The 1st Annual Central Ohio Film Critics Association Awards, honoring the best in film for 2002, were announced on February 4, 2003.
Best Picture
- Punch-Drunk Love
- Adaptation
- Far from Heaven
- Gangs of New York
- The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
- Solaris
- About Schmidt
- Atanarjuat (The Fast Runner)
- Pianist, The
- Road to Perdition
Best Actor
- Daniel Day-Lewis – (Gangs of New York)
- Runner-Up: Jack Nicholson – (About Schmidt)
Best Actress
- Maggie Gyllenhaal – (Secretary)
- Runner-Up: Julianne Moore – (Far from Heaven)
Best Cinematography
- Andrew Lesnie – (The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers)
- Runner-Up: Edward Lachman – (Far from Heaven)
Best Director
- Paul Thomas Anderson – (Punch-Drunk Love)
- Runner-Up: Todd Haynes – (Far from Heaven)
Best Foreign Language Film
- Atanarjuat (The Fast Runner)
- Runner-Up: Y tu mamá también
Best Screenplay – Adapted
- Charlie and Donald Kaufman – (Adaptation)
- Runner-Up: Jim Taylor and Alexander Payne – (About Schmidt)
Best Screenplay – Original
- Paul Thomas Anderson – (Punch-Drunk Love)
- Runner-Up: Todd Haynes – (Far from Heaven)
Best Score
- Terence Blanchard – (25th Hour)
- Runner-Up: Elmer Bernstein – (Far from Heaven)
Best Supporting Actor
- Chris Cooper – (Adaptation)
- Runner-Up: John C. Reilly – (Chicago)
Best Supporting Actress
- Emily Mortimer – (Lovely & Amazing)
- Runner-Up: Kathy Bates – (About Schmidt)
Best Documentary
- Bowling for Columbine
- Runner-Up: The Kid Stays in the Picture