Las Vegas Film Critics Name "La La Land" Best Picture of 2016

The Las Vegas Film Critics Society (LVFCS) is a non-profit organization that describes itself as “progressive” and “dedicated to the advancement and preservation of film.”  The LVFCS membership is comprised of “select” print, television and internet film critics in the Las Vegas area. The LVFCS presents its "Sierra" awards each year for the best in film, including The William Holden Lifetime Achievement Award, which is named for the late Academy Award winning actor.

2016 Sierra Award winners were announced Friday, December 16, 2016.

2016 Sierra Award winners:

Best Picture
La La Land

Best Actor
Casey Affleck – Manchester by the Sea

Best Actress
Natalie Portman – Jackie

Best Supporting Actor
Michael Shannon – Nocturnal Animals

Best Supporting Actress
Viola Davis – Fences

Best Director
La La Land

Best Adapted Screenplay
Nocturnal Animals

Best Original Screenplay
La La Land

Best Cinematography
La La Land

Best Film Editing
Moonlight

Best Score
La La Land

Best Song
“City of Stars” – La La Land

Best Action Film
Captain America: Civil War

Best Documentary
O.J.: Made in America

Best Animated Film
Kubo and the Two Strings

Best Foreign Language Film
The Handmaiden

Best Costumes
The Witch

Best Art Direction
La La Land

Best Visual Effects
The Jungle Book

Best Comedy
The Nice Guys

Best Horror/Sci-Fi
The Witch

Best Family Film
The Hunt for the Wilderpeople

Best Ensemble
Hidden Figures

Breakout Filmmaker
Barry Jenkins, Moonlight

Youth in Film
Lucas Hedges – Manchester by the Sea

William Holden Lifetime Achievement Award
Kirk Douglas

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Phoenix Critics Circle Names "Moonlight" Best Picture of 2016

The Phoenix Critics Circle (PCC) is separate from the Phoenix Film Critics Society.  The PCC says that it is dedicated to promoting both the larger film industry and our local film community. The group describes it members as writers, reviewers, and cinema historians moving the conversation forward, through print, broadcast, and online media both within Arizona and nationwide.

The 2016 Phoenix Critics Cirlce Award winners were announced Saturday, December 17th, 2016.

2016 Phoenix Critics Circle Award winners:

BEST PICTURE
Moonlight

BEST COMEDY FILM
Hunt for the Wilderpeople

BEST SCIENCE FICTION FILM
Arrival

BEST HORROR FILM
The Witch

BEST MYSTERY OR THRILLER FILM
Hell or High Water

BEST ANIMATED FILM
Kubo and the Two Strings

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
The Handmaiden (South Korea)

BEST DOCUMENTARY
O.J.: Made in America

BEST ACTOR
Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea

BEST ACTRESS
Natalie Portman, Jackie

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Mahershala Ali, Moonlight

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Viola Davis, Fences

BEST DIRECTOR (tie)
Damian Chazelle, La La Land
Barry Jenkins, Moonlight

BEST SCREENPLAY
Efthimis Filippou, Yorgos Lanthimos, The Lobster

BEST SCORE
Justin Hurwitz, La La Land

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New York Film Critics Online Names "Moonlight" Best Picture of 2016

The New York Film Critics Online is a group of Internet film critics based in New York City that meets once a year, in December, for voting on its annual NYFCO Awards.

