked: For Good & Teyana Taylor, One Battle After Another

Best Hybrid Performance
WINNER: Oona Chaplin, Avatar: Fire and Ash
RUNNER-UP: Zoe Saldana, Avatar: Fire and Ash

Best Youth Performance
WINNER: Jacobi Jupe, Hamnet
RUNNER-UP: Cary Christopher, Weapons

Outstanding Cast
WINNER: Sinners
RUNNER-UP: One Battle After Another

Best Documentary
WINNER: The Perfect Neighbor
RUNNER-UP: Stolen Kingdom

Best International Film
WINNER: No Other Choice
RUNNER-UP: It Was Just An Accident

Best Animated
WINNERS (TIE): KPop Demon Hunters & Zootopia 2
RUNNER-UP: Elio

Best Screenplay
WINNER: Sinners
RUNNER-UP: One Battle After Another

Best Cinematography
WINNER: Sinners
RUNNER-UP: One Battle After Another

Best First Feature
WINNER: Sorry Baby
RUNNER-UP: Friendship

Best Production Design
WINNER: Frankenstein
RUNNER-UP: Sinners

Best Visual Effects
WINNER: Avatar: Fire and Ash
RUNNER-UP: Superman

Best Costume Design
WINNER: Sinners
RUNNER-UP: Frankenstein

Best Makeup & Hairstyling
WINNER: Frankenstein
RUNNER-UP: Sinners

Best Stunt Coordination
WINNER: Mission Impossible
RUNNER-UP: F1

Best Score
WINNER: Sinners
RUNNER-UP: One Battle After Another

Best Original Song
WINNER: “Golden,” KPOP Demon Hunters
RUNNER-UP: “Lied to You,” Sinners

Best Editing
WINNER: (TIE) One Battle After Another & Marty Supreme
RUNNER-UP: Sinners

Best Sound Design
WINNER: F1
RUNNER-UP: Sinners

In addition to the traditional lineup of awards, the CACF has several special honors. Returning this year are: “Best Central Florida Film,” a category designed to recognize outstanding achievement by a film with a significant connection to the Central Florida area, “Best Achievement in Diversity,” a category designed to recognize outstanding achievement by a film that showcases inclusion and diversity, both on the screen and behind the scenes, and “The Golden Paw,” designed to recognize a an outstanding animal performance in film. These winners are listed below.

Best Central Florida Film
WINNER: The Perfect Neighbor

Achievement in Diversity
WINNER: Sinners

Golden Paw
WINNER: Indy the Dog, Good Boy

The Critics Association of Central Florida is proud to recognize these amazing achievements in film.