On December 16th, 2016, the Phoenix Critics Circle gathered to announce their winners. Below you’ll find their list of winners for the best films and performances of 2016.
Best Picture
Winner: Moonlight
- Arrival
- Hell or High Water
- La La Land
- Manchester by the Sea
- Moonlight
Best Comedy Film
Winner: Hunt for the Wilderpeople
- Deadpool
- The Edge of Seventeen
- Hail, Caesar!
- Hunt for the Wilderpeople
- The Nice Guys
Best Science Fiction Film
Winner: Arrival
- 10 Cloverfield Lane
- Arrival
- Midnight Special
Best Horror Film
Winner: The Witch
- The Conjuring 2
- Don’t Breathe
- The Witch
Best Mystery or Thriller Film
Winner: Hell or High Water
- Green Room
- Hell or High Water
- Nocturnal Animals
Best Animated Film
Winner: Kubo and the Two Strings
- Kubo and the Two Strings
- Moana
- Zootopia
Best Foreign Language Film
Winner: The Handmaiden
- The Handmaiden
- Neruda
- Things to Come
- The Wailing
Best Documentary
Winner: O.J.: Made in America
- 13th
- Gleason
- O.J.: Made in America
- Tickled
- Weiner
Best Actor
Winner: Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea
- Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea
- Andrew Garfield, Hacksaw Ridge
- Ryan Gosling, La La Land
- Viggo Mortensen, Captain Fantastic
Best Actress
Winner: Natalie Portman, Jackie
- Amy Adams, Arrival
- Annette Bening, 20th Century Women
- Jessica Chastain, Miss Sloane
- Natalie Portman, Jackie
- Emma Stone, La La Land
Best Supporting Actor
Winner: Mahershala Ali, Moonlight
- Mahershala Ali, Moonlight
- Jeff Bridges, Hell or High Water
- Ben Foster, Hell or High Water
- John Goodman, 10 Cloverfield Lane
- Michael Shannon, Nocturnal Animals
Best Supporting Actress
Winner: Viola Davis, Fences
- Viola Davis, Fences
- Greta Gerwig, 20th Century Women
- Naomie Harris, Moonlight
- Helen Mirren, Eye in the Sky
- Michelle Williams, Manchester by the Sea
Best Director
Tie: Damian Chazelle, La La Land and Barry Jenkins, Moonlight
- Damian Chazelle, La La Land
- Barry Jenkins, Moonlight
- Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester By The Sea
- Denis Villeneuve, Arrival
Best Screenplay
Winner: Efthimis Filippou, Yorgos Lanthimos, The Lobster
- Damien Chazelle, La La Land
- Efthimis Filippou, Yorgos Lanthimos, The Lobster
- Eric Heisserer, Arrival
- Barry Jenkins, Moonlight
- Taylor Sheridan, Hell or High Water
Best Score
Winner: Justin Hurwitz, La La Land
- Nicholas Britell, Moonlight
- Justin Hurwitz, La La Land
- Johann Johannsson, Arrival
- Mica Levi, Jackie
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.