The National Board of Review of Motion Pictures is a non-profit organization of New York City area film enthusiasts. Its awards, which are announced in early December, are considered an early harbinger of the film awards season that culminates in the Academy Awards.[1]
The National Board of Review of Motion Pictures
Official logo of the NBR
Abbreviation
NBR
Formation
January 1909; 114 years ago (1909-01) (as New York Board of Motion Picture Censorship)
The organization which is now a private organization of film enthusiasts has its roots in 1909 when Charles Sprague Smith and others formed the New York Board of Motion Picture Censorship to make recommendations to the Mayor's office concerning controversial films.[2] It quickly became known as the National Board of Motion Picture Censorship. In an effort to avoid government censorship of films, the National Board became the unofficial clearinghouse for new movies.[3] The Board's stated purpose was to endorse films of merit and champion the new "art of the people", which was transforming America's cultural life. In March 1916 the Board changed its name to the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures to avoid the controversial word "censorship".[4]
Producers submitted their films to the board before making release prints; they agreed to cut any footage that the board found objectionable, up to and including destroying the entire film.[3] Thousands of films carried the legend "Passed by the National Board of Review" in their main titles from 1916 into the 1950s, when the board began to lose financial support, partly due to the NBR being overshadowed by the MPAA regarding film censorship.[5]
In 1930, the NBR was the first group to choose the 10 best English-language movies of the year and the best foreign films, and is still the first critical body to announce its annual awards. In 1936 executive secretary Wilton A. Barrett explained the Board's workings:
The National Board is opposed to legal censorship regarding all forms of the motion picture...It believes that far more constructive ...is the method of selecting the better pictures, publishing descriptive, classified lists of them and building up audiences and support for them through the work of community groups...[6]
About
Since 1909, the National Board of Review has dedicated its efforts to the support of cinema as both art and entertainment. Each year, this select group of film enthusiasts, filmmakers, professionals and academics view over 250 films and participates in illuminating discussions with directors, actors, producers and screenwriters before announcing their selections for the best work of the year. Since first citing year-end cinematic achievements in 1929, NBR has recognized a vast selection of outstanding studio, independent, foreign-language, animated and documentary films, often propelling recipients such as Peter Farrelly’s Green Book and George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road into the larger awards conversation. NBR also stands out as the only film organization that bestows a film history award in honor of former member and film historian William K. Everson. In addition, one of the organization’s core values is identifying new talent and nurturing young filmmakers by awarding promising talent with ‘Directorial Debut’ and ‘Breakthrough Actor’ awards as well as grants to rising film students and by facilitating community outreach through the support of organizations such as The Ghetto Film School, Reel Works Teen Filmmaking, and Educational Video Center. With its continued efforts to assist up-and-coming artists in completing and presenting their work, NBR honors its commitment to not just identifying the best that current cinema has to offer, but also ensuring the quality of films for future generations to come. [7]
Publications
The NBR has also gained international acclaim for its publications, which collectively constitute the oldest film review and commentary publication in the US. Many back issues can now be viewed at the Media History Digital Library.
Film Program (1917–1926)
Exceptional Photoplays (1920–1925)
Photoplay Guide to Better Movies (1924–1926)
National Board of Review Magazine (1926–1942)
New Movies (1942–1949)
Films in Review (print: 1950–1997; online: 1997–present)[8]ISSN 0015-1688
^National Board of Review Chief Responds to Claims of Favoritism and Murky Membership – The Hollywood Reporter
^"National Board of Review of Motion Pictures records 1907-1971", NYPL
^ abSklar, Robert (1994). Movie-Made America: A Cultural History of American Movies (2nd ed.). New York City: Vintage Books. pp. 31–32. ISBN0-679-75549-7.
^Chris, Cynthia (2012). "Censoring Purity". Camera Obscura. Duke University Press. 27 (1 (79)): 97–98, 105. doi:10.1215/02705346-1533457. ISSN 0270-5346. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
^"Exit: 'Passed by National Board of Review'". Boxoffice. No. January 19, 1952. Associated Publications. January 19, 1952. p. 25.
^Barrett, Wilton A. "The National Board of Review of Motion Pictures--How It Works." The Journal of Educational Sociology, vol. 10, no. 3, 1936, pp. 177–188. Accessed 7 May 2021
^"THE NATIONAL BOARD OF REVIEW WILL HOST AWARDS GALA ON TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2022". National Board of Review. January 20, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
^"SCREEN MAGAZINE BOWS; Films in Review, Published by National Board, Out Today". The New York Times. February 1, 1950. Retrieved February 16, 2010.
