New York Film Critics Move Up Their Awards Date

A scene from David Fincher's "The Social Network," a big winner at last year's awards.

The New York Film Critics Circle have announced a significant change in their annual awards procedure: The group will now vote for their winners on Monday, November 28th.

That marks a date roughly two weeks earlier than the influential group typically vote. Last year, they announced on December 13th. The 28th potentially makes them the first major awards announcement of the season, with the Gotham Awards coming that same night (unless other organizations decide to bump up their dates now as well). It will be interesting see how that effects the various films not debuting until well into December, such as "The Iron Lady," "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" and "War Horse."

Founded in 1935, the New York Film Critics Circle is the oldest in the country. The circle’s membership includes critics from daily newspapers, weekly newspapers, magazines and online publications. Chaired this year by John Anderson, the group also announced additions including returning voting member Amy Taubin of Film Comment and a new member, Salon film critic Andrew O’ Hehir.

Full press release below. Complete list of 2011-12 awards dates so far here.

New York, NY – October 19, 2011 -- The New York Film Critics Circle announced today they will hold their annual vote for the 2011 Film Critics Circle Awards on Monday, November 28th, at The Walter Reade Theatre at Lincoln Center. The awards will be handed out at a ceremony to be held on Monday, January 9, 2012.

Says this years Chairman John Anderson, "As the nations pre-eminent critic’s group, we are excited about kicking off the annual end-of-year discussion with our new early voting date. On the basis of the films we have seen thus far, we are looking forward to another passionate debate amongst our members.”

Founded in 1935, the New York Film Critics Circle is the oldest and most prestigious in the country. The circle’s membership includes critics from daily newspapers, weekly newspapers, magazines and the Web’s most respected on-line publications. Every year the organization meets in New York to vote on awards for the calendar year's films. The Circle's awards are often viewed as harbingers of the Oscar nominations. The Circle's awards are also viewed — perhaps more accurately — as a principled alternative to the Oscars, honoring aesthetic merit in a forum that is immune to commercial and political pressures.

Joining Chairman John Anderson in leading the group is this year’s Vice-Chairman, Time Out New York Senior Film Writer Joshua Rothkopf, who will assume the duties of Chairman for 2012. Additions to the group are returning voting member Amy Taubin of Film Comment and a new member, Salon film critic Andrew O’ Hehir.

Full list of voting members below:

Thelma Adams
US WEEKLY

Melissa Anderson
Village Voice


John Anderson
VARIETY/NEWSDAY


Michael Atkinson

Dwight Brown
NNPA Syndication/BlackPressUSA.com

Richard Corliss
TIME


David Denby
THE NEW YORKER

Karen Durbin
ELLE

David Edelstein
NEW YORK MAGAZINE

David Fear
TIME OUT NY

Marshall Fine
STAR


Owen Gleiberman
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

J. Hoberman
VILLAGE VOICE

Stuart Klawans
THE NATION



Lou Lumenick
NEW YORK POST

Vincent Musetto
NEW YORK POST


Joe Morgenstern
WALL STREET JOURNAL

Joe Neumaier
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Andrew O’Hehir
SALON


Peter Rainer
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR


Rex Reed
NEW YORK OBSERVER

Joshua Rothkopf
TIME OUT NEW YORK

Andrew Sarris
Emeritus


Richard Schickel
TIME


Lisa Schwarzbaum
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

Kyle Smith
NEW YORK POST

Dana Stevens
SLATE

Amy Taubin
FILM COMMENT

Peter Travers
ROLLING STONE

Elizabeth Weitzman

THE DAILY NEWS

Armond White
NEW YORK PRESS


Stephen Whitty
NEWHOUSE NEWS SERVICE

Stephanie Zacharek
MOVIELINE