1997, 3rd Annual Awards

Best Movie

Best Director

Joel Coen for Fargo Joel Coen won Best Director with Fargo. Actually this, like all his movies, is a collaboration with his brother Ethan. Ethan is usually credited as the Producer, and the two have co-credit for writing, but they actually collaborate all the way down the line. Billy Bob Thornton and the Wachowsky Brothers were tied for distant runners-up.

also nominated: Danny Boyle for Trainspotting, Steve Buscemi for Trees Lounge, Mike Leigh for Secrets & Lies, Billy Bob Thornton for Sling Blade, Andy Wachowski and Larry Wachowski for Bound, Jerry Zaks for Marvin's Room

Best Actress

Frances McDormand for the role of Marge Gunderson in Fargo. Frances McDormand was a clear winner here, with over double the votes of her nearest competitor, Brenda Blethyn.

also nominated: Brenda Blethyn for the role of Cynthia Purley in Secrets and Lies, Linda Henry for the role of Sandra Gangel in Beautiful Thing, Catherine Keener for the role of Amelia in Walking & Talking, Heather Matarazzo for the role of Dawn Wiener in Welcome to the Dollhouse, Lili Taylor for the role of Valerie Solanas in I Shot Andy Warhol, Emily Watson for the role of Bess McNeill in Breaking the Waves 

Best Actor

Billy Bob Thornton for the role of Karl Childers in Sling Blade. As with the Best Actress award, this categories winner, Billy Bob Thornton, was clear. Coming in a distant second was Noah Taylor.

also nominated: Chris Cooper for the role of Sam Deeds in Lone Star, Jeff Daniels for the role of Thomas Alden in Fly Away Home, William H. Macy for the role of Jerry Lundegaard in Fargo, Tony Shalhoub for the role of Primo in Big Night, Noah Taylor for the role of David Helfgott as a young man in Shine

Best Supporting Actress - It's a Tie!

Juliette Binoche for the role of Hana in The English Patient and Mary Tyler Moore for the role of Mrs. Copland in Flirting With Disaster The supporting actor/actress awards are usually a very close race, as was certainly the case this year. In fact, voters presented the Best Supporting Actress category with a tie. Juliette Binoche and Mary Tyler Moore were the CO-honorees, one for an honorable nurse struggling during the war, and the other for a shrill, bra-bearing mother.

also nominated: Marianne Jean-Baptiste for the role of Hortense in Secrets and Lies, Barbara Hershey for the role of Madame Serena Merle in Portrait of a Lady, Kristin Scott Thomas for the role of Matty Crompton in Angels and Insects, Allison Janney for the role of Ann in Big Night, Meryl Streep for the role of Lee in Marvin's Room

Best Supporting Actor