The Online Film Critics Society
About the OFCS
Founded in 1997, the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS) is the professional association for film journalists, scholars and historians who publish their reviews, interviews and essays exclusively or primarily in the online media. The mission of the society is to further the growth of an informed film audience through the online media and to promote awareness of the Internet as a viable media alternative.
Admission is open to writers who are affiliated with an online magazine, news service or information resource. There is no fee for membership, which is open to writers working in any language and publishing from any country around the world.
All members of the OFCS must meet these qualifications, as outlined in the OFCS bylaws:
- Publish at least 50 film reviews per year; or at least 35 film reviews per year, supplemented by at least 25 film-related features, interviews, essays, or substantive (at least 500 words) blog entries, or podcasts in which the artistic and entertainment merits of specific films are discussed in a substantive and professional manner. Film reviews should generally be at least 400 words in length to count toward a writer's total, though exceptions may be made for writers who produce a large quantity of well-written shorter reviews.
- Maintain the highest level of quality in writing.
- Maintain a professionally designed website, or write for outlets that do.
- Participate in voting for the annual OFCS Awards, in the annual Governing Committee elections, and in other mandatory votes or polls as called by the Governing Committee.
- Write under their real names, or under reasonable, professionally established pen names (e.g., Mark Twain for Samuel Clemens). A member may write under an obviously fictional name, or "in character," only if the member is also identified by his or her real name in a non-obscure place on the website(s) where the members' reviews are published. Writers who obscure their identities in order to remain anonymous may not be members of the OFCS.
New applicants must also meet these requirements:
- Applicant should have at least 50 reviews, essays, or articles written in the last 12 months, with indications of ongoing work.
- Applicant must show at least one year of experience in the field.
- Reviews, articles, and the applicant's website should be of the highest professional quality.
- The applicant should offer meaningful contributions to the field of film criticism.
Writers who meet all of these requirements may apply for membership by sending an e-mail to admissions@ofcs.org with the following information:
- Your name, e-mail address, mailing address, and telephone number.
- URL(s) where your reviews are published. If a site publishes reviews by multiple authors, include a link, if possible, to your specific author page (e.g., www.moviewebsite.com/authors/Your-Name) to make it easier for the OFCS Talent Scouts to locate your work.
- A sentence or two about why you wish to join the OFCS: what you hope the organization can provide for you, and why you believe you are among the "cream of the crop" of online film criticism.
The application period is closed each year from Aug. 1 to Dec. 31. If you apply during that time, your application will be disregarded. Prospective members must apply individually and can only apply for themselves and not on behalf of anyone else. The OFCS Governing Committee will make every effort to respond to your application with either an acceptance or rejection, but the number of applications received prevents us from guaranteeing when a decision will be reached.
For full information on the internal workings of the OFCS, read the OFCS bylaws.
Recent Press Releases
- No Country For Old Men Sweeps Online Film Critics Society Awards (January 9, 2008)
- United 93, Forest Whitaker, Helen Mirren Honored In 10th Annual Online Film Critics Society Awards (January 8, 2007)
- A History of Violence and David Cronenberg Capture Top Honors In 9th Annual Online Film Critics Society Awards (January 16, 2006)
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Paul Giamatti and Kate Winslet
Win Top Honors In the 8th Annual Online Film Critics Society Awards (January 10, 2005)
- The Top 100 Overlooked Films of the 1990s (July 27, 2004)
- The Online Film Critics Society Celebrates The 100th Anniversary of Loews Cineplex (February 17, 2004)
- The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King,
Bill Murray and Naomi Watts Win Top Honors In the 7th Annual Online Film Critics Society Awards (January 5, 2003)
- The Online Film Critics Society Announce 2003 Nominees (December 29, 2003)
- The Online Film Critics Society Protests MPAA Efforts To Halt Award Screener Distribution in the Name of Fighting Piracy (October 1, 2003)
- The Online Film Critics Society Writers Recall Their Most Memorable Movie Interviews (May 15, 2003)
- Toy Story Voted #1 on Top 100 Animated Features of All Time By the Online Film Critics Society (March 4, 2003)
- Online Film Critics Society Awards for 2002 (January 6, 2003)
- Question: Who was the most remarkable personality in film history? (November 22, 2002)
- The Online Film Critics Society Names the Greatest Screen Villain Of All Time: Darth Vader from Star Wars (October 1, 2002)
- Which Film Had the Most Profound Effect on Your Life? (August 1, 2002)
- 2001: A Space Odyssey Named the Greatest Sci-Fi Film of All Time By the Online Film Critics Society (June 12, 2002)
- The Online Film Critics Society Celebrates 5th Anniversary as the Internet's Leading Cinema Journalism Resource (May 10, 2002)
- Online Film Critics Society Awards for 2001 (January 2, 2002)
OFCS Logos
Members can be identified with the following button:
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