'The Social Network' dominates film awards

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The Social Network was named the Best Picture of 2010 by the National Board of Review, it was announced December 2 in New York, marking the first awards the film has received. It also swept up nods for actor Jesse Eisenberg, director David Fincher, and screenwriter Aaron Sorkin.

The NBR accolades are part of the first round of the awards season, leading up to the Oscars and also including several film critics' kudos, actors and directors guilds, the Independent Spirit Awards and Golden Globes.

The nonprofit voting body, which consists of 110 film enthusiasts, filmmakers, academics, professionals, and students, usually selects more mainstream films for its honors. Though the NBR isn't considered an indicator of the Oscar winners, The Social Network is a favorite for a nomination.

These are the awards chosen by the National Board of Review:

. Best Film: The Social Network
. Best Director: David Fincher, The Social Network
. Best Actor: Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network
. Best Actress: Lesley Manville, Another Year
. Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale, The Fighter
. Best Supporting Actress: Jacki Weaver, Animal Kingdom
. Best Foreign Language Film: Of Gods and Men
. Best Documentary: Waiting for Superman
. Best Animated Feature: Toy Story 3
. Best Ensemble Cast: The Town
. Breakthrough Performance: Jennifer Lawrence, Winter's Bone
. Debut Directors: Sebastian Junger and Tim Hetherington, Restrepo
. Spotlight Award: Sylvain Chomet and Jacques Tati, The Illusionist
. Best Original Screenplay: Chris Sparling, Buried
. Best Adapted Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin, The Social Network

Sofia Coppola also received the Special Filmmaking Achievement Award for writing, directing, and producing Somewhere. The NBR Freedom of Expression award goes to Fair Game, Conviction, and Howl.

In addition, the National Review Board acknowledged the ten Best Films, ten Top Independent films, five Best Documentaries and five Best Foreign-language Films.

The Best Films are Another Year, The Fighter, Hereafter, Inception, The King's Speech, Shutter Island, The Town, Toy Story 3, True Grit, and Winter's Bone - which could line up closely with the Academy Awards.

The gala ceremony is scheduled for January 11, 2011 in New York City.

RC