2016 New York Film Critics Online honorees:

PICTURE: Moonlight

DIRECTOR: Barry Jenkins - Moonlight

SCREENPLAY: Barry Jenkins - Moonlight

ACTRESS: Isabelle Huppert - Elle

ACTOR: Casey Affleck - Manchester by the Sea

SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Viola Davis - Fences

SUPPORTING ACTOR: Mahershala Ali - Moonlight

CINEMATOGRAPHY: James Laxton - Moonlight

FOREIGN LANGUAGE PICTURE: The Handmaiden (South Korea)

DOCUMENTARY: 13th

ANIMATED FEATURE: Kubo and the Two Strings

ENSEMBLE: Moonlight

DEBUT AS DIRECTOR: Robert Eggers - The Witch

USE OF MUSIC: Justin Hurwitz (composer) - La La Land

BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMER: Ruth Negga - Loving

TOP 12 Films (Alphabetical)
Arrival

Fences

Free State of Jones

Hell or High Water

I, Daniel Blake

Jackie

La La Land

Loving

Manchester by the Sea

Moonlight

O.J.: Made in America

Toni Erdmann

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Los Angeles Film Critics Choose "Moonlight" as "Best Picture of 2016"

The Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA) is a professional organization of Los Angeles-based, professional film critics working in the Los Angeles print and electronic media.  Since 1975, LAFCA members vote on the year's Achievement Awards each December, honoring screen excellence on both sides of the camera.

42nd Annual (2016) Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards:

BEST PICTURE
Moonlight
Runner-up: La La Land

BEST DIRECTOR
Barry Jenkins, Moonlight
Runner-up: Damien Chazelle, La La Land.

BEST ACTRESS
Isabelle Huppert, Elle and Things to Come.
Runner-up: Rebecca Hall, Christine

BEST ACTOR
Adam Driver, Paterson
Runner-up: Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Lily Gladstone, Certain Women
Runner-up: Michelle Williams, Manchester by the Sea

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Mahershala Ali, Moonlight
Runner-up: Issei Ogata, Silence

BEST SCREENPLAY
Efthymis Filippou and Yorgos Lanthimos, The Lobster
Runner-up: Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester by the Sea

BEST DOCUMENTARY/NONFICTION FILM
I Am Not Your Negro
Runner-up: O.J.: Made in America

BEST FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM
The Handmaiden (South Korea)
Runner-up: Toni Erdmann

BEST ANIMATION
Your Name
Runner-up: The Red Turtle

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
James Laxton, Moonlight
Runner-up: Linus Sandgren, La La Land

BEST MUSIC/SCORE
Justin Hurwitz, Benj Pasek, Justin Paul,  La La Land
Runner-up: Mica Levi, Jackie

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Seong-hie Ryu, The Handmaiden
Runner-up: David Wasco, La La Land

BEST EDITING
Bret Granato, Maya Mumma, Ben Sozanski, O.J.: Made in America
Runner-up: Tom Cross, La La Land

DOUGLAS EDWARDS INDEPENDENT/EXPERIMENTAL FILM/VIDEO
Deborah Stratman, The Illinois Parables

NEW GENERATION
Trey Edward Shults and Krisha Fairchild, Krisha

SPECIAL CITATION
Turner Classic Movies, for preserving historic cinema via Filmstrick

CAREER ACHIEVEMENT
Shirley MacLaine

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2016 British Independent Film Awards Announced; "American Honey" Dominates

Raindance created the British Independent Film Awards (in 1998) to celebrate merit and achievement in independently funded British filmmaking.  The awards also honor new talent and promote British films and filmmaking to a wider public.

On Tuesday, November 1, 2016, the nominations for the 2015/19th Moët British Independent Film Awards were announced in London.  The winners were announced at The Moët British Independent Film Awards on Sunday, December 4, 2016 at Old Billingsgate. The event was hosted by Jennifer Saunders.

The 2016 / 19th Moët British Independent Film Awards winners:

BRITISH INDEPENDENT FILM
AMERICAN HONEY Andrea Arnold, Lars Knudsen, Jay Van Hoy, Pouya Shahbazian, Alice Weinberg, Thomas Benski, Lucas Ochoa

INTERNATIONAL INDEPENDENT FILM
MOONLIGHT Barry Jenkins, Adele Romanski, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner

DIRECTOR
ANDREA ARNOLD American Honey

SCREENPLAY
BABAK ANVARI Under the Shadow

ACTRESS
SASHA LANE American Honey

ACTOR
DAVE JOHNS I, Daniel Blake

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
AVIN MANSHADI Under the Shadow

