FYC: Critics Choice Best Young Performer
Monday, December 7, 2015 at 9:00PM 
Last year I began a tradition to help my fellow BFCA members choose more wisely when it comes to the "Young Performer" category by sharing an eligibility list. My belief is they often choose poorly because this category gets no pre-voting discussion whatsoever and it can be difficult to even think of who is eligible. That said, you can safely expect to see Abraham Attah (Beasts of No Nation) and Jacob Tremblay (Room) nominated because they have leading roles in films that have been discussed. But who else should or could be nominated?
Ballots go out to the BFCA at any moment so here's a cheat sheet to help them vote. The category is UNDER 21... (but it should obviously be adjusted to 17 and under. Remember that year when the winner came from the sexually explicit Blue is the Warmest Color? That's what you get when you have a category with adults in it that is ostensibly a child star prize)
Please FYC your favorites in the comments. Give voters some options to truly consider:
ELIGIBLE "YOUNG PERFORMERS" IN 2015 FILMS
(if we've missed any key players - make sure to shout them out in the comments)
GIRLS
Oona Laurence (13) as "Leila Hope" in Southpaw
Günes Sensoy as "Lale" in Mustang
Raffey Cassidy (13) as "Athena" in Tomorrowland
Isabella Crovetti-Cramp (?) as "Young Joy" in Joy
Willow Shields (15) as "Primrose Everdeen" in Hunger Games - Mockingjay Pt 2
Elle Fanning (17) as "Niki Trumbo" in Trumbo
Hailee Steinfeld (19) as "Emily" in Pitch Perfect 2
Joey King (16) as "Phoebe" in Stonewall
Ashley Aufderheide (?) as "Faith" in Infinitely Polar Bear
Imogene Wolodarsky (?) as "Amelia" in Infinitely Polar Bear
Mackenzie Moss (?) as "Lisa (age 5)" in Steve Jobs
Ripley Sobo (?) as "Lisa (age 9)" in Steve Jobs
Perla Haney-Jardine (18) as "Lisa (age 19) in Steve Jobs
BOYS
Forrest Goodluck (17) as "Hawk" in The Revenant
Levi Miller (13) as "Peter" in Pan
Tony Revolori (19) as "Jib" in Dope
Shameik Moore (20) as "Malcom" in Dope
Russell Posner (?) as "Zach" in The D Train
Alex Henderson (?) as "Young Adonis" in Creed
RJ Cyler (20) as "Earl" in Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
Josh Wiggins (17) as "Justin Wincott" in Max
Pierce Gagnon (10) as "Nate" in Tomorrowland
Ty Simpkins (14) as "Gray" in Jurassic World
Nick Robinson (20) as "Zach" in Jurassic World
Luke Ryan (8) as "Douglas Cyr" in Black Mass
Jacob Lofland (19) as "Aris Jones" in Maze Runner: Scorch Trials
Kodi Smit-McPhee (19) as "Jay Cavendish" in Slow West
Abraham Attah (15) as "Agu" in Beasts of No Nation
Jacob Tremblay (9) as "Jack" in Room
Tom Holland (19) as "Young Thomas Nickerson" in In the Heart of the Sea
Milo Parker (?) as "" in Mr Holmes
WHICH YOUNG THESPIANS WOULD MAKE YOUR BALLOT?
I hope you'll FYC your favorites in the comments and give the Broadcast Film Critic voters some options to truly consider rather than making this the annual 'which young actor is most famous' list.
Reader Comments (66)
RJ Cyler (20) as "Earl" in Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
RJ Cyler me earl and the dying girl
Rj Cyler gets the vote.... Awesome
RJ Cyler!!!!
RJ Cyler!!!!
RJ Cyler!!!!
RJ Cyler!!!!
RJ Cyler!!!!
RJ Cyler!!!!
RJ Cyler!!!!
RJ Cyler!!!!
RJ CYLER (me, earl, and the dying girl) !!!!!!!! He was amazing , hands down 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾 . Love this film !
RJ Cyler as "Earl" in Me and Earl and the Dying Girl!!!!!!!!
RJ Cyler as "Earl" in Me and Earl and the Dying Girl!!!!!!!!
RJ Cyler as "Earl" in Me and Earl and the Dying Girl!!!!!!!!
RJ Cyler as "Earl" in Me and Earl and the Dying Girl!!!!!!!!
RJ Cyler as "Earl" in Me and Earl and the Dying Girl!!!!!!!!
RJ Cyler is best choice by far!
RJ Cyler as Earl in: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl.
RJ Cyler as Earl in: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl.
RJ Cyler "MEDG" !!!!!!
RJ CYLER as Earl in Me, Earl & The Dying Girl!! No question because his acting was done effortless
Don't forget Giselle Eisenberg from DANNY COLLINS. Opposite Al Pacino, Jennifer Garner & Bobby Cannavale and just 6 years old at time of filming.
Girls:
Willow Shields, Raffey Cassidy, and Joey King.
Boys:
Jacob Tremblay, RJ Cyler, and Ty Simpkins.
I haven't seen all of these, but I thought Tomorrowland was an outstanding family film. Raffey Cassidy did an exceptional job. I also liked Pierce Gagnon in that film and can imagine him playing the lead in a sequel.
Jaynee-Lynne Kinchen, age 6, did an outstanding performance as Ryan Reynolds' daughter Anna in SELF/LESS - 2015!
I totally agree with Abraham Attah. But I recently saw Little Boy and the kid Jakob Salvati was amazing.... I wish they had a child actor category for the Oscars...