WELCOME
With a great nation that pretty much created everything, it was apt to include some of the mythology in the creative arts awards. Pandora, a Greek goddess, might be famous for opening that box, but is defined as one with all the gifts. So say hello to the Pandora International Film Critics (PIFC). This is, of now, a purely unofficial awards body, but if we all roll with it you never know.
Established in 2019, the Pandora International Film Critics set out to celebrate the world of cinema through the annual awards. It’s frustratingly a tough ask given the influx of mainstream cinema and the American film market. Availability plays a part in the general absence of international cinema – most notably those films outside of the English language arena. But striving to bring the vast array of world cinema to the forefront is our bread and butter. It’s a marvellous, inspiring journey. One which the Pandoras aim to spotlight even more.
The Pandora International Film Critics were gathered over the close of 2019, and are refsreshed each year, bringing new international faces to the group. The aim is to provide a somewhat more international perspective to awards season. The main category being International Motion Picture – though there is an English-Language Motion Picture category too – the awards group will shed light on some of the world cinema that often gets overlooked. True, you will find many of the big, popular films that were once-upon-a-time shown in every cinema across all the lands, which will align with much of what has prevailed during the current season.
Whether from Europe or Asia, speak Spanish or Vietnamese, flying the flag for Mexico or Finland, the Pandora International Film Critics are made up of online movie buffs from across the planet. And yes, you might even find the odd Australian, Brit, and, that’s right, from the good old U.S. of A.
At Filmotomy, we aim to continually dissect film, from the grit to the stars, and hopefully the Pandora International Film Critics Awards will gradually go a long way in covering so many corners of this cinematic world. Look out for the 2023 awards nominations coming very, very soon.
Robin Write, editor-in-chief, Filmotomy
REGULATIONS
Admittedly, the rules and whatnot is an ongoing process. The freshly squeezed film critics group assembled through Filmotomy is well and truly rolling in its 5th year.
International: (adj) between or involving different countries.
Foreign: (adj) something or someone that comes from or relates to a country that is not your own.*
* from Collins Dictionary.
- Pandora International Film Critics are not an American awards body, but an International one.
- The aims of the Pandora International Film Critics are to celebrate, draw attention to and attract audiences to the excellence and diversity of International cinema.
- The body of the Pandora International Film Critics is made up of the founder, Robin Write, the members of the voting comittee, and staff from Filmotomy.com.
- The 5th Pandora International Film Critics awards will be presented online via Tiwtter / X and Facebook on Saturday 27th January following the announcement of the nominations through the same media on Saturday 20th January.
- The Pandora International Film Critics present awards in the following categories:
International Motion Picture
English Language Motion Picture
Documentary Motion Picture
Animated Motion Picture
Directing
Actress Leading
Actor Leading
Actress Supporting
Actor Supporting
Screenwriting Original
Screenwriting Adapted
Editing
Cinematography
Set Design
Costume Design
Hair and Make-up
Special Effects
Sound Design
Song Composing
Score Composing
Ensemble Casting
Breakthrough Acting
Breakthrough Filmmaking
Anna Karina Award For World Cinema Icon
- Eligible films are those released anywhere in the world (including online), primarily the country of original, during the calendar year of 2023. This includes film festival premieres and qualifying awards runs. The film does not necessarily need to have been released in the United States or the United Kingdom. We fully endorse that availability and clearer definition of such international cinema is not as great as the English language market overall.
- No discrimination is intended in the Motion Picture segregation, only the opportunity to make a greater path for those films outside the mainstream bubble and across the world. Voters use their discretion when selecting their initial choices, and films crossing over into other categories as appropriate can still occur.
- The difference between International Motion Picture and English Language Motion Picture is defined by many disputable factors.
- A film with predominantly English language dialogue, production and financing is heavily considered thus – English Language Motion Picture. Of course, factors such as story, characters, setting etc also determine category placement. An international film will represent those and other factors for the most part with particular attention to the film’s language and derivation outside of the purely English-language spectrum.
- Pandora International Film Critics voters will make their initial choices for nominations through reflection of international cinema diversity. Thus not just international films reflected, but the international talents that form part of the crew of English-Language films.
- All categories will hold five nominees – except International Motion Picture which holds ten – unless voting scores tie at the nomination stage in which case there will be additional nominees as defined.
- All categories placehold 20% of International films where any of the nomination slots are not occupied by such organically in the initial round of voting. For example, in a category of five, where all are non-International films at the initial round of voting, the lowest two tallied films will be replaced with the next two highest tallied International film selections.
If you have any questions please email: write@filmotomy.com
