The National Board of Review held their annual beloved gala on Jan. 7 at Cipriani 42nd Street.
To mark the occasion, a bevy of notable actors and dedicated filmmakers gathered to celebrate and honor the best in film for the season.
Attendees were thrilled to be in a room with inspirational leaders. Even the stars were impressed with the moment.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 07: (L-R) John Lithgow, Annie Schulhof, President National Board of Review, and Ralph Fiennes attend The National Board of Review Annual Awards Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on January 07, 2025, in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for National Board of Review)
“It’s exciting. There’s lots of really talented people and being able to talk to them, meet them…I mean I can fangirl over them,” a jubilant Nicole Kidman told reporters when asked about what made the night special.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 07: Nicole Kidman attends The National Board of Review Annual Awards Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on January 07, 2025, in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for National Board of Review)
The National Board of Review’s awards celebrate the art of cinema, with categories that include Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor and Actress, Best Original and Adapted Screenplay, Breakthrough Performance, Best Directorial Debut, Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography, and Outstanding Achievement in Stunt Artistry.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 07: (L-R) Willie Sellars, Julian Brave NoiseCat, Emily Kassie and Kellen Quinn attend The National Board of Review Annual Awards Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on January 07, 202,5 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for National Board of Review)
Host Willie Geist led a kicked off a delightful carpet that hosted honorees including:
- Best Film: Wicked (Jon M. Chu, Marc Platt, David Stone)
- Best Director: Jon M. Chu, Wicked
- Best Actor: Daniel Craig, Queer
- Best Actress: Nicole Kidman, Babygirl
- Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain
- Best Supporting Actress: Elle Fanning, A Complete Unknown
- NBR Spotlight Award: Creative Collaboration of Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande, Wicked
- Breakthrough Performance: Mikey Madison, Anora
- Best Directorial Debut: India Donaldson, Good One
- Best Original Screenplay: Mike Leigh, Hard Truths
- Best Adapted Screenplay: Clint Bentley & Greg Kwedar, Sing Sing
- Best Ensemble: Conclave (Ralph Fiennes, Isabella Rossellini, John Lithgow)
- Best Documentary: Sugarcane (Emily Kassie, Julian Brave NoiseCat)
- Best International Film: The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Mohammad Rasoulof)
- Best Animated Feature: Flow (Gints Zilbalodis)
- Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography: Jarin Blaschke, Nosferatu
- NBR Freedom of Expression Award: Yuval Abraham, Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Rachel Szor, No Other Land (Fabien Greenberg)
- Outstanding Achievement in Stunt Artistry: Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (Karl Von Moorsel)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 07: Ryan Reynolds speaks onstage during The National Board of Review Annual Awards Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on January 07, 20,25 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for National Board of Review)
Presenters included: Christine Baranski, Dan Cogan, Sofia Coppola, Robert Eggers, Jesse Eisenberg, Liz Garbus, Luca Gaudagnino, Carol Kane, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Craig Melvin, Arian Moayed, Robert Pattinson, Ryan Reynolds, Liev Schreiber, Drew Starkey, Michelle Yeoh and others.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 07: Mikey Madison attends The National Board of Review Annual Awards Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on January 07, 2,025 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for National Board of Review)
Each year, this select group of film enthusiasts, filmmakers, profession,nals, and academics participates in illuminating discussions with directors, actors, producers, and screenwriters before announcing their selections for the best work of the year. Since first citing year-end cinematic achievements in 1929, NBR has recognized a vast selection of outstanding studio, independent, foreign-language, animated, and documentary films, often propelling recipients such as Peter Farrelly’s Green Book and George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road into the larger awards conversation. In addition, one of the organization’s core values is identifying new talent and nurturing young filmmakers by awarding promising talent with Directorial Debut and Breakthrough Performance awards as well as grants to rising film students. With its continued efforts to assist up-and-coming artists in completing and presenting their work, NBR honors its commitment to not just identifying the best that current cinema has to offer, but also ensuring the quality of films for future generations to come.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 07: (L-R) Luca Guadagnino, Daniel Craig, winner of the Best Actor Award for “Queer,” and Drew Starkey pose during The National Board of Review Annual Awards Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on January 07, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for National Board of Review)
For a full list of the 2024 National Board of Review Honorees please visit: www.nationalboardofreview.org.
