Lesbian romance “Carol” sweeps major awards from Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Assn

The 1950s-set lesbian romanceCarol may have been snubbed this week by Oscar voters for best picture and best director but the film has been declared the winner in both categories of The Dorian Awards presented by the Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association (GALECA).

I am a voting member of this group which is comprised of over 130 professional critics and entertainment journalists nationwide and today we released our choices for the best in movies and television of 2015.

This year,  Carol surprised with a rare GALECA sweep, with wins for Film of the Year, Director of the Year (Todd Haynes), Screenplay of the year (Phyllis Nagy) and LGBTQ Film of the Year. In addition, Cate Blanchett earned Film Performance of the Year — Actress for her titular turn. Haynes also was also hailed as Wilde Artist of the Year (named for the group’s patron saint Oscar Wilde).

Blanchett previously won a Dorian Award for Blue Jasmine. < Director Sean Baker’s Tangerine, the drama of a clique of transgender women navigating the mean streets of Hollywood, took Unsung Film of the Year.

Fargo and Orange is the Black tied for TV Drama of the Year. Transparent won for TV Comedy of the Year, with star Jeffrey Tambor winning his second Dorian for TV Performance of the Year — Actor. < GALECA also added actress Jane Fonda — veteran star of the film classics Klute, Coming Home, 9 to 5 as well as the past year’s Youth and ongoing Netflix comedy Grace and Frankie — to their Timeless Star list, a career achievement kudos that also includes Sir Ian McKellen, George Takei, Betty White, Cloris Leachman and Fonda’s Grace costar Lily Tomlin.

Full List of Winners:
Film Actor: Leonardo Dicaprio, The Revenant
Film of the Year: Carol
Director of the Year: Todd Haynes, Carol
Film Actress: Cate Blanchett, Carol
LGBTQ Film: Carol
Foreign Language Film: Son of Saul
Screenplay of the Year: Carol
Documentary: Amy
Visually Striking: Mad Max: Fury Road
Unsung Film: Tangerine
Campy Flick: Magic Mike XXL
TV Drama: Fargo & Orange is the New Black (TIE)
TV Comedy: Transparent
TV Actor: Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent
TV Actress: Taraji P. Henson, Empire
LGBTQ Show: Transparent
Unsung TV Show: Looking
TV Current Affairs Show: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Campy TV Show: Empire
TV Musical Performance: Aretha Franklin
We’re Wilde About You: Alicia Vikander
Wilde Wit: Amy Schumer
Wilde Artist: Todd Haynes
Timeless: Jane Fonda (previously announced)