Apparently, there’s no east coast bias as the New York Film Critics Circle named the Los Angeles-set musical La La Land as its Film of the Year. This comes the same day Damien Chazelle’s musical nabbed 12 nominations for the Critics Choice Awards.
While La La Land may have taken the NYFCC’s top prize, Amazon Studios’ Manchester by the Sea and A24’s Moonlight took home three wins apiece. Casey Affleck was named Best Actor for his performance in Sea and Isabelle Huppert won for lead actress for her performances in both Elle and Things to Come. Barry Jenkins’ absorbing drama Moonlight won acclaim for its direction, cinematography and supporting star Mahershala Ali.
In the documentary category, Ezra Edelman’s epic-sized O.J.: Made in America was named the best of the year. Sony Pictures Classics’ German release Toni Erdmann won for foreign film, and in the specialty category of First Film there was a tie between Kelly Fremon Craig’s The Edge of Seventeen (read our review) and Trey Edward Shults’ Krisha.
Here is a complete list of NYFCC winners.
Best Film: La La Land
Best Director: Berry Jenkins, Moonlight
Best Actor: Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea
Best Actress: Isabelle Huppert, Elle
Best Supporting Actor: Mahershala Ali, Moonlight
Best Supporting Actress: Michelle Williams, Manchester by the Sea and Certain Women
Best Screenplay: Manchester by the Sea, Kenneth Lonergan
Best Animated Film: Zootopia
Best Cinematography: Moonlight, James Laxton
Best First Film: (tie) Kelly Fremon Craig’s The Edge of Seventeen and Trey Edwards Shults Krisha
Best Foreign Film: Toni Erdmann (Germany)
Best Non-fiction Film (Documentary): O.J.: Made in America
Special Awards: Editor Thelma Schoonmaker, plus the 25th Anniversary Restoration of Daughters of the Dust
