Critics Choice to Honor Kevin Bacon with Charity Award

Kevin Bacon is set to receive the Broadcast Film Critics Association's Joel Siegel Award for his charitable work at the Critics' Choice Movie Awards by Oscar winner and stage vet Meryl Streep, who is a nominee for her work in Julie & Julia.

Given annually, this special award pays homage to beloved "Good Morning America" film critic and BFCA member Joel Siegel, who lost his long struggle with cancer in June, 2007.

Kevin Bacon is one of the foremost actors of his generation and has starred in over 50 films. His talent for balancing starring roles with powerful supporting characters on both film and stage has allowed him to build a varied and critically acclaimed body of work. Kevin has proven his talents in a wide range of film genres from action thrillers to romantic comedies to heavy dramas, and even the occasional musical. Kevin most recently starred in "Taking Chance" for which he received Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG Award nominations.

Kevin Bacons' Six Degrees foundation is about social networking with a social conscience. Through the SixDegrees.org web site you can support your favorite charities by donating or creating fundraising badges -- as well as check out the favorite causes of other people, including celebrities. SixDegrees.org was started with the nonprofit Network for Good in January 2007.

"Kevin has always held a special place in the hearts of our membership since he won the very first Best Actor Award we ever gave out for 'Murder in the First'," notes BFCA President Joey Berlin. "The Joel Siegel Award was created to celebrate its namesake's way of life in the spotlight. It honors a person who understands that the true value of celebrity is as an enhanced platform to do good works for others. Kevin personifies the values celebrated by this award."

As previously reported, The Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA) has announced the nominees for the 15th Annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards. The winners will be announced at the Critics' Choice Movie Awards live on Friday, January 15, 2009 at 9:00 PM ET/PT. This year's event will take place at the Hollywood Palladium and will be hosted by Kristin Chenoweth. For the third year in a row VH1 will broadcast the gala live on the network.

"Inglourious Basterds" and "Nine" each received an unprecedented ten nominations for the 15th Annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards. "Inglourious Basterds" garnered nods for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, Best Ensemble, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Editing, Best Costume Design and Best Action Movie. "Nine" received nominations for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress, Best Ensemble, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Editing, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup, Best Sound and Best Song.

Following close behind with nine nominations is James Cameron's "Avatar" along with "Up in the Air" and "The Hurt Locker" each receiving eight nominations. Fifteen-year-old Saoirse Ronan earned nods in both the Best Actress and Best Young Actor/Actress categories, among the six nominations for "The Lovely Bones". "Up" received nominations for Best Picture and Best Animated Feature and this year three of the Best Action Movie nominees are also up for Best Picture - "Avatar," "Inglourious Basterds" and "The Hurt Locker."

The 15th Annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards also marks the addition of seven new award categories - Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Editing, Best Costume Design, Best Visual Effects, Best Makeup, and Best Sound. Additionally, the BFCA has returned to separating the screenwriting category into Original Screenplay and Adapted Screenplay.

"The expansion of categories from 17 to 25 has given the members of the BFCA the opportunity to fully express our critical acumen," noted BFCA President Joey Berlin. "Most members watch hundreds of movies each year and report back to millions of moviegoers each week. We are proud of our role in helping audiences find the best movies - culminating in the Critics' Choice Movie Awards in January."

The 235 members of the BFCA, the largest film critics' organization in the United States and Canada, representing television, radio and online critics, selected nominees in each of 25 categories. The awards are bestowed annually to honor the finest in cinematic achievement. Eligible films were released in 2009. The accounting firm of Gregory A. Mogab tallied the written ballots. Historically, the Critics' Choice Movie Awards are the most accurate predictor of the Academy Award nominations.

Today, VH1 also announces the launch of its Critics' Choice Movie Awards Web site at CriticsChoice.VH1.com. The site offers movie fans detailed information about the show and this year's nominees. The site also gives users a chance to weigh in on who they think should rise to the top in each Critics' Choice category. In the coming weeks the site will launch a fashion section dedicated to the best red carpet looks of the year, as well as a real-time graph of Twitter activity surrounding the Critics' Choice Movie Awards.

The 15th Annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards is executive produced by Bob Bain, Joey Berlin, Jesse Ignjatovic and Lee Rolontz. Paul Flattery serves as producer and Kelly Brock as co-producer.

The Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA) is the largest film critics' organization in the United States and Canada, representing hundreds of television, radio and online critics. BFCA members are the primary source of information for today's film going public. The very first opinion a moviegoer hears about new releases at the multiplex or the art house usually comes from one of its members.

VH1 connects viewers to the music, artists and pop culture that matter to them most with TV series, specials, live events, exclusive online content and public affairs initiatives. VH1 is available in 95 million households in the U.S. VH1 also has an array of digital channels and services including VH1Classic, VH1 Soul, VH1 Mobile, VH1Games and extensive video on VH1.com. Connect with VH1 at VH1.com.

NOMINEES FOR THE 15TH ANNUAL CRITICS' CHOICE MOVIE AWARDS

BEST PICTURE
Avatar
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Invictus
Nine
Precious
A Serious Man
Up
Up In The Air

BEST ACTOR
Jeff Bridges - "Crazy Heart"
George Clooney - "Up In The Air"
Colin Firth - "A Single Man"
Morgan Freeman - "Invictus"
Viggo Mortensen - "The Road"
Jeremy Renner - "The Hurt Locker"