# List of accolades received by The Tree of Life (film)

The Tree of Life is a 2011 American drama film written and directed by Terrence Malick. The film stars Brad Pitt, who also co-produced the film, Sean Penn, and Jessica Chastain. It explores the origin and meaning of life through the childhood memories of a middle-aged architect, Jack O'Brien (Penn). Jack questions his faith and seeks to find the purpose to his existence, while reconciling with his domineering father (Pitt); he however shares a gentle relationship with his mother (Chastain). The film's music was composed by Alexandre Desplat, and Emmanuel Lubezki served as the cinematographer.
Made on a budget of $32 million, The Tree of Life premiered at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival on May 16, 2011, where it was initially met with polarized reviews from critics. The film had its theatrical release on May 27, 2011, and earned over $54 million worldwide. Rotten Tomatoes, a review aggregator, surveyed 272 reviews and judged 85% to be positive. The film was nominated for 140 awards, winning 68; its direction, screenplay, cinematography, editing, visual effects, and music, as well as the performances of Pitt and Chastain, received the most attention from award groups.
The Tree of Life won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, becoming the first film from the United States to do so since Michael Moore's documentary film, Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004). At the 84th Academy Awards, the film received three nominations—Best Picture, Best Director for Malick, and Best Cinematography for Lubezki. The film earned four nominations at the 16th Satellite Awards: Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture for Chastain, Best Original Screenplay for Malick, Best Cinematography for Lubezki, and Best Sound; it won for supporting actress and cinematography. The film was awarded Best Picture by the African-American Film Critics Association, Chicago Film Critics Association, Online Film Critics Society, San Francisco Film Critics Circle, and Toronto Film Critics Association. The American Film Institute, Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association, IndieWire Critic's Poll, and Village Voice Film Poll included The Tree of Life in their listing of the year's ten best films.

## Awards and nominations

| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref(s) |
| AACTA Awards | January 27, 2012 | Best Film – International | Dede Gardner, Sarah Green, Grant Hill and Bill Pohlad | Nominated | [1] [16] [17] |
| AACTA Awards | January 27, 2012 | Best Direction – International | Terrence Malick | Nominated | [1] [16] [17] |
| AARP Annual Movies for Grownups Awards | February 6, 2012 | Best Director | Terrence Malick | Nominated | [18] [19] |
| Academy Awards | February 26, 2012 | Best Picture | Dede Gardner, Sarah Green, Grant Hill and Bill Pohlad | Nominated | [1] [9] |
| Academy Awards | February 26, 2012 | Best Director | Terrence Malick | Nominated | [1] [9] |
| Academy Awards | February 26, 2012 | Best Cinematography | Emmanuel Lubezki | Nominated | [1] [9] |
| African-American Film Critics Association | December 12, 2011 | Best Picture | The Tree of Life | Won | |
| Alliance of Women Film Journalists | January 10, 2012 | Best Director | Terrence Malick | Nominated | [20] [21] |
| Alliance of Women Film Journalists | January 10, 2012 | Best Editing | Hank Corwin, Jay Rabinowitz, Daniel Rezende, Billy Weber and Mark Yoshikawa | Nominated | [20] [21] |
| Alliance of Women Film Journalists | January 10, 2012 | Best Cinematography | Emmanuel Lubezki | Won | [20] [21] |
| Alliance of Women Film Journalists | January 10, 2012 | Best Breakthrough Performance | Jessica Chastain | Nominated | [20] [21] |
| American Film Institute | December 11, 2011 | AFI Movies of the Year | The Tree of Life | Won | [22] [23] |
| American Society of Cinematographers | February 12, 2012 | Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Theatrical Releases | Emmanuel Lubezki | Won | |
| Austin Film Critics Association | December 28, 2011 | Best Cinematography | Emmanuel Lubezki | Won | |
| Austin Film Critics Association | December 28, 2011 | Bobby McCurdy Breakthrough Artist Award | Jessica Chastain | Won | |
| Australian Cinematographers Society | May 5, 2012 | Best Cinematography | Emmanuel Lubezki | Won | [27] [28] |
