National Society of Film Critics Name "Moonlight" Best Picture of 2016

The National Society of Film Critics was founded in New York City in 1966 and its membership is currently comprise of 56 of the country’s most prominent movie critics.  Known for their highbrow tastes, these critics form one of the most prestigious film groups on the United States.  Current members include some of my favorite film critics, like David Edelstein and J. Hoberman, among others.  The late Roger Ebert, my favorite critic, was also a member.  The society has produced several anthologies about movies, including the must-have for film fans, Produced and Abandoned: The Best Films You’ve Never Seen (1990).

The National Society of Film Critics gathered on Saturday, January 7, 2017 to vote on their annual film awards – the 51st edition.

Here is a list of the National Society of Film Critics 2016 winners and runners-up, with vote counts from the final round.

BEST PICTURE
*1. Moonlight (54)

    Manchester by the Sea (39)
    La La Land (31)

BEST DIRECTOR
*1. Barry Jenkins (53) – Moonlight

    Damien Chazelle (37) – La La Land
    Kenneth Lonergan (23) – Manchester by the Sea

BEST ACTOR
*1. Casey Affleck (65) – Manchester by the Sea

    Denzel Washington (21) – Fences
    Adam Driver (20) – Paterson

BEST ACTRESS
*1. Isabelle Huppert (55) – Elle and Things to Come

    Annette Bening (26) – 20th Century Women
    Sandra Hüller (26) – Toni Erdmann [tied with Bening]

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
*1. Mahershala Ali (72) – Moonlight

    Jeff Bridges (18) – Hell or High Water
    Michael Shannon (14) – Nocturnal Animals

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
*1. Michelle Williams (58) – Manchester by the Sea

    Lily Gladstone (45) – Certain Women
    Naomie Harris (25) – Moonlight

BEST SCREENPLAY
*1. Manchester by the Sea (61) – Kenneth Lonergan

    Moonlight (39) – Barry Jenkins
    Hell or High Water (16) – Taylor Sheridan

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
*1. Moonlight (52) – James Laxton

    La La Land (27) – Linus Sandgren
    Silence (23) – Rodrigo Prieto

FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM
*1. Toni Erdmann (52)

    The Handmaiden (26)
    Elle (19) and Things to Come (19) tied

BEST NON-FICTION FILM
*1. O.J.: Made in America (64)

    I Am Not Your Negro (36)
    13th (20)


SPECIAL CITATION for a film awaiting American distribution: Sieranevada (Romania) Cristi Puiu

FILM HERITAGE AWARD: Kino Lorber’s 5-disc collection “Pioneers of African-American Cinema”

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