On McQueen's Night, Belafonte Steals the Show It was an awards ceremony as glitzy and clubby as anyone could hope: Cate Blanchett regal and resplendent in a sweeping silver gown; Adèle Exarchopoulos, the winsome young French star of "Blue Is the Warmest Color," shyly flashing her slightly buck-toothed smile; Robert Redford accepting the best actor award with avuncular ease - all rubbing shoulders with the film critics who had bestowed upon them the latest in this season's round of awards. But at Monday night's New York Film Critics Circle Awards, it was 87-year-old Harry Belafonte who brought the celebrants and their assorted followers and hangers-on to a breathless standstill with his deeply personal introduction of Steve McQueen, there to collect the best director award for "12 Years a Slave." Taking the stage at the Edison Ballroom in Midtown Manhattan, Mr. Belafonte recounted the horror and self-loathing he felt at the age of 5 after seeing his first film, a Tarzan tale that depicted Africans as "ignorant" and "grossly subhuman." "I didn't want to be associated with anyone that could have been depicted as so useless and meaningless," said Mr. Belafonte, as the room quieted to just the sounds of a few forks squeaking across plates. Mr. McQueen, he continued, had made a film that at long last "touches the depths of who we are as a people." "If you never did anything else," Mr. Belafonte said, "many in your tribe, many in the world, are deeply grateful for applying your genius to show us in a way for which we shall be forever and eternally grateful to say we are of African descent." Moans of delight escaped lips as people in the audience rose to their feet, clapping with gusto, hooting and mouthing to each other "wow." As Mr. McQueen took the stage, though, an agitated voice rose from the back of the ballroom. "You're an embarrassing doorman and garbage man!" hollered the man, identified by The Hollywood Reporter as Armond White, the often contrarian film critic for who has derided "12 Years a Slave" as "torture porn." If Mr. McQueen heard the heckling, he showed no sign of it, quickly thanking his cast and those gathered before stepping offstage. If anything it was Mr. Belafonte's words that set the tone for the rest of the night. "Oh boy, Harry Belafonte knocked my lights out," said David O. Russell, the director of "American Hustle," as he and his producers accepted the award for best picture. The rest of the night unfolded with little surprise, for the awards had already been announced in December. Sally Hawkins, admitting nervousness in a quavering voice, presented her "Blue Jasmine" star, Cate Blanchett, with the best actress award, praising the "fragile heart" she brought to the role. Ms. Blanchett, at ease and charming, promptly thanked the critics for their good taste and Woody Allen, the film's writer and director - who was not there, for he skips awards - for his great gift at casting. "Clearly," she deadpanned, as the audience giggled. Among the other highlights: Jared Leto, whose flowing hair and goatee brought to mind a certain central Christian figure, won best supporting actor for his role as the AIDS-stricken transvestite Rayon in "Dallas Buyers Club." "It's incredible what can happen when you put on the right set of heels," he said, adding a "very special thank-you to the Rayons of the world for showing what true bravery is." Bradley Cooper accepted the award for best supporting actress on behalf of his "American Hustle" co-star Jennifer Lawrence, whom he described as very warm and "very loud." He read a thank-you statement from Ms. Lawrence, who wrote that "getting to sleep with Christian Bale and kiss Amy Adams" were singular delights. She also added, in her wry way, "I guess I'm not receiving this for the "House at the End of the Street" so you guys must've missed that one right?" The film, released in 2012, was panned. Ethan Hawke presented the best foreign film award for "Blue Is the Warmest Color," lauding it for, among other things, "the best breakup scene in the history of cinema." Ms. Exarchopoulos, one of the films stars, was there with her co-star and boyfriend, Jeremie Laheurte, to accept the award. "I'm here representing Abdel," she said, referring to Abdellatif Kechiche, with whom she and her co-star Lea Seydoux are rather famously feuding, "and it's complicated." And 27-year-old newcomer Ryan Coogler, the writer and director of "Fruitvale Station," humbly accepted the award for best first film. He thanked Forest Whitaker, who produced the film, which is based on the 2009 killing of Oscar Grant III by a transit officer in Oakland, Calif., before adding a forlorn note. "If I could have it my way, I wouldn't be here before you," he said, "because Oscar would still be alive."