SUPPORTING ACTOR
BRETT GOLDSTEIN Adult Life Skills

DOCUMENTARY
NOTES ON BLINDNESS Peter Middleton, James Spinney, Mike Brett, Jo-Jo Ellison, Steve Jamison, Alex Usborne

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN CRAFT
ROBBIE RYAN Cinematography – American Honey

THE DOUGLAS HICKOX AWARD (DEBUT DIRECTOR)
BABAK ANVARI Under the Shadow

DEBUT SCREENWRITER
RACHEL TUNNARD Adult Life Skills

BREAKTHROUGH PRODUCER
CAMILLE GATIN The Girl With All the Gifts

MOST PROMISING NEWCOMER
HAYLEY SQUIRES I, Daniel Blake

THE DISCOVERY AWARD
THE GREASY STRANGLER Jim Hosking, Toby Harvard, Daniel Noah, Andrew Starke, Ant Timpson, Josh C Waller, Elijah Wood

BRITISH SHORT
JACKED Rene Pannevis, Ashish Ghadiali, Jennifer Eriksson

The BIFA Variety Award:
Naomie Harris
(The Variety Award recognises a director, actor, writer or producer who has made a global impact and helped to focus the international spotlight on the UK.)

The Richard Harris Award:
Alison Steadman
(The Richard Harris Award was introduced in 2002 in honour of Richard Harris and recognises outstanding contribution to British film by an actor.)

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New York Film Critics Circle Names "La La Land" Best Picture of 2016

Founded in 1935, the New York Film Critics Circle is, according to their website, “an organization of film reviewers from New York-based publications that exists to honor excellence in U.S. and world cinema.”  Members are critics from daily newspapers, weekly newspapers, magazines, and online general-interest publications (that meet certain qualifications). Every year in December, Circle members meet in New York to vote on awards for the year's films.  The Circle also puts on an awards presentation, which will be held in January 2017 to honor 2016 winners.

The Circle was the first film critics organization that I encountered as a budding, young movie lover.  The Circle's awards have been predictors of the Oscar nominations. However, The Circle sees it awards “as a principled alternative to the Oscars, honoring esthetic merit in a forum that is immune to commercial and political pressures,” according to their website.

2016 NYFCC Awards:

Best Picture
La La Land

Best Director
Barry Jenkins - Moonlight

Best Screenplay
Kenneth Lonergan - Manchester by the Sea

Best Actress
Isabelle Huppert – Elle; The Things to Come

Best Actor
Casey Affleck - Manchester by the Sea

Best Supporting Actress
Michelle Williams - Manchester by the Sea; Certain Women

Best Supporting Actor
Mahershala Ali - Moonlight

Best Cinematographer
James Laxton - Moonlight

Best Animated Film
Zootopia

Best Non-Fiction Film (Documentary)
O.J.: Made in America

Best Foreign Language Film
Toni Erdmann

Best First Film
Kelly Fremon Craig - The Edge of Seventeen

Best First Film
Trey Edward Shults - Krisha

Special Award:
Thelma Schoonmaker & Julie Dash - Daughters of the Dust (25th Anniversary Restoration)

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National Board of Review Names "Manchester by the Sea" Best Film of 2016

The National Board of Review of Motion Pictures, which is made up of film enthusiasts, academics, students, and filmmakers, historically launches the movie awards season.

The 2016 version of the organization’s Annual Gala will be held on Wednesday, January 4, 2017 with NBC’s Willie Geist set to return as host.

The National Board of Review has named Manchester by the Sea 2016’s Best Film of the Year.  That was announced Tuesday, November 29, 2016, along with the organization’s other year-end honors.

