Award Season Kicks Off In Beverly Hills

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – The presentation of the 21st annual Hollywood Film Awards, which shine a light on some of the year's best movies and performances, kicked off awards season Sunday in Beverly Hills. The event held at the Beverly Hilton was billed as the formal launch of Hollywood's awards season, which will continue through the presentation of the Academy Awards in March.

Among the films highlighted at the HFA ceremony were "I, Tonya," which received the Hollywood Ensemble Award for its cast; the cast of "Mudbound," which won the Hollywood Breakout Ensemble Award; "Coco" which was handed the Hollywood Animation Award; and "The Big Sick," which captured the Hollywood Comedy Ensemble Award.

Gary Oldman was given a Hollywood Career Achievement Award, highlighting his work in "Darkest Hour." Adam Sandler grabbed the Hollywood Comedy Award for "The Meyerowitz Stories.

Kate Winslet received the Hollywood Actress Award for "Wonder Wheel," and Jake Gyllenhaal was honored with the Hollywood Actor Award for "Stronger." Supporting acting nods went to Sam Rockwell for "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" and Allison Janney for "I, Tonya."

Other honorees included Sean "Diddy" Combs for the documentary "Can't Stop Won't Stop: A Bad Boy Story"; Angelina Jolie for the foreign film "First They Killed My Father"; producers Andrew S. Kosove, Broderick Johnson and Cynthia Sikes Yorkin for "Blade Runner 2049"; and writers Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber for "The Disaster Artist."

James Corden hosted the ceremony.

Among the presenters were Amy Adams, Annette Bening, Eva Longoria, Melissa McCarthy, Harrison Ford, Jon Favreau, James Franco, Viola Davis, Jon Hamm, Dakota Johnson, Jessica Chastain and Bryce Dallas Howard.

Recipients of the awards were selected by an advisory team for their body of work and/or film(s) that have been or will be released during the calendar year.

City News Service and Patch staffer Emily Holland contributed to this post; Image via Shutterstock