SDFCS Recognize Indie Films

ANCHOR INTRO: This month, the San Diego Film Critics announced their winners for the best of 2011. KPBS arts reporter Beth Accomando speaks with the group's president.

The film awards season is in full swing. The Oscars may be the best known of these but they are given by industry professionals who may be voting for their own films or those of their colleagues. CityBeat's Anders Wright is president of the San Diego Film Critics Society, which has a very different agenda.

ANDERS WRIGHT: Film critics groups are designed to really shine a light on movies that are of high quality and caliber. The fact that the San Diego Film Critic Society often highlights movies that are sort of out of the mainstream to me is something that makes me proudest of this organization. (:18)

He is especially proud of the group's best actress award going this year to Brit Marling for the independent film "Another Earth."

ANDERS WRIGHT: It really is quite a good performance. She's playing a young grad student who has caused a terrible tragedy and is living up to her responsibilities in terms of that while the entire planet is going through some serious changes. (:15)

The group gave its Body of Work Award to Jessica Chastain for her diverse roles in films such as "The Debt," "The Help," and "The Tree of Life." The critics also give out an annual award to someone who champions the art of film in San Diego. This year its Kyle Counts Award went to Lee Ann Kim, executive Director of the San Diego Asian Film Festival.

ANDERS WRIGHT: The San Diego Asian Film Festival is such a success story here. They have a terrifically diverse line up of stuff that they show every year and it just keeps getting bigger and better so we feel as though Lee Ann definitely deserved the award and we're happy to give it to her. (:14)

The San Diego Film Critics gave their top prize to "The Artist," a black and white silent film from France currently playing at Landmark's Hillcrest Cinemas.

Beth Accomando, KPBS News.