The Dublin Film Critics Circle Awards 2008

The Dublin Film Critics Circle has named Paul Thomas Anderson’s There Will be Blood as the best film of 2008. Hunger, Steve McQueen’s study of Bobby Sands’s last days, was selected as the best Irish film. The DFCC, which polls professional critics in the capital, including this one, limits its selection to those films released in Ireland during the calendar year and, as a result, many of the pictures jockeying for attention in the current American awards season are deemed ineligible. This also explains why some of last year’s Oscar winners – released early in the year in this territory – make it onto the list. The DFCC was set up three years ago to gather the thoughts of the city’s critics and to stage special events. Last year the body presented its first Maverick Award – a set of fabulous cufflinks – to the great John Waters. More activity is brewing.

BEST FILM

1 There Will Be Blood

2. Hunger

3. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

4. No Country for Old Men

5. Wall-E


BEST DIRECTOR

1. Paul Thomas Anderson (There Will be Blood)

2. Julian Schnabel (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly)

3. Steve McQueen (Hunger)

4. The Coen Brothers (No Country for Old Men)

5. Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight)




BEST ACTOR

1. Daniel Day Lewis (There Will be Blood)

2. Michael Fassbender (Hunger)

3. Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight)

4. Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men)

5. Josh Brolin (W.)

BEST ACTRESS

1. Kristin Scott Thomas (I've Loved You So Long)

2. Sally Hawkins (Happy Go Lucky)

3. Ellen Page (Juno)

4. Angelina Jolie (Changeling)

5. Nadine Labaki (Caramel)

BREAKTHROUGH

1. Steve McQueen (Hunger)

2. Martin McDonagh (In Bruges)

3. Michael Fassbender (Hunger)

4. Nadine Labacki (Caramel)

5. Ellen Page (Juno)

BEST IRISH FILM

1. Hunger

2. Kisses

3. Saviours