'12 Years A Slave' sweeps Chicago Film Critics Awards

Chiwetel Ejiofor in “12 Years A Slave”

“12 Years A Slave” — widely considered the front-runner for best picture at the upcoming Academy Awards — was the unquestioned big winner at the Chicago Film Critics Association’s annual awards ceremony Monday night. The film, based on the mid-19th Century memoir by Solomon Northup, was voted best picture by the 53-member group of Chicago area movie critics. That top honor was one of five awards given “12 Years A Slave.”

The film’s star, Chiwetel Ejiofor, was named best actor, Steve McQueen took home the best director trophy and newcomer Lupita Nyong’o was named best supporting actress. John Ridley was awarded best adapted screenplay for his script.

In other categories, Oscar winner Cate Blanchett won best actress for her searing performance in Woody Allen’s “Blue Jasmine” and Jared Leto was honored for his portrayal of an AIDS-afflicted drag queen in “Dallas Buyers Club.”

Alfonso Cuaron’s “Gravity” took the three key technical awards — for best cinematography, art direction/production design and editing.

Best animated film was “The Wind Rises,” considered to be the final production created by noted Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, and Destin Cretton was dubbed most promising filmmaker for his directorial debut, “Short Term 12.”

For the complete list of winners and nominees go to chicagofilmcritics.org