| Australian Film Critics Association | February 15, 2012 | Best Overseas Film (English Language) | The Tree of Life | Won | [29] [30] |
| Bodil Awards | March 3, 2012 | Best American Film | The Tree of Life | Nominated | |
| Boston Society of Film Critics | December 11, 2011 | Best Cinematography | Emmanuel Lubezki | Won | |
| Camerimage | December 3, 2012 | Main Competition | Emmanuel Lubezki | Nominated | [33] [34] |
| Cannes Film Festival | May 11 – 22, 2011 | Palme d'Or | The Tree of Life | Won | |
| Chicago Film Critics Association | January 7, 2012 | Best Film | The Tree of Life | Won | [11] [12] |
| Chicago Film Critics Association | January 7, 2012 | Best Director | Terrence Malick | Won | [11] [12] |
| Chicago Film Critics Association | January 7, 2012 | Best Original Screenplay | Terrence Malick | Nominated | [11] [12] |
| Chicago Film Critics Association | January 7, 2012 | Best Supporting Actor | Brad Pitt | Nominated | [11] [12] |
| Chicago Film Critics Association | January 7, 2012 | Best Supporting Actress | Jessica Chastain | Won | [11] [12] |
| Chicago Film Critics Association | January 7, 2012 | Best Cinematography | Emmanuel Lubezki | Won | [11] [12] |
| Chicago Film Critics Association | January 7, 2012 | Most Promising Newcomer | Hunter McCracken | Nominated | [11] [12] |
| Critics' Choice Movie Awards | January 12, 2012 | Best Picture | The Tree of Life | Nominated | |
| Critics' Choice Movie Awards | January 12, 2012 | Best Cinematography | Emmanuel Lubezki | Won | |
| Critics' Choice Movie Awards | January 12, 2012 | Best Art Direction | David Crank and Jack Fisk | Nominated | |
| Critics' Choice Movie Awards | January 12, 2012 | Best Sound | The Tree of Life | Nominated | |
| Critics' Choice Movie Awards | January 12, 2012 | Best Visual Effects | The Tree of Life | Nominated | |
| Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association | December 16, 2011 | Best Film | The Tree of Life | 5th Place | [37] [38] |
| Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association | December 16, 2011 | Best Director | Terrence Malick | 3rd Place | [37] [38] |
| Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association | December 16, 2011 | Best Cinematography | Emmanuel Lubezki | Won | [37] [38] |
| David di Donatello | May 4, 2012 | Best Foreign Film | The Tree of Life | Nominated | [39] [40] |
| Detroit Film Critics Society | December 16, 2011 | Best Film | The Tree of Life | Nominated | |
| Detroit Film Critics Society | December 16, 2011 | Best Director | Terrence Malick | Nominated | |
| Detroit Film Critics Society | December 16, 2011 | Breakthrough Performance | Jessica Chastain | Won | |
| Dorian Awards | January 18, 2012 | Film of the Year | The Tree of Life | Nominated | [46] [47] |
| Dublin Film Critics' Circle | December 23, 2011 | Best Film | The Tree of Life | 3rd place | |
| Dublin Film Critics' Circle | December 23, 2011 | Best Director | Terrence Malick | 2nd place | |
| Dublin Film Critics' Circle | December 23, 2011 | Best Actress | Jessica Chastain | Won | |
| Dublin Film Critics' Circle | December 23, 2011 | International Breakthrough Award | Jessica Chastain | Won | |
| Florida Film Critics Circle | December 19, 2011 | Best Cinematography | Emmanuel Lubezki | Won | |
| Gold Derby Awards | February 25, 2012 | Best Director | Terrence Malick | Won | |
| Gold Derby Awards | February 25, 2012 | Best Supporting Actor | Brad Pitt | Nominated | |
| Gold Derby Awards | February 25, 2012 | Best Cinematography | Emmanuel Lubezki | Won | |
| Gold Derby Awards | February 25, 2012 | Best Film Editing | Hank Corwin, Jay Rabinowitz, Daniel Rezende, Billy Weber and Mark Yoshikawa | Nominated | |
| Gold Derby Awards | February 25, 2012 | Best Visual Effects | Bradley J. Friedman, Don Glass, Bryan Hirota, Paul Riddle and Michael Shand | Nominated | |
| Golden Schmoes Awards | February 24, 2012 | Trippiest of the Year | The Tree of Life | Won | [50] [51] |
| Golden Schmoes Awards | February 24, 2012 | Favorite Movie Poster of the Year | The Tree of Life | Nominated | [50] [51] |
| Golden Schmoes Awards | February 24, 2012 | Best Trailer of the Year | The Tree of Life | Nominated | [50] [51] |
| Gotham Awards | November 28, 2011 | Best Feature | The Tree of Life | Won | [53] [52] |
| Hollywood Film Awards | October 24, 2011 | Best Cinematographer | Emmanuel Lubezki | Won | [54] [55] |
| Hollywood Film Awards | October 24, 2011 | Breakthrough Actress Award | Jessica Chastain | Won | [54] [55] |
