Danielle Solzman
Things are slowly coming back to normal for movies but once again, Solzy at the Movies presents the Solzy Awards for 2021…so far.
It feels like it’s been forever since Sundance kicked off the traditional start of the new movie year. The festival went with a hybrid version this year with a mix of both online and in-person. In terms of film festivals over all, I’m going to be full honest that this isn’t my best year. Between transphobic-triggered depression during both Sundance and SXSW, antisemitism took its toll since mid-May and it hasn’t stopped since. Fighting hatred is exhausting to say the least. Here’s to hoping that things improve on that end during the second half of the year. The Jewish holidays take over during September so G-d only knows what fest coverage will be like then.
Lines are blurring between when it comes to what is a motion picture and what is a TV Movie. If a film premieres on TV first, I’m calling it a TV movie. But when it comes to streaming releases, I think it depends on the film itself. It depends on the studio intentions and if it’s also getting a theatrical release in one of the Oscar-qualifying markets.
For a short film to qualify for the Solzy Awards, it just needs to premiere at a film festival. I tend to go by Oscar eligibility when it comes to the film’s premiere. If I saw a short film for the first time this year but it premiered last summer, it isn’t eligible. Too bad I didn’t catch For Your Consideration last year!
Best Narrative Features
- Shiva Baby
- In The Heights
- Here Today
- Holler
- The Dig
- Judas and the Black Messiah
- Werewolves Within
- Together Together
- Malcolm & Marie
- The Map of Tiny Perfect Things
- Good on Paper
- I Care a Lot
Best Documentary Features
- Summer of Soul (…or, When the Revolution Could Not be Televised)
- Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It
- The Human Factor
- Woman in Motion
- LFG (Let’s F*cking Go)
Best Animated Features
- The Mitchells vs. The Machines
- Raya and the Last Dragon
- Luca
Best Actor in a Leading Role
- Billy Crystal, Here Today
- Anthony Ramos, In the Heights
- Ralph Fiennes, The Dig
- Lakeith Stanfield, Judas and the Black Messiah
- John David Washington, Malcolm & Marie
- Sam Richardson, Werewolves Within
Best Actress in a Leading Role
- Melissa Barrera, In the Heights
- Leslie Grace, In the Heights
- Jessica Barden, Holler
- Rachel Sennott, Shiva Baby
- Carey Mulligan, The Dig
- Rosamund Pike, I Care a Lot
- Tiffany Haddish, Here Today
- Zendaya, Malcolm & Marie
- Patti Harrison, Together Together
- Kathryn Newton, The Map of Tiny Perfect Things
- Iliza Schlesinger, Good on Paper
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
- Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
- Olga Merediz, In the Heights
- Lily James, The Dig
- Molly Gordon, Shiva Baby
- Margaret Cho, Good on Paper
Best Director
- Emma Seligman, Shiva Baby
- Nicole Riegel, Holler
- Jon M. Chu, In the Heights
- Billy Crystal, Here Today
- Simon Stone, The Dig
- Shaka King, Judas and the Black Messiah
Best Cinematography
- In the Heights
- Shiva Baby
- The Dig
- Judas and the Black Messiah
- Holler
- Malcolm & Marie
Best Live-Action Short
- The Other Morgan
- GraceLand
- The Mohel
- Sisters
- Let’s Be Tigers
- Polaris
Best Animated Short
- N/A
Film Festival Favorites
- CODA
- Dating & New York
- The Fallout
- Violet
- The Beta Test
- First Date
Film Festival Documentaries
- Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road
- Clerk
- Playing with Sharks
- Introducing, Selma Blair
- The Neutral Ground
Film Festival Performances
- Actors
- Jim Cummings, The Beta Test
- Jaboukie Young-White, Dating & New York
- Tyson Brown, First Date
- Actresses
- Emilia Jones, CODA
- Jenna Ortega, The Fallout
- Olivia Munn, Violet
- Francesca Reale, Dating & New York
- Shelby Duclos, First Date
- Supporting Actor
- Troy Kotsur, CODA
- Daniel Durant, CODA
- Brian Muller, Dating & New York
- Supporting Actress
- Marlee Matlin, CODA
- Maddie Ziegler, The Fallout
- Catherine Cohen, Dating & New York
