The Critics' Choice Awards in Los Angeles has split the prize for best actress between Meryl Streep and Sandra Bullock.
Streep won for her performance in Julie & Julia, and Bullock for The Blind Side.
Iraq war drama The Hurt Locker picked up the best film award, with Kathryn Bigelow also winning for best director.
Avatar won five prizes, including best action movie and technical awards.
Directed by James Cameron, the film was honoured for its cinematography, editing, art direction, sound and visual effects.
Best actor award went to Jeff Bridges for country music film Crazy Heart.
Best supporting actor and actress awards were received by Christoph Waltz for Inglourious Basterds and Mo'Nique for Precious respectively.
Inglourious also won best original screenplay and ensemble cast, which included Brad Pitt, Eli Roth and Michael Fassbender.
The musical Nine, starring Penelope Cruz, Kate Hudson and Nicole Kidman, failed to win in any of the 10 categories in which it was nominated.
Last year, Critics' Choice Awards voted for Slumdog Millionaire as best film, paving the way for it to sweep the Oscars, where it won eight awards.