(Columbus, January 23, 2007) Alfonso Cuarón’s Children of Men was named Best Film by the staff of Film School Rejects in the 1st Annual Film School Rejects Honor Roll, recognizing the best (and worst) in the year of film. Aside from taking home the top prize, Children of Men also led the way with two additional awards and one runner up. Alfonso Cuarón was recognized as Best Director, defeating Martin Scorsese (The Departed) by a narrow margin. Emmanuel Lubezki was also recognized in the Best Cinematography category.

Equaling the mark of 3 Awards set by Children of Men was Brick and its writer/director Rian Johnson. Johnson was recognized as the Breakthrough Film Artist of the Year, narrowly edging out the electrifying Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls). His second award came by way of the Best Screenplay (Original or Adapted) Category, and his film was named as Independent Film of the Year. Film School Rejects Publisher and Editor Neil Miller said of Johnson’s win, “It is wonderful to see recognition for Brick, a film that was as original and unexpected as they get.”

“Film School Rejects is about giving a voice to tomorrow’s film critics,” he added, “and that voice is shouting very loud and clear that we need more intelligent, original cinema. This year’s Honor Roll is a reflection of that.”

Rounding out the year’s awards were the two most unique categories: Guilty Pleasure of the Year and Most Rejected Film. The year’s highest grossing film, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest took the nod as the Year’s Best Guilty Pleasure, narrowly escaping the Borat phenomenon. And Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector sat atop the list as the Most Rejected, or worst film of the year.

Founded in 2006, Film School Rejects is the web’s fastest growing source of movie reviews, news and opinions. Launched as an open forum for the film critics of tomorrow, FSR is home to over 50 writers from the North America and Europe.

A complete list of the Awards follows, including the winners and runners up in each category:

BEST FILM
Winner: Children of Men
Runner up: The Departed

BEST DIRECTOR
Winner: Alfonso Cuarón, Children of Men
Runner up: Martin Scorsese, The Departed

Best Actor (Leading or Supporting)
Winner: Ryan Gosling, Half Nelson
Runner up: Forest Whitaker, The Last King of Scotland

Best Actress (Leading or Supporting)
Winner: Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls
Runner up: Helen Mirren, The Queen

Breakthrough Artist of the Year
Winner: Rian Johnson (Writer/Director), Brick
Runner up: Jennifer Hudson (Actress), Dreamgirls

Best Screenplay (Original or Adapted)
Winner: Rian Johnson, Brick
Runner up: Alfonso Cuaron, Timothy Sexton, David Arata, Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby, Children of Men

Best Animated Feature
Winner: Happy Feet
Runner up: Monster House

Independent Film of the Year
Winner: Brick
Runner up: Pan’s Labyrinth

Best Cinematography
Winner: Emmanuel Lubezki, Children of Men
Runner up: Michael Ballhaus, The Departed

Best Visual Effects
Winner: Pan’s Labyrinth
Runner up: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest

Best Feature Length Documentary
Winner: This Film Not Yet Rated
Runner up: Shut Up and Sing

Guilty Pleasure of the Year
Winner: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
Runner up: Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Maker Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan

Most Rejected Film of the Year (Worst Film of the Year)
Winner: Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector
Runner up: Employee of the Month

The Film School Rejects staff offers its congratulations to all of the winners. For more information, or comments about Film School Rejects or the Honor Roll, please contact neil@filmschoolrejects.com.