2016 National Board of Review award winners:

Best Film: Manchester by the Sea

Best Director: Barry Jenkins, Moonlight

Best Actor: Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea

Best Actress: Amy Adams, Arrival

Best Supporting Actor: Jeff Bridges, Hell or High Water

Best Supporting Actress: Naomie Harris, Moonlight

Best Original Screenplay: Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester by the Sea

Best Adapted Screenplay: Jay Cocks and Martin Scorsese, Silence

Best Animated Feature: Kubo and the Two Strings

Breakthrough Performance (Male): Lucas Hedges, Manchester by the Sea

Breakthrough Performance (Female): Royalty Hightower, The Fits

Best Directorial Debut: Trey Edward Shults, Krisha

Best Foreign Language Film: The Salesman

Best Documentary: O.J.: Made in America

Best Ensemble: Hidden Figures

Spotlight Award: Creative Collaboration of Peter Berg and Mark Wahlberg

NBR Freedom of Expression Award: Cameraperson

2016 Top Films
Arrival
Hacksaw Ridge
Hail, Caesar!
Hell or High Water
Hidden Figures
La La Land
Moonlight
Patriots Day
Silence
Sully

2016 Top 5 Foreign Language Films
Elle
The Handmaiden
Julieta
Land of Mine
Neruda

2016 Top 5 Documentaries
De Palma
The Eagle Huntress
Gleason
Life, Animated
Miss Sharon Jones!

2016 Top 10 Independent Films
20th Century Women
Captain Fantastic
Creative Control
Eye in the Sky
The Fits
Green Room
Hello, My Name is Doris
Krisha
Morris from America
Sing Street

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Gotham Awards Names "Moonlight" Best Feature Film of 2016

Honoring independent films, the Gotham Awards are the first major awards of the film awards season.  The Gotham Awards are presented by the Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP), an organization which helps independent filmmakers by connected artists with resources at all stages of film development and distribution.

This year, the 2016 Gotham Awards kicks off the 2016-17 American movie awards season.  The nominations were announced Thursday, October 20, 2016.  The Gotham Awards ceremony was held on Monday, November 28, 2016. at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.

2016 / 26th Annual IFP Gotham Awards winners:

Best Feature
Moonlight
Barry Jenkins, director; Adele Romanski, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, producers (A24)

Best Documentary
O.J.: Made in America
Ezra Edelman, director; Caroline Waterlow, Ezra Edelman, Tamara Rosenberg, Nina Krstic, Deirdre Fenton, Erin Leyden, producers (ESPN Films)

Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award
Trey Edward Shults for Krisha (A24)

Best Screenplay
Moonlight, Story by Tarell Alvin McCraney; Screenplay by Barry Jenkins (A24)

Best Actor*
Casey Affleck in Manchester by the Sea (Amazon Studios)

Best Actress*
Isabelle Huppert in Elle (Sony Pictures Classics)

Breakthrough Actor*
Anya Taylor-Joy in The Witch (A24)

* The 2016 Best Actor/Best Actress and Breakthrough Actor nominating panels also voted to award a special Gotham Jury Award for ensemble performance to Moonlight, “in which actors at all levels of experience give outstanding performances that speak eloquently to one another both within and across each chapter of the story.” The awards will go to actors Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Alex Hibbert, André Holland, Jharrel Jerome, Janelle Monáe, Jaden Piner, Trevante Rhodes, and Ashton Sanders.

Breakthrough Series – Long Form

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Rachel Bloom & Aline Brosh McKenna, creators; Marc Webb, Rachel Bloom, Aline Brosh McKenna, Erin Ehrlich, executive producers (The CW)

Breakthrough Series – Short Form
Her Story, Jen Richards and Laura Zak, creators (herstoryshow.com)

Gotham Independent Film Audience Award
IFP members will determine the Gotham Independent Film Audience Award with nominees comprised of the 15 nominated films in the Best Feature, Best Documentary, and Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award categories. All IFP current, active members at the Individual Level and above will be eligible to vote.  Voting took place online from November 16th at 12:01 AM EST and concluded on November 23rd at 5:00 PM EST.

Moonlight

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