List of common film awards categories

This is a list of categories of awards commonly awarded through organizations that bestow film awards, including those presented by various film, festivals, and people's awards.

Best Actor/Best Actress[]

See Best Actor#Film awards, Best Actress#Film awards, and List of awards for supporting actor#Film.

Best Adapted Screenplay[]

A "Best Adapted Screenplay" award is generally issued for the best achievement in transferring a written work from another genre, such as a novel or comic book, in whole or in part, to a feature film.

Best Original Screenplay[]

Best Animated Feature Film[]

Best Cinematography[]

Best Costume Design[]

Best Director[]

AACTA Award for Best Direction
Academy Award for Best Director
BAFTA Award for Best Direction
Canadian Screen Award for Best Director
César Award for Best Director
Citra Award for Best Director
Crystal Simorgh for Best Director
Empire Award for Best Director
Empire Award for Best British Director
European Film Award for Best Director
Golden Globe Award for Best Director
Golden Horse Award for Best Director
Goya Award for Best Director
Independent Spirit Award for Best Director
Japan Academy Prize for Director of the Year
Lux Style Award for Best Film Director
Polish Academy Award for Best Director
Satellite Award for Best Director
Saturn Award for Best Director

Best Film Editing[]

Best Foreign Language Film[]

A "Best Foreign Language Film" is generally awarded to a film originating in a country and language different from those where the award is being given.

Academy Award for Best International Feature Film, until 2020 called Best Foreign Language Film
Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film
Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Foreign Language Film
Golden Eagle Award for Best Foreign Language Film

Best Makeup[]

Best Picture[]

Best Production Design[]

Best Score (or Best Original Score)[]

Best Song (or Best Original Song)[]

Academy Award for Best Original Song
Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Song
Canadian Screen Award for Best Original Song
Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song
Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media
Guild of Music Supervisors Award for Best Song Written and/or Recording Created for a Film
Lux Style Award for Best Song of the Year
Satellite Award for Best Original Song

Best Sound[]

AACTA Award for Best Sound
Academy Award for Best Sound
BAFTA Award for Best Sound
Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Sound
Canadian Screen Award for Best Overall Sound
Canadian Screen Award for Best Sound Editing
César Award for Best Sound
David di Donatello for Best Sound
Filmfare Award for Best Sound Design
Golden Calf for Best Sound Design
IIFA Award for Best Sound Recording
Kerala State Film Award for Best Sound Recordist
Laurence Olivier Award for Best Sound Design
Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Sound
Polish Academy Award for Best Sound
Satellite Award for Best Sound

Best Special Effects (or Best Visual Effects)[]

Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, which was called "Best Special Effects" from 1939 to 1963, and included both visual and sound effects from 1939 to 1962
BAFTA Award for Best Special Visual Effects, which has been known as that since it was introduced in 1982
Canadian Screen Award for Best Visual Effects
Satellite Award for Best Visual Effects