^1987 National Board of Review Best Juvenile Performance Empire of the Sun Chistain Bale
^"Top 5 Foreign Language Films | Archive". National Board of Review. 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
External links
Official website
Films in Review
May 14, 2023
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This article is about the film organization For other uses see National Review disambiguation The National Board of Review of Motion Pictures is a non profit organization of New York City area film enthusiasts Its awards which are announced in early December are considered an early harbinger of the film awards season that culminates in the Academy Awards 1 The National Board of Review of Motion PicturesOfficial logo of the NBRAbbreviationNBRFormationJanuary 1909 114 years ago 1909 01 as New York Board of Motion Picture Censorship TypeFilm organizationHeadquartersUnited StatesLocation405 Lexington Avenue 26th Floor New York City New York 10174Websitenationalboardofreview wbr org Contents 1 Origins 2 About 3 Publications 4 Award categories 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksOrigins EditThe organization which is now a private organization of film enthusiasts has its roots in 1909 when Charles Sprague Smith and others formed the New York Board of Motion Picture Censorship to make recommendations to the Mayor s office concerning controversial films 2 It quickly became known as the National Board of Motion Picture Censorship In an effort to avoid government censorship of films the National Board became the unofficial clearinghouse for new movies 3 The Board s stated purpose was to endorse films of merit and champion the new art of the people which was transforming America s cultural life In March 1916 the Board changed its name to the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures to avoid the controversial word censorship 4 Producers submitted their films to the board before making release prints they agreed to cut any footage that the board found objectionable up to and including destroying the entire film 3 Thousands of films carried the legend Passed by the National Board of Review in their main titles from 1916 into the 1950s when the board began to lose financial support partly due to the NBR being overshadowed by the MPAA regarding film censorship 5 In 1930 the NBR was the first group to choose the 10 best English language movies of the year and the best foreign films and is still the first critical body to announce its annual awards In 1936 executive secretary Wilton A Barrett explained the Board s workings The National Board is opposed to legal censorship regarding all forms of the motion picture It believes that far more constructive is the method of selecting the better pictures publishing descriptive classified lists of them and building up audiences and support for them through the work of community groups 6 About EditSince 1909 the National Board of Review has dedicated its efforts to the support of cinema as both art and entertainment Each year this select group of film enthusiasts filmmakers professionals and academics view over 250 films and participates in illuminating discussions with directors actors producers and screenwriters before announcing their selections for the best work of the year Since first citing year end cinematic achievements in 1929 NBR has recognized a vast selection of outstanding studio independent foreign language animated and documentary films often propelling recipients such as Peter Farrelly s Green Book and George Miller s Mad Max Fury Road into the larger awards conversation NBR also stands out as the only film organization that bestows a film history award in honor of former member and film historian William K Everson In addition one of the organization s core values is identifying new talent and nurturing young filmmakers by awarding promising talent with Directorial Debut and Breakthrough Actor awards as well as grants to rising film students and by facilitating community outreach through the support of organizations such as The Ghetto Film School Reel Works Teen Filmmaking and Educational Video Center With its continued efforts to assist up and coming artists in completing and presenting their work NBR honors its commitment to not just identifying the best that current cinema has to offer but also ensuring the quality of films for future generations to come 7 Publications EditThe NBR has also gained international acclaim for its publications which collectively constitute the oldest film review and commentary publication in the US Many back issues can now be viewed at the Media History Digital Library Film Program 1917 1926 Exceptional Photoplays 1920 1925 Photoplay Guide to Better Movies 1924 1926 National Board of Review Magazine 1926 1942 New Movies 1942 1949 Films in Review print 1950 1997 online 1997 present 8 ISSN 0015 1688Award categories EditBest Film Top 10 Films Best Director Best Actor Best Actress Best Supporting Actor Best Supporting Actress Best Acting by an Ensemble Breakthrough Performance Best Adapted Screenplay Best Original Screenplay Best Animated Film Best Documentary Film Best Foreign Language Film Spotlight Award Best Family Film Top 5 Documentaries Best Directorial Debut Best Animated Feature Top 10 Independent Films Special Recognition Best Juvenile Performance 9 NBR Freedom of Expression Special Filmmaking Achievement Top Five Foreign Language Films 10 Special Achievement in Producing William K Everson Film History Award Career Achievements in Production Cinematography Music FXSee also EditMotion Picture Production CodeReferences Edit National Board of Review Chief Responds to Claims of Favoritism and Murky Membership The Hollywood Reporter National Board of Review of Motion Pictures records 1907 1971 NYPL a b Sklar Robert 1994 Movie Made America A Cultural History of American Movies 2nd ed New York City Vintage Books pp 31 32 ISBN 0 679 75549 7 Chris Cynthia 2012 Censoring Purity Camera Obscura Duke University Press 27 1 79 97 98 105 doi 10 1215 02705346 1533457 ISSN 0270 5346 Retrieved June 13 2020 Exit Passed by National Board of Review Boxoffice No January 19 1952 Associated Publications January 19 1952 p 25 Barrett Wilton A The National Board of Review of Motion Pictures How It Works The Journal of Educational Sociology vol 10 no 3 1936 pp 177 188 Accessed 7 May 2021 THE NATIONAL BOARD OF REVIEW WILL HOST AWARDS GALA ON TUESDAY MARCH 15 2022 National Board of Review January 20 2022 Retrieved February 1 2022 SCREEN MAGAZINE BOWS Films in Review Published by National Board Out Today The New York Times February 1 1950 Retrieved February 16 2010 1987 National Board of Review Best Juvenile Performance Empire of the Sun Chistain Bale Top 5 Foreign Language Films Archive National Board of Review 2018 Retrieved December 4 2019 External links EditOfficial website Films in Review Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title National Board of Review amp oldid 1152200519, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
