List of common film awards categories explained

The following is a list of categories of awards commonly awarded through organizations that bestow film awards, including those presented by various films, festivals, and people's awards.

Best Actor/Best Actress

See Best Actor#Film awards, Best Actress#Film awards, and List of awards for supporting actor#Film.

Best Screenplay

Best Adapted Screenplay

A "Best Adapted Screenplay" award is generally issued for the best achievement in transferring a written work from another genre, such as a novel or comic book, in whole or in part, to a feature film.

Best Original Screenplay

Best Animated Feature Film

Best Cinematography

Best Costume Design

Best Director

Best Film Editing

Best Foreign Language Film

A "Best Foreign Language Film" is generally awarded to a film originating in a country and language different from those where the award is being given.

Academy Award for Best International Feature Film, until 2020 called Best Foreign Language Film
BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in the English Language, until 1990 called Best Foreign Language Film
Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film
Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Foreign Language Film
Golden Eagle Award for Best Foreign Language Film

Best Makeup

Best Picture

Best Production Design

Best Score (or Best Original Score)

Best Song (or Best Original Song)

Best Sound

Best Special Effects (or Best Visual Effects)

Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, which was called "Best Special Effects" from 1939 to 1963, and included both visual and sound effects from 1939 to 1962
BAFTA Award for Best Special Visual Effects, which has been known as that since it was introduced in 1982
Canadian Screen Award for Best Visual Effects
César Award for Best Visual Effects
Satellite Award for Best Visual Effects