The Brutalist, Conclave Top List of Houston Film Critics Society Awards

The Brutalist – director Brady Corbet’s Golden Globe-winning examination of post-World War II America – leads the pack with nine nominations, including Best Picture, for the 18th annual awards from the Houston Film Critics Society. (In the interest of full disclosure: I am a founding and voting member of this organization.) Closely following with eight nominations, including Best Picture: Conclave, the critically acclaimed papal thriller starring Ralph Fiennes. 

Three films are nominated in six categories including Best Picture: Sean Baker’s outrageous comedy Anora, director Denis Villeneuve’s continuation of Paul Atreides’ ascension to power in Dune: Part Two, and Jon M. Chu’s film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical Wicked.

Other films competing for Best Picture are A Complete Unknown, an overview of Bob Dylan's early career; Nickel Boys, based on Colson Whitehead’s novel; A Real Pain, Jesse Eisenberg’s study of a complex relationship between cousins; Sing Sing, a tribute to the impact of creative arts on prison life; and The Substance, a satirical view of the challenges of aging.

“2024 was such an odd cinema year and yet the range of our nominees continues to remind us that art, commerce, and the diversity of both is what allows film to thrive,” says HFCS president Travis Leamons. “If you would have told me body horror [The Substance] could be as beloved as a Bob Dylan biopic at the start of the year, I’d say you’re mad. But leave it to our members to keep audiences informed about what movies can say. The fact we can recognize small character stories, giant studio spectacle, and a thriller where papal guidance is suggested is exciting.”

All winners will be announced by the Society on Jan. 14, 2025.

An annual highlight of the HFCS awards is the presentation of the Texas Independent Film Award honoring outstanding films made in the Lone Star State. This year’s nominees explore a complex relationship between a forgotten music star and a delivery driver in Deliveries from Eva; a former YouTube star trying to find her place in an unfriendly world in The Ego Death of Queen Cecilia; a rapper’s journey into himself and his music in Lost Soulz; the inside story of Houston’s storied 101 KLOL in Runaway Radio; and the impact of the city’s Black music scene in When Houston Had the Blues.

Here is a full list of nominees for the 18th annual Houston Film Critics Society Awards.

Best Picture

Anora

The Brutalist

A Complete Unknown

Conclave

Dune: Part Two

Nickel Boys

A Real Pain

Sing Sing

The Substance

Wicked

 

Best Director

Anora, Sean Baker

The Brutalist, Brady Corbet

Conclave, Edward Berger

Dune: Part Two, Denis Villeneuve

The Substance, Coralie Fargeat

Wicked, Jon M. Chu

 

Best Actor – Leading Role

Adrien Brody, The Brutalist

Colman Domingo, Sing Sing

Hugh Grant, Heretic

Ralph Fiennes, Conclave

Timothée Chalamet, A Complete Unknown

 

Best Actress – Leading Role

Angelina Jolie, Maria

Cynthia Erivo, Wicked

Demi Moore, The Substance

Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Hard Truths

Mikey Madison, Anora

 

Best Actor – Supporting Role

Edward Norton, A Complete Unknown

Guy Pearce, The Brutalist

Jeremy Strong, The Apprentice

Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain

Yura Borisov, Anora

 

Best Actress – Supporting Role

Ariana Grande, Wicked

Felicity Jones, The Brutalist

Isabella Rossellini, Conclave

Margaret Qualley, The Substance

Zoë Saldaña, Emilia Perez

 

Best Screenplay

Anora, Sean Baker

The Brutalist, Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold

Conclave, Peter Straughan

Nickel Boys, RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes

A Real Pain, Jesse Eisenberg

Sing Sing, Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar

 

Best Animated Feature

Flow

Inside Out 2

Memoir of a Snail

Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

The Wild Robot

 

Best Cinematography

The Brutalist, Lol Crawley

Conclave, Stéphane Fontaine

Dune: Part Two, Greig Fraser

Nickel Boys, Jomo Fray

Nosferatu, Jarin Blaschke

 

Best Documentary

Daughters

No Other Land

The Remarkable Life of Ibelin

Sugarcane

Union

Will & Harper

 

Best Foreign Language Feature

All We Imagine As Light

Emilia Pérez

The Seed of the Sacred Fig

I’m Still Here

Kneecap

 

Best Original Score

The Brutalist, Daniel Blumberg

Challengers, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross

Conclave, Volker Bertelmann

Dune: Part Two, Hans Zimmer

Emilia Pérez, Clément Ducol

The Wild Robot, Kris Bowers

 

Best Original Song

Challengers, Compress / Repress

Emilia Pérez, El Mal

Sing Sing, Like a Bird

The Wild Robot, Kiss the Sky

Will & Harper, Harper and Will Go West

 

Best Visual Effects

Alien: Romulus

Dune: Part Two

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Nosferatu

Twisters

Wicked

 

Best Stunt Coordination Team

Deadpool & Wolverine

Dune: Part Two

The Fall Guy

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Gladiator II

 

Best Ensemble Cast

Anora

The Brutalist

Conclave

Saturday Night

Sing Sing

Wicked

 

Texas Independent Film Award

Deliveries from Eva

The Ego Death of Queen Cecilia

Lost Soulz

Runaway Radio

When Houston Had the Blues