The 1st Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards were given on December 30, 2002.

Best Film

• Road to Perdition
  • Runners-up: Adaptation., About Schmidt, Antwone Fisher, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Best Director (TIE)

• Spike Jonze – Adaptation.
• Sam Mendes – Road to Perdition
• Denzel Washington – Antwone Fisher
  • Runners-up: Peter Jackson – The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and Rob Marshall – Chicago

Best Actor

• Jack Nicholson – About Schmidt
  • Runner-up: Daniel Day-Lewis – Gangs of New York

Best Actress

• Julianne Moore – Far from Heaven
  • Runner-up: Maggie Gyllenhaal – Secretary

Best Supporting Actor (TIE)

• Chris Cooper – Adaptation.
• Dennis Haysbert – Far from Heaven
  • Runner-up: Paul Newman – Road to Perdition

Best Supporting Actress

• Kathy Bates – About Schmidt
  • Runners-up: Michelle Pfeiffer – White Oleander and Renée Zellweger – White Oleander

Best Ensemble

• Barbershop
  • Runner-up: My Big Fat Greek Wedding

Best Original Screenplay

• Nia Vardalos – My Big Fat Greek Wedding
  • Runners-up: Alfonso Cuarón and Carlos Cuarón – Y Tu Mamá También, Brad Silberling – Moonlight Mile, and Chap Taylor and Michael Tolkin – Changing Lanes

Best Adapted Screenplay

• Charlie Kaufman – Adaptation.
  • Runner-up: Peter Hedges, Chris Weitz, and Paul Weitz – About a Boy

Best Animated Film

• Lilo & Stitch
  • Runner-up: Ice Age

Best Documentary Film

• The Kid Stays in the Picture
  • Runner-up: Standing in the Shadows of Motown

Biggest Disappointment

• Solaris

Best Guilty Pleasure

• Undercover Brother

Runners-up: Blue Crush and Die Another Day