On December 15th, 2015, the Phoenix Critics Circle gathered to announce their winners. Below you’ll find their list of winners for the best films and performances of 2015.
Best Picture
Winner: Spotlight
Nominees:
- Ex Machina
- Mad Max: Fury Road
- The Martian
- Room
- Spotlight
Best Comedy Film
Winner: The Big Short
Nominees:
- The Big Short
- Dope
- Joy
- Spy
- Trainwreck
Best Science Fiction Film
Winner: Ex Machina
Nominees:
- Avengers: Age of Ultron
- Ex Machina
- Mad Max: Fury Road
- The Martian
Best Mystery or Thriller Film
Winner: Sicario
Nominees:
- Bridge of Spies
- Sicario
- Spotlight
Best Animated Film
Winner: Inside Out
Nominees:
- Anomalisa
- Inside Out
- The Peanuts Movie
- Shaun the Sheep
Best International Film
Winner: Youth
Nominees:
- The Assassin
- White God
- Youth
Best Documentary
Winner: Amy
Nominees:
- Amy
- Best of Enemies
- Cartel Land
- He Named My Malala
- Listen to Me Marlon
Best Horror Film
Winner: It Follows
Nominees:
- Bone Tomahawk
- Crimson Peak
- It Follows
- Unfriended
Best Musical or Musical Film
Winner: Straight Outta Compton
Nominees:
- Amy
- Pitch Perfect 2
- Straight Outta Compton
Best Actor
Winner: Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs
Nominees:
- Michael Caine, Youth
- Bryan Cranston, Trumbo
- Matt Damon, The Martian
- Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant
- Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs
Best Actress
Winner: Brie Larson, Room
Nominees:
- Cate Blanchett, Carol
- Marion Cotillard, Macbeth
- Jennifer Lawrence, Joy
- Brie Larson, Room
- Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn
Best Supporting Actor
Winner: Sylvester Stallone, Creed
Nominees:
- Tom Hardy, The Revenant
- Richard Jenkins, Bone Tomahawk
- Michael Keaton, Spotlight
- Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies
- Michael Shannon, 99 Homes
- Sylvester Stallone, Creed
- Jacob Tremblay, Room
Best Supporting Actress
Winner: Alicia Vikander, Ex Machina
Nominees:
- Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight
- Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl
- Alicia Vikander, Ex Machina
- Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs
Best Director
Winner: George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road
Nominees:
- Alex Garland, Ex Machina
- Alejandro Inarritu, The Revenant
- Tom McCarthy, Spotlight
- George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road
- Ridley Scott, The Martian
- Quentin Tarantino, The Hateful Eight
Best Screenplay
Winner: Tom McCarthy, Josh Singer, Spotlight
Nominees:
- Matt Charman, Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, Bridge of Spies
- Alex Garland, Ex Machina
- Tom McCarthy, Josh Singer, Spotlight
- Charles Randolph, Adam McKay, The Big Short
- Aaron Sorkin, Steve Jobs
Best Score
Winner: Tom Holkenborg aka Junkie XL, Mad Max: Fury Road
Nominees:
- Tom Holkenborg aka Junkie XL, Mad Max: Fury Road
- Jóhann Jóhannsson, Sicario
- Ennio Morricone, The Hateful Eight
- Thomas Newman, Bridge of Spies
The Phoenix Critics Circle is established as an association for professional film critique and analysis. Administered by the non-profit Phoenix Film Foundation, the Phoenix Critics Circle is committed to the progression and preservation of film and is composed of print, television, radio and internet film critics from Arizona.
For questions, contact Phoenix Film Foundation Executive Director, Jason Carney at Jason@phxfilm.com or 602-955-6444.