As we head into the final week of the year, several critics’ organizations are finally ready to weigh in with their choices for the best of 2011 cinema. One influential group is the Online Film Critics Society, and they announced their nominations today.

Topping the list with seven nominations is Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life. The film’s nods include Best Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Brad Pitt), Supporting Actress (Jessica Chastain), Original Screenplay, Editing and Cinematography. Drive was next with six nominations including the awards for Best Picture, Director (Nicolas Winding Refn), Supporting Actor (Albert Brooks), Adapted Screenplay, Editing, and Cinematography.

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Few upcoming films have garnered as much attention from my readers and Twitter followers as Declan Donnellan’s Bel Ami. Based on the novel by Guy de Maupassant, the movie stars Robert Pattinson (you’ve heard of him) as George Duroy, an ambitious young man in Paris circa 1890s. The film is said to be fast-paced, provocative, and sexy.

With an all-star cast featuring Christina Ricci, Uma Thurman, Kristin Scott Thomas, and Colm Meaney, Bel Ami is a co-production of UK firms Redwave Films, XIX Entertainment, and Protagonist Pictures, along with Italy’s giant Rai Films. It opens in some European territories, including the UK, on March 2 with a worldwide rollout in the weeks to follow.

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Today the 2012 Slamdance Film Festival announced its lineup of Special Screenings and shorts. There are eight feature-length films in Special Screenings: three narratives and five documentaries, including five World Premieres. The Shorts Program features 75 films, including Special Screenings, Live Action Competition, Documentary Competition, Animation, $99 Special, Anarchy Shorts, and the World Premiere of a special program of new Iranian shorts never seen outside the country, “Made In Iran: 7 Short Premieres.” Last week I posted the Competition Lineup.

“This year’s Special Screenings in every way represent the maverick spirit of Slamdance, from Jonathan Demme’s documentary Neil Young Journeys, to the premiere of a never before seen Ed Wood television pilot, and the poetic realism of Tibetan filmmaker Pema Tseden’s Old Dog,” said Slamdance President and Co-Founder Peter Baxter. “If you want to see the truest representation of bold, independent filmmaking, Slamdance is the place to be.”

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Earlier I posted the complete lineup of feature-length films in competition and out-of-competition at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. Films in the Premieres section were unveiled after that, followed by the Shorts Program. The screening schedule became available last week.

Four additional features have now been added to the lineup. Late additions to the Festival in recent years have included Miranda July’s The Future and Lisa Cholodenko’s The Kids Are All Right. “Each of these four films is an accomplishment in its own right, and collectively, their addition to our program allows us to present a broader look at independent filmmaking,” said Sundance Film Festival Director John Cooper. “With these four films, we will present a total of 117 feature-length films at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival – a strong indication of the vitality of the independent film community.”

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The Black Film Critics Circle (BFCC), the newest among the various critics’ organizations, has selected its honorees for the best in motion pictures this year. The BFCC awarded prizes in 13 categories including best picture, best director, original and adapted screenplay, best actor, best actress, best supporting actor, best supporting actress, best animated feature, best independent film, best documentary feature, best foreign film and best ensemble. Special Signature awards are also given to industry pioneers and rising stars.

Top honors went to The Help, which picked up five awards including Best Picture, Actress (Viola Davis), Supporting Actress (Octavia Spencer), Adapted Screenplay (Tate Taylor), and Best Ensemble. Dee Rees won Best Director for Pariah and Best Actor went to Olivier Litondo for The First Grader. Albert Brooks took home the Best Supporting Actor prize for Drive. A Special Mention Award was given to Attack the Block, one of my Top 10 films of the year.

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The Florida Film Critics Circle (FFCC) has announced their choices for the best of 2011. Founded in 1996, the Florida Film Critics Circle is comprised of 20 writers from state publications. The FFCC is established to recognize outstanding work in film, further the cause of good movies, and maintain the highest level of professionalism among film critics in Florida. Dan Hudak of www.hudakonhollywood.com has served as chairman since March 2008. In December, the FFCC meets to vote on their awards for films released during that year.

The Descendants delighted the Florida critics, taking home awards for Best Picture, Supporting Actress (Shailene Woodley), and Adapted Screenplay (Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash). Best Director honors went to Martin Scorsese for Hugo. Acting honors went to Michael Fassbender for Shame and Michelle Williams for her performance in My Week with Marilyn. Albert Brooks was awarded Best Supporting Actor for Drive.

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One of the last major critics’ organizations to weigh in with their awards each year is the Chicago Film Critics Association (CFCA). This group is made up of print, electronic, and online journalists representing the country’s third largest metropolitan area. Held annually, the CFCA’s newsworthy and prestigious awards honor outstanding film works, performances, and individuals. The parent association was founded in 1990 by film critic Sue Kiner after the successful launch of the Chicago Film Critics Awards in 1989.

Adding to the pile of critics’ accolades it’s received so far, The Tree of Life topped the list with four awards, taking home the honors for Best Picture, Director (Terrence Malick), Supporting Actress (Jessica Chastain), and Cinematography (Emmanuel Lubezki). Chastain was a double winner, also taking home Supporting Actress honors for Take Shelter. Michael Shannon nabbed another Best Actor kudo for his performance in Take Shelter while the award for Best Actress went to Michelle Williams for My Week With Marilyn. Best Supporting Actor honors went to Albert Brooks for Drive.

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