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by Jeff Beck

New York Film Critics Circle Names La La Land the Best Film of 2016


The New York Film Critics Circle has announced their year-end awards today, naming Damien Chazelle's outstanding musical "La La Land" the best film of 2016. Surprisingly, the film did not receive any additional awards.

Other big winners included Kenneth Lonergan's "Manchester by the Sea" (the film that just won Best Picture from the National Board of Review a couple of days ago), which took Best Actor (Casey Affleck), Supporting Actress (Michelle Williams), and Best Screenplay (Lonergan). Barry Jenkin' "Moonlight" took three awards of its own that included Best Director (Jenkins), Best Supporting Actor (Mahershala Ali), and Best Cinematography (James Laxton).

Looking at the entire list of winners, we once again find that there aren't really any surprises, though it is a little odd that "La La Land" didn't pick up Best Director and Best Cinematography, but there are still many awards to go, and this is merely the first of what is sure to be several Best Film wins for Damien Chazelle's immensely popular film.

Please see below for a complete list of today's winners:

Best Film

  • La La Land

Best Director

  • Barry Jenkins – Moonlight

Best Actress

  • Isabelle Huppert for Elle and The Things to Come

Best Actor

  • Casey Affleck Manchester by the Sea

Best Supporting Actor

  • Mahershala Ali- Moonlight

Best Supporting Actress

  • Michelle Williams for both Manchester by the Sea and Certain Women

Best Cinematography

  • James Laxton – Moonlight

Best Screenplay

  • Kenneth Lonergan – Manchester By The Sea

Best Animated Film

  • Zootopia

Best Documentary

  • O.J.: Made in America

Best Foreign Language Film

  • Toni Erdmann

Best First Film (Tie)

  • The Edge of Seventeen

  • Krisha

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