| Houston Film Critics Society | December 14, 2011 | Best Picture | The Tree of Life | Nominated | [57] [58] |
| Houston Film Critics Society | December 14, 2011 | Best Director | Terrence Malick | Nominated | [57] [58] |
| Houston Film Critics Society | December 14, 2011 | Best Cinematography | Emmanuel Lubezki | Won | [57] [58] |
| IndieWire Critic's Poll | December 19, 2011 | Best Film | The Tree of Life | Won | [59] [60] |
| IndieWire Critic's Poll | December 19, 2011 | Best Director | Terrence Malick | Won | [59] [60] |
| IndieWire Critic's Poll | December 19, 2011 | Best Cinematography | Emmanuel Lubezki | Won | [59] [60] |
| Jupiter Award | March 29, 2012 | Best International Actor | Brad Pitt | Nominated | [61] [62] |
| London Film Critics' Circle | January 19, 2012 | Film of the Year | The Tree of Life | Nominated | [63] [64] |
| London Film Critics' Circle | January 19, 2012 | Director of the Year | Terrence Malick | Nominated | [63] [64] |
| Los Angeles Film Critics Association | December 11, 2011 | Best Film | The Tree of Life | Runner-up | |
| Los Angeles Film Critics Association | December 11, 2011 | Best Director | Terrence Malick | Won | |
| Los Angeles Film Critics Association | December 11, 2011 | Best Supporting Actress | Jessica Chastain | Won | |
| Los Angeles Film Critics Association | December 11, 2011 | Best Cinematography | Emmanuel Lubezki | Won | |
| Motion Picture Sound Editors | February 19, 2012 | Best Sound Editing: Music in a Feature Film | The Tree of Life | Nominated | |
| Movieguide Awards | February 10, 2012 | Epiphany Prize for Most Inspiring Movie of 2011 | The Tree of Life | Nominated | [66] [67] |
| Movieguide Awards | February 10, 2012 | The Grace Award for Most Inspiring Performance in Movies in 2011 | Jessica Chastain | Nominated | [66] [67] |
| Movieguide Awards | February 10, 2012 | The Ten Best 2011 Movies for Mature Audiences | The Tree of Life | 5th place | [66] [67] |
| Nastro d'Argento | June 30, 2012 | Nastro d'Argento for Best Extraeuropean Film | The Tree of Life | Nominated | [68] [69] |
| National Board of Review | December 1, 2011 | Top Ten Films | The Tree of Life | Won | |
| National Society of Film Critics Awards | January 7, 2012 | Best Film | The Tree of Life | Runner-up | |
| National Society of Film Critics Awards | January 7, 2012 | Best Director | Terrence Malick | Won | |
| National Society of Film Critics Awards | January 7, 2012 | Best Actor | Brad Pitt | Won | |
| National Society of Film Critics Awards | January 7, 2012 | Best Supporting Actress | Jessica Chastain | Won | |
| National Society of Film Critics Awards | January 7, 2012 | Best Cinematography | Emmanuel Lubezki | Won | |
| New York Film Critics Circle | November 29, 2011 | Best Actor | Brad Pitt | Won | |
| New York Film Critics Circle | November 29, 2011 | Best Supporting Actress | Jessica Chastain | Won | |
| New York Film Critics Circle | November 29, 2011 | Best Cinematographer | Emmanuel Lubezki | Won | |
| New York Film Critics Online | December 11, 2011 | Top 10 Films | The Tree of Life | Won | |
| New York Film Critics Online | December 11, 2011 | Breakthrough Performer | Jessica Chastain | Won | |
| New York Film Critics Online | December 11, 2011 | Best Cinematography | Emmanuel Lubezki | Won | |
| Online Film Critics Society | January 2, 2012 | Best Picture | The Tree of Life | Won | |
| Online Film Critics Society | January 2, 2012 | Best Director | Terrence Malick | Won | |
| Online Film Critics Society | January 2, 2012 | Best Supporting Actor | Brad Pitt | Nominated | |
| Online Film Critics Society | January 2, 2012 | Best Supporting Actress | Jessica Chastain | Won | |
| Online Film Critics Society | January 2, 2012 | Best Original Screenplay | Terrence Malick | Nominated | |
| Online Film Critics Society | January 2, 2012 | Best Cinematography | Emmanuel Lubezki | Won | |
| Online Film Critics Society | January 2, 2012 | Best Editing | Hank Corwin, Jay Rabinowitz, Daniel Rezende, Billy Weber and Mark Yoshikawa | Won | |
| Online Film Critics Society | January 2, 2012 | Best Breakthrough Performance | Jessica Chastain | Won | |
| Palm Springs International Film Festival | January 7, 2012 | Desert Palm Achievement Award for Acting | Brad Pitt | Won | [72] [56] |
| Palm Springs International Film Festival | January 7, 2012 | Spotlight Award | Jessica Chastain | Won | [72] [56] |
| Russian Guild of Film Critics | December 22, 2011 | Best Foreign Film | The Tree of Life | Nominated | [74] [75] |
