Kansas City Film Critics Circle announce 59th James Loutzenhiser awards for cinematic excellence

The Substance. // Courtesy MUBI

On January 4th, members of the Kansas City Film Critics Circle (KCFCC) voted on 16 categories to decide the winners of the 59th Annual James Loutzenhiser Awards. Categories included the Robert Altman Award for Best Director, the Vince Koehler Award For Best Sci-Fi/ Fantasy/ Horror Film, and the Tom Poe Award For Best LGBTQ Film.

KCFCC, the second-oldest professional film critic organization in the United States, was founded in 1966 by the late Dr. James Loutzenhiser (1931-2001) who served as the group’s president for over 30 years. [You can read our previous deep dive into the group’s history in our August 2023 print issue. Recent years’ awards round-up can be found here and here.]

While Dune: Part II received the most nominations, it found itself runner-up in multiple categories, though it didn’t win any awards. The biggest winner of the day was The Substance, managing to secure victory in 6 out of the 7 categories in which it was nominated—the lone defeat coming from Best Original Score.

This year also saw the introduction of the Buster Keaton Award for Best Stunt Ensemble Film, with the honor swept by The Fall Guy.

Other winners of note included a tie between Demi Moore (The Substance) and Mikey Madison (Anora) for Best Actress. [Our recent interview with Anora’s writer-director was a fascinating deep dive into the work behind the scenes.]

Animated feature Flow won Best Foreign Langage Film.

Meanwhile, David Dastmalchian, who grew up in the Kansas City metropolitan area, picked up the award for Best Actor with his work in Late Night with the Devil.

Below is a complete list of the winners and runners-up from the 59th Annual James Loutzenhiser Awards:

BEST FILM

Winner: THE SUBSTANCE

Runner-Up: DUNE: PART II

ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTOR

Winner: Coralie Fargeat – THE SUBSTANCE

Runner-Up: Sean Baker – ANORA

BEST ACTOR

Winner: David Dastmalchian – LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL

Runner-Up: Ralph Fiennes – CONCLAVE

BEST ACTRESS

Winner (TIE): Mikey Madison – ANORA

Winner (TIE): Demi Moore – THE SUBSTANCE

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Winner: Kieran Culkin – A REAL PAIN

Runner Up: Yura Borisov – ANORA

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Winner: Margaret Qualley – THE SUBSTANCE

Runner-Up: Danielle Deadwyler – THE PIANO LESSON

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Winner: THE SUBSTANCE

Runner-Up: ANORA

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Winner: CONCLAVE

Runner-Up: NICKEL BOYS

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Winner: THE BRUTALIST

Runner-Up: CIVIL WAR

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

Winner: CHALLENGERS

Runner-Up: CONCLAVE

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

Winner: THE WILD ROBOT

Runner-Up: FLOW

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

Winner: FLOW

Runner-Up: EMILIA PÉREZ

BEST DOCUMENTARY

Winner: WILL & HARPER

Runner-Up: SEEKING MAVIS BEACON 

VINCE KOEHLER AWARD FOR BEST SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY/HORROR

Winner: THE SUBSTANCE

Runner-Up: DUNE: PART TWO

TOM POE AWARD FOR BEST LGBTQ FILM

Winner: I SAW THE TV GLOW

Runner-Up: EMILIA PÉREZ

BUSTER KEATON AWARD FOR THE BEST STUNT ENSEMBLE FILM

Winner: THE FALL GUY

Runner-Up (TIE): FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA/ DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE