VH1 and the Broadcast Film Critics Association Set the Date for the 14th Annual 'Critics' Choice Awards'

The First Major Awards Show Of The 2009 Season Will Air Live on VH1 on Thursday, January 8, 2009 from the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium

NEW YORK, June 23 -- For the second year in a row, VH1 will televise the A-list excitement from the Broadcast Film Critics Association's (BFCA) "Critics' Choice Awards" gala live from the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium on Thursday, January 8, 2009. The awards are bestowed annually by the BFCA to honor the finest in cinematic achievement.

Since its inception in 1995, the "Critics' Choice Awards" has become a star-studded bellwether event of the movie awards season. The "Critics' Choice Awards" is the first major award show of the year.

In addition, the BFCA announced today the following timeline regarding the nomination and balloting process for the 14th annual "Critics' Choice Awards," recognizing the best among 2008 film releases:

-- December 1, 2008 - Nominating ballots go out to the BFCA members

-- December 7, 2008 - Deadline for returning nominating ballots

-- December 9, 2008 - Critics' Choice Awards nominees announced

-- January 5, 2009 - Final ballots go out to the BFCA members

-- January 7, 2009 - Deadline for casting final ballots

The BFCA consistently picks nominees and winners that go on to garner more Academy Award nominations and wins than any other of the movie awards shows. It provides television viewers with their first opportunity to see all the top awards season contenders in one place.

In 2008 alone, the "Critics' Choice Awards" gave awards to 16 of the 20 Oscar nominees in the acting categories. All five of the Academy Award nominees for Best Picture were first Critics' Choice Award nominees, and since 1999 the BFCA has honored 48 of 50 Oscar nominees in the Best Picture category.

"Despite the challenges presented by the writers strike earlier this year, the BFCA and Joey Berlin literally moved heaven and earth with us to produce the first must-attend event of the awards season filled with Hollywood's A- listers. We can't wait to create an even bigger show this time around," said Tom Calderone, Executive Vice President and General Manager, VH1.

"The BFCA was blown away by VH1's steadfast commitment to the Critics' Choice Awards under such trying circumstances last year - and its sensational creative team helped us deliver a great show in the middle of a crippling strike," noted Berlin, BFCA President and Critics' Choice Awards Executive Producer. "With Bob Bain returning for his fourth year as Executive Producer and the entire VH1 organization behind us again, this will surely be our best show ever."

The "Critics' Choice Awards" is always a hot ticket event for entertainment A-listers. Presenters at the show in 2008 were a who's who of Hollywood including: George Clooney, Katie Holmes, Marion Cotillard, Snoop Dogg, Allison Janney, Emile Hirsch, Marcia Gay Harden, Ray Liotta, Steve Zahn, Kyra Sedgwick, Leslie Mann, Marisa Tomei, Eddie Izzard, Emily Deschanel, Cuba Gooding Jr., Chris O'Donnell and Feist. Also appearing on the show: Angelina Jolie for "A Mighty Heart," Brad Pitt, Don Cheadle, Sean Penn, the cast of "Hairspray" including Queen Latifah, Nikki Blonksy, Amanda Bynes, Brittany Snow and Elijah Kelly, Adam Shankman, Casey Affleck, Javier Bardem, the cast of "Juno" including Ellen Page, Allison Janney, Russ Smith, Lianne Halfon and JK Simmons, AnnaSophia Robb, Leslie Man, Julian Schnabel for "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," David Silverman, Matt Groening, Mike Scully, Eddie Vedder, Brad Bird, Daniel Day-Lewis, Hal Holbrook, Neal McDonough, Kathleen Robertson, and Joe Wright.

The Broadcast Film Critics Association is the largest film critics' organization in the United States and Canada, representing more than 200 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.

Once again, VH1 will expand elements of both shows online at VH1.com and on VH1 Mobile. Exclusive video footage from the event will include celebrity interviews, "behind-the-scenes" footage and more. Additional multiplatform plans will be announced closer to the event.

"The 14th Annual Critics' Choice Awards" will be executive produced by Bob Bain for Bob Bain Productions and Joey Berlin for Berlin Entertainment. Lee Rolontz is the executive producer for VH1.

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