The 1st San Diego Film Critics Society Awards, given by the San Diego Film Critics Society on 28 December 1996, honored the best in film for 1996.

• Best Actor:
  • Kenneth Branagh – Hamlet
• Best Actress:
  • Frances McDormand – Fargo
• Best Director:
  • Joel Coen – Fargo
• Best Film:
  • Fargo
• Best Foreign Language Film:
  • Ridicule (French)
• Best Supporting Actor:
  • Armin Mueller-Stahl – Shine
• Best Supporting Actress:
  • Lauren Bacall – The Mirror Has Two Faces