You love me. But that's the Oscars. Film critics from Moscow to Toronto are handing out laurels year-round at festivals that generate tourism dollars and bragging rights for small films. Peer groups like the Screen Actors Guild and the Directors Guild of America dole out prestigious trophies, as do foreign countries. India has the Dada Saheb Phalke Award, and of course there's the Aussie Deadly Sounds Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music Awards.
Many groups create awards simply to attract celebrities.
There also is money to be made with books, videos, and licensed merchandise. The Golden Globe Awards earn big ratings and money for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which collects a hefty fee each year for broadcast rights. The American Film Institute's Life Achievement Awards air annually on a major network. But 99 years is a long time to wait for another round of best-ofs. Of course, not all awards catch on.