As the 2026 awards circuit intensifies, the Denver Film Critics Society (DFCS) announced its winners last night, further cementing the hierarchy of this year’s cinematic heavyweights. In a year defined by bold genre-bending and auteur-driven epics, Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” emerged as the night’s big victor. Coming off the heels of a historic 16 Academy Award nominations, the film’s success in Denver serves as a strong indicator of its broad critical appeal.
While Sinners took home the top prizes, the ceremony also recognized a diverse array of talent, from Timothée Chalamet’s high-energy turn in Marty Supreme to the technical wizardry of the latest Avatar installment.
The Big Winner: Sinners Takes Seven
IMDb
Ryan Coogler’s Southern Gothic horror-thriller was the undisputed champion of the evening. Sinners claimed a total of seven awards, including:
- Best Film
- Best Director (Ryan Coogler)
- Best Original Screenplay
- Best Ensemble
- Best Horror Feature
- Best Original Score (Ludwig Göransson)
- Best Cinematography (Autumn Durald Arkapaw)
Critics praised the film for revitalizing the horror genre with prestige filmmaking, noting that Coogler’s vision has created a rare “consensus hit” that appeals to both genre fans and high-art critics alike.
Acting Honors: Chalamet and Buckley Lead the Pack
Timothée Chalamet in Marty Supreme (2025) / IMDb
The lead acting categories saw two of the season’s most celebrated performers take the top spots. Timothée Chalamet won Best Lead Performance by an Actor for his portrayal of a 1950s ping-pong hustler in Marty Supreme, adding another trophy to his increasingly crowded mantle. On the female side, Jessie Buckley was awarded Best Lead Performance by an Actress for her devastatingly beautiful work in Hamnet.
In the supporting categories, the DFCS opted for veteran excellence:
Best Supporting Performance by an Actor: Benicio Del Toro (One Battle After Another)
Best Supporting Performance by an Actress: Amy Madigan (Weapons)
Genre and Technical Standouts
The society also recognized excellence across specific genres and technical disciplines, highlighting the diversity of the 2025-2026 film slate:
- Best Animated Film: KPop Demon Hunters
- Best Sci-Fi Film: Bugonia
- Best Comedy: Wake Up Dead Man
- Best Non-English Language Feature: Sentimental Value
- Best Visual Effects: Avatar: Fire and Ash
- Best Stunts: Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
The Road to the Oscars
The other awards mirror several trends seen in the recent Oscar nominations, specifically the overwhelming momentum for Sinners and One Battle After Another. As the industry heads toward the Academy Awards on March 15, 2026, these regional critics’ wins provide crucial “second-wave” momentum for films looking to convert their nominations into gold.
