Back in 2011, Mark Pfeiffer was contacted by a representative of James Franco’s. Franco was filming This Is the End, an apocalypse comedy principally set in his own (fictional) home, and he wanted his COFCA Award for Best Actor to decorate the set.
Who is Mark Pfeiffer and what is COFCA, you ask? Well, James Franco knows.
COFCA is the Central Ohio Film Critics Association, and Pfeiffer is the group’s president.
According to Pfeiffer, “COFCA was formed in late 2002 to give local critics a unified voice in addressing professional matters, and in spotlighting the best films playing in Columbus.”
The association includes 20 local print, radio, television and internet film critics, including CU’s own Nicholas Herum and Hope Madden. Pfeiffer, also a member, co-produces/co-hosts Now Playing on WOCC TV3 and Otterbein TV.
“Whether they’re writing for local or national publications, more film critics call Columbus home than many realize, so the group is a way of bringing attention to their work,” says Pfeiffer.
Known primarily for their annual awards, Pfeiffer says the group’s mission has broadened since 2002.
“The group’s mission now includes letting the public know what new films are opening here every week, and pointing moviegoers to area writers’ reviews through its website (www.cofca.org),” says Pfeiffer. “As quickly as films come and go at theaters these days, especially specialty films, I think it’s important for the group to make viewers aware of the rich and diverse slate of films available to them in Columbus. More independent and foreign titles are getting commercial runs here than ever, but you have to pay close attention to keep from missing them.”
The group met Thursday, January 2, to announce their 12th annual awards for the best in cinema.
“I’m often surprised how far the announcement of our award winners reaches beyond Columbus,” says Pfeiffer, whose old buddy Franco has another reason to like the group.
The circle named Gravity the best film of 2012, giving its helmsman Alfonso Cuarón the award for best director. Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave) and Adèle Exarchopolous (Blue is the Warmest Color) took top prizes in lead acting, while Franco (Spring Breakers) and Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle) nabbed supporting nods.
The group offers additional awards for ensemble (American Hustle), Actor of the Year (Matthew McConaughey), and Breakthrough Film Artist (Adèle Exarchopolous), among others.
Complete list of awards:
Best Film
- Gravity
- Her
- American Hustle
- Frances Ha
- The Wolf of Wall Street
- 12 Years a Slave
- Inside Llewyn Davis
- Before Midnight
- Upstream Color
- Nebraska
Best Director
- Alfonso Cuarón, Gravity
- Runner-up: Spike Jonze, Her
Best Actor
- Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave
- Runner-up: Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club
Best Actress
- Adèle Exarchopolous, Blue is the Warmest Color (La vie d’Adèle)
- Runner-up: Brie Larson, Short Term 12
Best Supporting Actor
- James Franco, Spring Breakers
- Runner-up: Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club
Best Supporting Actress
- Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle
- Runner-up: Lupita Nyong’o, 12 Years a Slave
Best Ensemble
- American Hustle
- Runner-up: The Wolf of Wall Street
Actor of the Year (for an exemplary body of work)
- Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club, Mud, and The Wolf of Wall Street
- Runner-up: Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Breakthrough Film Artist
- Adèle Exarchopolous, Blue is the Warmest Color (La vie d’Adèle) (for acting)
- Runner-up: Brie Larson, Don Jon, Short Term 12, and The Spectacular Now (for acting)
Best Cinematography
- Emmanuel Lubezki, Gravity
- Runner-up: Hoyte Van Hoytema, Her
Best Adapted Screenplay
- Terence Winter, The Wolf of Wall Street
- Runner-up: John Ridley, 12 Years a Slave
Best Original Screenplay
- Spike Jonze, Her
- Runner-up: Destin Daniel Cretton, Short Term 12
Best Score
- Arcade Fire, Her
- Runner-up: Steven Price, Gravity
Best Documentary
- The Act of Killing
- Runner-up: Stories We Tell
Best Foreign Language Film
- The Wind Rises (Kaze tachinu)
- Runner-up: Blue is the Warmest Color (La vie d’Adèle)
Best Animated Film
- The Wind Rises (Kaze tachinu)
- Runner-up: Frozen
Best Overlooked Film
- Short Term 12
- Runner-up: Mud
For more information, visit www.cofca.org.
A full slate of movie reviews is available on my website www.maddwolf.com. You can also follow me on Twitter @maddwolf and like me on Facebook at facebook.com/MaddWolfColumbus.