Austin Film Critics Association (AFCA) Awards 2025: Complete list of nominees explored

The Austin Film Critics Association (AFCA) has officially released its complete list of nominees for the 2025 awards. The AFCA is now entering its twentieth year. The 2025 nominees feature multiple studio releases, international titles, auteur projects, locally made films, and more.

This year's AFCA nominations are led by two films: One Battle After Another and Sinners. Paul Thomas Anderson's film has earned twelve nominations and sits at the top of the list. Close behind is Ryan Coogler's Sinners, which has received eleven nominations.

These two titles dominate twenty-three competitive categories across directing, writing, acting, technical arts, and ensemble work. AFCA was founded in 2005 by Cole Dabney and Bobby McCurdy. It now has more than thirty professional critics.

Members contribute to multiple outlets, including The Austin Chronicle, Certified Forgotten, Cinapse, Consequence, Double Toasted, Fangoria, Hyperreal Film Club, Indiewire, Junkfood Cinema, KOOP 91.7 FM Radio, One Of Us, Paste, The Playlist, Sightlines, Slashfilm, We Got This Covered, and others.

A description of the organization on the official AFCA website reads:

"Since its inception, the members of the Austin Film Critics Association have been doing their best to Keep Austin Weird. With upsets like Ellen Page’s win over Helen Mirren in 2006 and “The Dark Knight” besting “Slumdog Millionaire” in 2008, it’s no surprise the AFCA has been called everything from “wildly contrarian” (Entertainment Weekly) to “progressive…compared to their counterparts” (FEARnet). Either way, these Austinites have established themselves as a collective that everyone in Hollywood must keep an eye on come awards season."

It also adds:

"Founded in 2005 by Cole Dabney & Bobby McCurdy, the AFCA has seen its membership grow from single digits to well over 30 members with a diverse roster of professional film critics who regularly review movies for daily newspapers, weekly alternatives, local radio, monthly magazines, and websites with international prominence."

"Each December, AFCA members vote on the year's best in film, celebrating excellence on both sides of the camera. Awards are given annually in a number of “Oscar” categories and several unique AFCA categories, including the Robert R. “Bobby” McCurdy Memorial Breakthrough Artist Award, Best First Film, Best International Film, Best Ensemble and Best Austin Film."

An official AFCA press release mentions:

"Continuing our change to this category from last year, all 5 of our top nominees will be honored with the award, and will be announced on December 18th. As part of the organization’s annual voting, the Austin Film Critics Association acknowledges standout titles with local ties , works made by directors who live in Austin. This award is distinct to our group of critics, recognizing the talent of Austin filmmakers as we celebrate the best films of the year."

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Complete list of nominees at the 2025 Austin Film Critics Association (AFCA) Awards

Best Director

Paul Thomas Anderson: One Battle After Another

Ryan Coogler: Sinners

Josh Safdie: Marty Supreme

Guillermo Del Toro: Frankenstein

Joachim Trier: Sentimental Value

Best Picture

Bugonia

Frankenstein

Marty Supreme

One Battle After Another

The Secret Agent

Sentimental Value

Sinners

The Testament of Ann Lee

Train Dreams

Weapons

Best Actress

Jessie Buckley: Hamnet

Rose Byrne: If I Had Legs I’d Kick You

Jennifer Lawrence: Die My Love

Amanda Seyfried: The Testament of Ann Lee

Emma Stone: Bugonia

Best Actor

Timothée Chalamet: Marty Supreme

Leonardo DiCaprio: One Battle After Another

Ethan Hawke: Blue Moon

Michael B. Jordan: Sinners

Wagner Moura: The Secret Agent

Best Supporting Actress

Odessa A’zion: Marty Supreme

Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas: Sentimental Value

Amy Madigan: Weapons

Wunmi Mosaku: Sinners

Teyana Taylor: One Battle After Another

Best Supporting Actor

Benicio Del Toro: One Battle After Another

Jacob Elordi: Frankenstein

David Jonsson: The Long Walk

Sean Penn: One Battle After Another

Adam Sandler: Jay Kelly

Best Ensemble

The Long Walk

Marty Supreme

One Battle After Another

Sinners

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

Best Original Screenplay

Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie: Marty Supreme

Ryan Coogler: Sinners

Zach Cregger: Weapons

Kleber Mendonça Filho: The Secret Agent

Eskil Vogt and Joachim Trier: Sentimental Value

Best Adapted Screenplay

Paul Thomas Anderson, Thomas Pynchon: One Battle After Another

Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Denis Johnson: Train Dreams

Park Chan-wook, Lee Kyoung-mi, Jahye Lee, Don McKellar, Donald E. Westlake: No Other Choice

Guillermo del Toro, Mary Shelley: Frankenstein

Will Tracy, Jang Joon-hwan: Bugonia

Best Cinematography

Michael Bauman: One Battle After Another

Autumn Durald: Sinners

Darius Khondji: Marty Supreme

Dan Laustsen: Frankenstein

Adolpho Veloso: Train Dreams

Best Editing

Andy Jurgensen: One Battle After Another

Stephen Mirrione: F1: The Movie

Michael P. Shawver: Sinners

Joe Murphy: Weapons

Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie: Marty Supreme

Best Original Score

Daniel Blumberg: The Testament of Ann Lee

Alexandre Desplat: Frankenstein

Ludwig Göransson: Sinners

Jonny Greenwood: One Battle After Another

Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (NiN): Tron: Ares

Best International Film

It Was Just an Accident (Yek tasadof-e sadeh)

No Other Choice (Eojjeolsugaeopda)

The Secret Agent (O Agente Secreto)

Sentimental Value (Affeksjonsverdi)

Sirāt

Best Documentary

Come See Me In The Good Light

Orwell: 2+2=5

The Librarians

The Perfect Neighbor

Predators

Best Animated Film

Arco

Elio

KPop Demon Hunters

Little Amelie or the Character of Rain

Zootopia 2

Best Voice Acting or Animated or Digital Performance

Oona Chaplin: Avatar: Fire and Ash

Arden Cho, Audrey Nuna: KPop Demon Hunters

Will Patton: Train Dreams

Stephen Lang: Avatar: Fire and Ash

Zoe Saldaña: Avatar: Fire and Ash

Best Stunt Work

Ballerina

F1: The Movie

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning

One Battle After Another

Sinners

Best Visual Effects

Avatar: Fire and Ash

F1: The Movie

Frankenstein

Sinners

Superman

Best Remake or Franchise Film

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Frankenstein

Superman

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

28 Years Later

Best First Film

Andrew DeYoung: Friendship

Carson Lund: Eephus

Charlie Polinger: The Plague

Kristen Stewart: The Chronology of Water

Eva Victor: Sorry, Baby

Best Austin Film

The American Southwest

Blue Moon

Man Goes on Rant

Nouvelle Vague

The Toxic Avenger

Notably, this year's voting will include the Robert R. "Bobby" McCurdy Memorial Breakthrough Artist Award. The winners across all AFCA categories will be officially announced on December 18, 2025.

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