The Alliance of Women Film Journalists (AWFJ) announced the winners of their annual EDA Awards, with The Shape of Water winning in both the Best Film and Best Director (Guillermo del Toro) categories. Sally Hawkins’ performance in the fantasy romance also earned the organization’s Bravest Performance award. Lady Bird was also honored with three wins, two of which went to Greta Gerwig for Best Woman Director and Best Woman Screenwriter.
The Florida Project was also among the films that earned multiple EDA Awards. Willem Dafoe was voted Best Supporting Actor for his outstanding performance as a motel manager, and young Brooklynn Prince earned the AWFJ’s Best Breakthrough Performance award.
In addition to the standard awards categories, the EDA Awards also select winners in special categories including Outstanding Achievement by a Woman in the Film Industry and Hall of Shame. This year the Alliance of Women Film Journalists members* chose to honor all of the women who bravely spoke out against sexual harassment. The Hall of Shame Award went to all of the men who were finally exposed as sexual tormentors including Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey.
“This year was an important year for women to feel empowered to speak out and be heard,” said EDA AWARDS and AWFJ founder and film critic Jennifer Merin. “The need for gender parity and gender diversity in the movie industry is patently clear, and the time to stop sexual harassment in all industries is now. These goals are fundamental to AWFJ’s mission and it’s core values. I am thrilled that for this year’s awards, our AWFJ members voted to honor such a diverse array of talent and to recognize those who are leading with their voices to put an end to long time misconduct making the 2017 EDA Awards particularly relevant when art and film must be the vanguard of social progress.”
AWFJ EDA Award Winners:
‘Best Of’ – These awards are presented to women and/or men without gender consideration:
Best Film
THE SHAPE OF WATER
Best Director
Guillermo del Toro – THE SHAPE OF WATER
Best Screenplay, Original
GET OUT – Jordan Peele
Best Screenplay, Adapted
CALL ME BY YOUR NAME
Best Documentary
FACES, PLACES
Best Animated Film (Tie)
COCO
LOVING VINCENT
Best Actress
Frances McDormand – THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Laurie Metcalf — LADY BIRD
Best Actor
Gary Oldman – DARKEST HOUR
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Willem Dafoe – THE FLORIDA PROJECT
Best Ensemble Cast – Casting Director
MUDBOUND – Billy Hopkins and Ashley Ingram
Best Cinematography
Roger Deakins – BLADE RUNNER 2049
Best Editing
Lee Smith – DUNKIRK
Best Non-English-Language Film
THE SQUARE
EDA FEMALE FOCUS AWARDS
These awards honor women only.
Best Woman Director
Greta Gerwig – LADY BIRD
Best Woman Screenwriter
Greta Gerwig – LADY BIRD
Best Animated Female
Parvana – THE BREADWINNER
Best Breakthrough Performance
Brooklynn Prince – THE FLORIDA PROJECT
Outstanding Achievement by A Woman in The Film Industry
Rose McGowan, Ashley Judd and all who spoke out against sexual harassment
EDA SPECIAL MENTION AWARDS
Actress Defying Age and Ageism (name actress and film)
AGNES VARDA – FACES,PLACES
Most Egregious Age Difference Between The Lead and The Love Interest Award
I LOVE YOU DADDY – Chloe Grace Moretz and John Malkovich
Actress Most in Need Of A New Agent (name actress and film)
Kate Winslet for WONDER WHEEL and THE MOUNTAIN BETWEEN US
Bravest Performance (name actress and film) (Tie)
Sally Hawkins – THE SHAPE OF WATER
Margot Robbie – I, TONYA
Remake or Sequel That Shouldn’t Have Been Made
THE MUMMY
AWFJ Hall of Shame Award
Sexual Tormentors: Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, Brett Ratner, et al
(* – I am a member of the Alliance of Women Film Journalists.)
