Per Matt
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – January 25, 2022 – The Music City Film Critics’ Association is proud to announce its winners of the MCFCA 2022 Film Awards. The association is comprised of more than 30 professional film critics working in or near Nashville, Tennessee.

The Power of the Dog comes out on top with four awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor and Best Screenplay. Dune comes away with the second-most awards with three, including Best Score, Best Sound and Best Production Design.

“While there were no ties for this year’s awards, there were a lot of close votes, and in the end, 15 different films accounted for our 24 awards,” Sean Atkins, President of the MCFCA said. “That speaks to how exceptional 2021 was for film.”

“Once again the Music City Film Critics have honored a unique group of films and performances that showcase the unique quality presented throughout 2021,” Vice President Micheal Compton added.

Each year, the MCFCA gives out The Jim Ridley Award, a special award named after one of Nashville’s most beloved film critics, who died at age 50 in 2016. It is given to the film or the person that best represents Nashville and Tennessee. This year’s recipient is Old Henry.

“Jim Ridley was always one of Nashville’s biggest champions when it came to spotlighting local films made by local artists, and the MCFCA strongly felt that Old Henry honors the spirit of exactly who and what this important award is about,” said Cory Woodroof, MCFCA board member.

“Being both a gripping Western and an independent film shot just outside of Nashville, Old Henry is the perfect recipient of this honor. It’s exactly the type of movie you’d love to catch Jim afterward in the lobby and talk about.”

**Personal Commentary**

I really enjoyed a couple of great Westerns this year. The Harder They Fall was a great revenge fantasy, while The Power of the Dog dealt with psychological terror in two feature films that were not technically considered within the horror genre. Both were great in different ways, and both deserve many kudos. I didn’t get to watch Old Henry, but since it was the Jim Ridley winner representing Tennessee, I’ve got to see it sometime soon.

I was really moved by Summer of Soul, Licorice Pizza and especially Nightmare Alley. I truly hope the latter two movies will receive more recognition through the rest of this awards season. While I don’t consider them perfect films, I truly hope a large audience gets the opportunity to watch them, once they’re available to stream. COVID-19 really hurt large groups of people to view them in movie theaters, and it feels like these releases may miss out on some major awards because more people missed out on watching them, opposed to the smaller numbers that did view them.

I enjoy tracking box office results and will keep watching to see if these films progress throughout the current awards circuit. Until then, make sure to check these out and judge for yourself.

The 2022 Music City Film Critics’ Association Award Winners:

Best Picture
The Power of the Dog

The Jim Ridley Award
Old Henry

Best Director
Jane Campion – The Power of the Dog

Best Actor
Nicolas Cage – Pig

Best Actress
Jessica Chastain – The Eyes of Tammy Faye

Best Supporting Actor
Kodi Smit-McPhee – The Power of the Dog

Best Supporting Actress
Ann Dowd – Mass

Best Young Actor
Jude Hill – Belfast

Best Young Actress
Emilia Jones – CODA

Best Acting Ensemble
The Harder They Fall

Best Music Film
Tick, Tick…BOOM!

Best Animated Film
The Mitchells vs. The Machines

Best Documentary
Summer of Soul

Best International Film
Drive My Car

Best Screenplay
The Power of the Dog

Best Original Song
“No Time to Die” – No Time to Die

Best Score
Hans Zimmer – Dune

Best Sound
Dune

Best Cinematography
The Tragedy of Macbeth

Best Production Design
Dune

Best Editing
Last Night in Soho

Best Comedy Film
Licorice Pizza

Best Horror Film
A Quiet Place Part II

Best Action Film
Spider-Man: No Way Home