| San Diego Film Critics Society | December 14, 2011 | Best Film | The Tree of Life | Nominated | [76] [77] |
| San Diego Film Critics Society | December 14, 2011 | Best Director | Terrence Malick | Nominated | [76] [77] |
| San Diego Film Critics Society | December 14, 2011 | Best Cinematography | Emmanuel Lubezki | Won | [76] [77] |
| San Diego Film Critics Society | December 14, 2011 | Best Editing | Hank Corwin, Jay Rabinowitz, Daniel Rezende, Billy Weber and Mark Yoshikawa | Nominated | [76] [77] |
| San Diego Film Critics Society | December 14, 2011 | Best Production Design | David Crank and Jack Fisk | Nominated | [76] [77] |
| San Diego Film Critics Society | December 14, 2011 | Best Original Score | Alexandre Desplat | Nominated | [76] [77] |
| San Francisco Film Critics Circle | December 11, 2011 | Best Picture | The Tree of Life | Won | |
| San Francisco Film Critics Circle | December 11, 2011 | Best Director | Terrence Malick | Won | |
| San Francisco Film Critics Circle | December 11, 2011 | Best Cinematography | Emmanuel Lubezki | Won | |
| San Sebastián International Film Festival | September 16 – 24, 2011 | FIPRESCI Grand Prix for Best Film | Terrence Malick | Won | [78] [79] [80] |
| Satellite Awards | December 18, 2011 | Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture | Jessica Chastain | Won | |
| Satellite Awards | December 18, 2011 | Best Original Screenplay | Terrence Malick | Won | |
| Satellite Awards | December 18, 2011 | Best Cinematography | Emmanuel Lubezki | Nominated | |
| Satellite Awards | December 18, 2011 | Best Sound | The Tree of Life | Nominated | |
| St. Louis Film Critics Association | December 12, 2011 | Best Film | The Tree of Life | Nominated | |
| St. Louis Film Critics Association | December 12, 2011 | Best Director | Terrence Malick | Runner-up | |
| St. Louis Film Critics Association | December 12, 2011 | Best Supporting Actress | Jessica Chastain | Nominated | |
| St. Louis Film Critics Association | December 12, 2011 | Best Original Screenplay | Terrence Malick | Nominated | |
| St. Louis Film Critics Association | December 12, 2011 | Best Cinematography | Emmanuel Lubezki | Won | |
| St. Louis Film Critics Association | December 12, 2011 | Best Music | Alexandre Desplat | Nominated | |
| St. Louis Film Critics Association | December 12, 2011 | Best Visual Effects | The Tree of Life | Nominated | |
| Sydney Film Festival | June 8 – 19, 2011 | Sydney Film Prize | The Tree of Life | Nominated | [83] [84] |
| Toronto Film Critics Association | December 14, 2011 | Best Film | The Tree of Life | Won | |
| Toronto Film Critics Association | December 14, 2011 | Best Director | Terrence Malick | Won | |
| Toronto Film Critics Association | December 14, 2011 | Best Screenplay | Terrence Malick | Runner-up | |
| Toronto Film Critics Association | December 14, 2011 | Best Supporting Actress | Jessica Chastain | Runner-up | |
| Vancouver Film Critics Circle | January 10, 2012 | Best Film | The Tree of Life | Nominated | [44] [45] |
| Vancouver Film Critics Circle | January 10, 2012 | Best Director | Terrence Malick | Won | [44] [45] |
| Vancouver Film Critics Circle | January 10, 2012 | Best Supporting Actress | Jessica Chastain | Won | [44] [45] |
| Village Voice Film Poll | December 21, 2011 | Best Film | The Tree of Life | Won | [85] [86] [87] [88] [89] [90] [91] |
| Village Voice Film Poll | December 21, 2011 | Best Director | Terrence Malick | Won | [85] [86] [87] [88] [89] [90] [91] |
| Village Voice Film Poll | December 21, 2011 | Best Actor | Brad Pitt | 7th place | [85] [86] [87] [88] [89] [90] [91] |
| Village Voice Film Poll | December 21, 2011 | Best Supporting Actor | Brad Pitt | 4th place | [85] [86] [87] [88] [89] [90] [91] |
| Village Voice Film Poll | December 21, 2011 | Best Supporting Actress | Jessica Chastain | 8th place | [85] [86] [87] [88] [89] [90] [91] |
| Village Voice Film Poll | December 21, 2011 | Best Screenplay | Terrence Malick | 24th place | [85] [86] [87] [88] [89] [90] [91] |
| Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association | December 5, 2011 | Best Art Direction | David Crank and Jack Fisk | Nominated | |
| Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association | December 5, 2011 | Best Cinematography | Emmanuel Lubezki | Won | |
| World Soundtrack Academy | October 20, 2012 | Soundtrack Composer of the Year | Alexandre Desplat | Won | [93] [94] |