List of common film awards categories

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

Best Actor/Best Actress

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

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.
 * AACTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay
 * Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay
 * BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay
 * Canadian Screen Award for Best Adapted Screenplay
 * César Award for Best Adaptation
 * Golden Horse Award for Best Adapted Screenplay
 * Goya Award for Best Adapted Screenplay
 * Satellite Award for Best Adapted Screenplay
 * Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay

Best Original Screenplay

 * AACTA Award for Best Original Screenplay
 * Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay
 * BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay
 * Canadian Screen Award for Best Original Screenplay
 * Golden Horse Award for Best Original Screenplay
 * Goya Award for Best Original Screenplay
 * Satellite Award for Best Original Screenplay
 * Writers Guild of America Award for Best Original Screenplay

Best Animated Feature Film

 * Academy Award for Best Animated Feature
 * Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Animation
 * Annie Award for Best Animated Feature
 * Annie Award for Best Animated Feature – Independent
 * Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Animated Feature Film
 * Austin Film Critics Association Award for Best Animated Film
 * BAFTA Award for Best Animated Film
 * Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Animated Film
 * César Award for Best Animated Film
 * Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Animated Film
 * Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Animated Feature
 * Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Animated Film
 * Detroit Film Critics Society Award for Best Animated Feature
 * European Film Award for Best Animated Feature Film
 * Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Animated Film
 * Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film
 * Goya Award for Best Animated Film
 * Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year
 * Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Animated Film
 * Mainichi Film Award for Best Animation Film
 * National Board of Review Award for Best Animated Film
 * National Film Award for Best Animated Film
 * New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Animated Film
 * Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Animated Film
 * San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Animated Film
 * San Francisco Film Critics Circle Award for Best Animated Feature
 * Satellite Award for Best Animated or Mixed Media Feature
 * Saturn Award for Best Animated Film
 * St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Award for Best Animated Film
 * Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Animated Film
 * Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Animated Feature

Best Cinematography

 * AACTA Award for Best Cinematography
 * Academy Award for Best Cinematography
 * BAFTA Award for Best Cinematography
 * Canadian Screen Award for Best Cinematography
 * Cesar Award for Best Cinematography
 * Golden Horse Award for Best Cinematography
 * Filmfare Award for Best Cinematography
 * Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography
 * Magritte Award for Best Cinematography

Best Costume Design

 * AACTA Award for Best Costume Design
 * Academy Award for Best Costume Design
 * BAFTA Award for Best Costume Design
 * Canadian Screen Award for 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

 * AACTA Award for Best Editing
 * Academy Award for Best Film Editing
 * American Cinema Editors
 * BAFTA Award for Best Editing
 * Canadian Screen Award for Best Editing
 * César Award for Best Editing
 * Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Editing
 * Genie Award for Best Film Editing
 * German Film Prize for Best Editing
 * Golden Horse Award for Best Film Editing
 * Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Editing
 * San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Editing
 * Satellite Award for Best Editing
 * Saturn Award for Best 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
 * BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in the English Language, until 1990 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

 * Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling
 * BAFTA Award for Best Makeup and Hair
 * Canadian Screen Award for Best Hair
 * Canadian Screen Award for Best Makeup
 * Saturn Award for Best Make-up
 * Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Makeup
 * Metro Manila Film Festival Award for Best Make-up Artist
 * Nandi Award for Best Makeup Artist
 * Nandi Award for Best Makeup Artist
 * IIFA Award for Best Makeup
 * National Film Award for Best Make-up Artist
 * Vijay Award for Best Make Up Artistes
 * Kerala State Film Award for Best Makeup Artist
 * Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Makeup
 * ARY Film Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling
 * Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Make-up Artist

Best Picture

 * AACTA Award for Best Film
 * Academy Award for Best Picture
 * BAFTA Award for Best Film
 * BAFTA Award for Outstanding British Film
 * Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Film
 * Cairo International Film Festival
 * Canadian Screen Award for Best Motion Picture
 * Cannes Film Festival’s Palme d’Or
 * César Award for Best Film
 * Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Picture
 * Crystal Simorgh for Best Film
 * Empire Award for Best Film
 * Empire Award for Best British Film
 * Filmfare Award for Best Film
 * Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama
 * Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
 * Film Fest Gent’s Grand Prix
 * Guldbagge Award for Best Film
 * Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Film
 * Independent Spirit Award for Best Film
 * MTV Movie Award for Best Movie
 * Lux Style Award for Best Film
 * NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Motion Picture
 * National Board of Review Award for Best Film
 * National Film Award for Best Feature Film
 * National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Film
 * New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Film
 * Producers Guild of America Award for Best Theatrical Motion Picture

Best Production Design

 * AACTA Award for Best Production Design
 * Academy Award for Best Production Design – Formally known as Best Art Direction
 * BAFTA Award for Best Production Design
 * César Award for Best Production Design
 * National Film Award for Best Production Design
 * Metro Manila Film Festival Award for Best Production Design
 * Polish Academy Award for Best Production Design
 * Golden Calf for Best Production Design
 * Bavarian Film Awards (Production Design)
 * European Film Award for Best Production Designer
 * Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Production Design
 * Satellite Award for Best Art Direction and Production Design
 * Saturn Award for Best Production Design

Best Score (or Best Original Score)

 * AACTA Award for Best Original Music Score
 * Academy Award for Best Original Score
 * Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television Award for Best Achievement in Music – Original Score
 * BAFTA Award for Best Film Music
 * Canadian Screen Award for Best Original Score
 * Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score
 * Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media
 * Satellite Award for 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
 * César Award for Best Visual Effects
 * Satellite Award for Best Visual Effects