1997 National Society of Film Critics Awards

Best Picture

1. L.A. Confidential
2. The Sweet Hereafter
3. Boogie Nights

Best Director

1. Curtis Hanson – L.A. Confidential
2. Atom Egoyan – The Sweet Hereafter
3. Paul Thomas Anderson – Boogie Nights

Best Actor

1. Robert Duvall – The Apostle
2. Peter Fonda – Ulee's Gold
3. Dustin Hoffman – Wag the Dog
3. Ian Holm – The Sweet Hereafter
3. Al Pacino – Donnie Brasco

Best Actress

1. Julie Christie – Afterglow
2. Helena Bonham Carter – The Wings of the Dove
3. Judi Dench – Mrs. Brown

Best Supporting Actor

1. Burt Reynolds – Boogie Nights
2. Kevin Spacey – L.A. Confidential
3. Rupert Everett – My Best Friend's Wedding

Best Supporting Actress

1. Julianne Moore – Boogie Nights
2. Sarah Polley – The Sweet Hereafter
3. Nathalie Richard – Irma Vep

Best Screenplay

1. Curtis Hanson and Brian Helgeland – L.A. Confidential
2. Atom Egoyan – The Sweet Hereafter
3. Kevin Smith – Chasing Amy

Best Cinematography

1. Roger Deakins – Kundun
2. Dante Spinotti – L.A. Confidential
3. Christopher Doyle – Happy Together

Best Foreign Language Film

1. La Promesse
2. Underground
3. Gabbeh

Best Non-Fiction Film

1. Fast, Cheap & Out of Control
2. 4 Little Girls
3. Sick: The Life & Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist

Special Citation

• Charles Burnett's Nightjohn, a film whose exceptional quality and origin challenge strictures of the movie marketplace.