Documentary Slams 'freeloaders' Behind the Golden Globes

The Golden Globes are often seen as a reliable indicator of success in the more prestigious Oscars. But the group behind the awards ceremony, which takes place tomorrow night, has come under harsh criticism in a documentary.

Vikram Jayanti, an Oscar-winning director, accuses the Hollywood Foreign Press Association of being "freeloaders" who know more about hors d'oeuvres than auteurs in his film The Golden Globes: Hollywood's Dirty Little Secret.

This is not the first time the association responsible for the awards has come under attack for its exclusive membership policies and cosy relationship with Hollywood studios, but it is the first time the criticism has been put down on celluloid.

In the documentary, John Powers, a critic for LA Weekly, describes members of the HFPA as "essentially just bottom-feeders around the industry, who've somehow been inflated to this point where their judgment is supposed to be very, very important".

An actress who appears in shadow with her voice changed suggests the globes are about "who kisses butt best".

The documentary goes on to suggest that members are, with some exceptions, schmoozers who are given access to stars because of the flattering copy they produce. American film critics generally look down on them as "fans with laptops".

The association has always ignored the criticism, concentrating instead on the broadcast fees, estimated this year at around $30m (£16m), which the ceremony generates.

It has about 90 members and, despite employing a public relations firm, declined to respond to questions about its composition or profits. Only five new members can be admitted a year, with a $500 "initiation" fee required. Most major international publications are not represented.

According to the association's website, the aim of the Globes is to "establish favourable relations and cultural ties between foreign countries and the US by the dissemination of information concerning the American culture and traditions as depicted in motion pictures and television".

Unofficially, the aim is to have an annual knees-up with the stars. The HFPA has no difficulty in getting the big names to attend, although actors are said to sometimes make their acceptance speeches through gritted teeth.

The studios encourage their stars to go on the grounds that the show provides reasonably priced publicity, drawing television audiences in the US of 20 million last year. This year's presenters include Jim Carrey, Richard Gere, Dustin Hoffman, Nicole Kidman, Jack Nicholson, Meryl Streep, Uma Thurman, Renee Zellweger and Queen Latifah.

The association believes it has been unfairly represented because of past sins. Most famously, it named Pia Zadora as newcomer of the year in the 80s after receiving hospitality from her husband. Since then, it has introduced regulations and must return expensive gifts to the studios. It claims to have donated more than $3m to charities in nine years.

But its reputation is so low among those in the know that most insiders have reacted to Jayanti's documentary by asking, "what secret?"