STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS Earns Critics' Choice Nomination for Best Picture

The Broadcast Film Critics Association today announced that STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS has earned a Critics' Choice Award nomination for Best Picture. Winners will be revealed at the 21st annual Critics' Choice Awards show on January 17th, televised live at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on A&E, Lifetime and LMN and hosted by T.J. Miller.

The film was not screened for BFCA voters in time for the initial nominations balloting, but after members of the nation's largest film critics group saw "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" last week it was decided to hold a special referendum yesterday to determine if it would have been nominated if the BFCA membership had been able to consider it.

The exception was made for only the Best Picture category and all other Critics' Choice Award nominations remain as previously announced.

While making an amendment to the Critics' Choice Awards nominations is highly unusual, having an 11th Best Picture nominee is not unprecedented. In 2000, "Cast Away" was similarly screened too late for normal consideration and the BFCA included it among 11 Best Picture nominees.

It is the purpose of the Critics' Choice Awards to honor the finest in cinematic and television achievement. Making this exception to our rules serves this purpose. Historically, the "Critics' Choice Awards" are the most accurate predictor of the Academy Award nominations.

"The 21st Annual Critics' Choice Awards" will be produced by Bob Bain Productions and Berlin Entertainment. BFCA/BTJA are represented by WME and Dan Black of Greenberg Traurig.

About BFCA/BTJA The Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA) is the largest film critics organization in the United States and Canada, representing more than 300 television, radio and online critics. The Broadcast Television Journalists Association (BTJA) is a partner organization to the BFCA and includes TV, radio and Internet journalists who cover television on a regular basis. For more information, visit: www.CriticsChoice.com

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Follow the 21st Annual Critics' Choice Awards on Twitter and Instagram @CriticsChoice and on Facebook/CriticsChoiceAwards.

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