WILL ANNOUNCE

THE BEST OF 2009

In December!

(Detroit, Michigan – November 20, 2009)…The Detroit Film Critics Society is planning to announce the BEST OF 2009 winners in eight categories at the end of December.  The society was founded in Spring 2007 by a group of 17 Michigan film critics who write in the Detroit area as well as other major cities within a 150-mile radius of the city including Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, and Flint, Michigan and Toledo, Ohio. 

Tom Long, film critic of the Detroit News said, "Critics are inevitably influenced by the environment that surrounds them, so the idea all along was that a Detroit Film Critics Society would reflect the Detroit area. And I think the results do just that, showing an enthusiasm and appreciation for both the established and the new."

“I'm so glad we created the Detroit Film Critics Society. It's important for us to speak up for the films that appeal to Michigan moviegoers -- movies that we don't always see reflected on critics' lists from the Coasts. And, I hope, our recognition of some films that have not yet made it to Michigan screens will mean theatres will gain greater access to smaller films that often skip over our part of the country”, said Robin Miner-Swartz of the Lansing State Journal. 

John Monaghan of The Detroit Free Press added, "It has been a fun way to celebrate and share thoughts on the best movies of the year.  Movie reviewing can be a lonely, insulated business. Many of the group members I had sat in the dark with and never met - until now. The DFCS has brought together a diverse group that has a common love of movies."

 To be eligible to join the Detroit Film Critics Society, a critic must have reviewed at least 12 films over the last year in an established publication (print, radio, television or web as long as it is a commercial entity). No more than two writers per publication were admitted.   Finally, each participating critic has an obligation to announce the formation of the society and the announcement of the year end winners via their medium.

 Each critic will submit their top 5 picks in the following categories: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Ensemble, and Best Newcomer.  From these submissions, each entry will be given a point value and the top 5 in each category will be put on the final ballot.  The final ballots will then be given to each critic to rank in order.  The results will once again be tabulated and the winner’s will be decided.

The Detroit Film Critics Society members for the 2009-2010 season in alphabetical order are:
 
Kirk Baird-The Toledo Blade, Jason Buchanan – allmovie.com, Colette Evangelista - Capital Women's Lifestyle Magazine, Jim Fordyce – MIentertainment.biz, Adam Graham – The Detroit News, Corey Hall – The Metro Times, Tom Long – The Detroit News, Jeff Meyers – The Metro Times, Robin Miner-Swartz – The Lansing State Journal, Chad Mitchell – The Chad Show, John Monaghan – The Detroit Free Press, Warren Pierce – WJR Radio, Greg Russell – WMYD-TV, James Sanford – The Kalamazoo Gazette, Debbie Schlussel – Sirius Patriot Channel 144’s Mike Church Show, Perry Seibert – allmovie.com, John Serba – The Grand Rapids Press, Lee Thomas – Fox 2, Kirk Vanderbeek – Real Detroit Weekly, Greg Walton – WIOG/KRSP, and Chris Williams – Advisor & Source Newspapers. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:

RUTH DANIELS, DETROIT FILM CRITICS SOCIETY

AT (248) 703-0997 OR ruthd@emagine-entertainment.com