‘Moonlight’ chosen as best film of 2016 by Indiana Film Journalists Association
“Moonlight,” a sensitive portrait of an African-American boy struggling as he grows to manhood in Miami and comes to grips with his sexuality, was named the best film of 2016 by the Indiana Film Journalists Association.
The drama also won awards for Mahershala Ali as best supporting actor and director Barry Jenkins for best adapted screenplay.
The 13-member IFJA also named Damien Chazelle as best director for “La La Land.”
“Manchester by the Sea” was honored with two awards — Casey Affleck for best actor and director Kenneth Lonergan for best original screenplay.
Best actress went to Rebecca Hall for “Christine,” a drama based on a true
Denzel Washington plays Troy Maxson and Viola Davis plays Rose Maxson in Fences from Paramount Pictures.
story about a local TV news anchor and her tragic life, while Viola Davis was honored as best supporting actress for her role in “Fences.”
Alan Tudyk was honored for best vocal/motion capture performance for “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.”
Best animated feature was “Kubo and the Two Strings,” while “O.J.: Made in America” was cited as best documentary film.
“The Handmaiden,” a Korean thriller, was named best foreign language film, and “The Lobster” was cited as best original vision.
Best musical score went to Mica Levi for “Jackie.”
In a pair of new categories, “Everybody Wants Some!!” was honored for best ensemble acting, while writer-director Robert Eggers was cited for breakout of the year for his work on “The Witch.”
The Hoosier Award, which recognizes a significant cinematic contribution by a person or persons with roots in Indiana, or a film that depicts Hoosier State locales and stories, went to Andrew Cohn for his documentary, “Night School.”
IFJA members issued this statement for the Hoosier Award: “Andrew Cohn cements his place as an important filmmaker by becoming the first two-time recipient of the Hoosier Award. (He previously shared the 2013 prize for another documentary set in Indiana, “Medora.”) His new film perceptively follows the journeys of three Indianapolis adults trying to obtain their high school diploma while at different stages in life, even as they juggle the challenges of poverty, crime and low expectations. Cohn is clearly dedicated to exploring the plight of everyday Hoosiers whose struggles are happening right before our eyes, but somehow out of sight.”
Below is a complete list of honored films and runners-up:
Best Film
Winner: “Moonlight”
Runner-up: “Hell or High Water”
Other finalists (listed alphabetically):
“American Honey”
“Arrival”
“Deadpool”
“Everybody Wants Some!!”
“La La Land”
“The Lobster”
“Manchester by the Sea”
“Sing Street”
Best Animated Feature
Winner: “Kubo and the Two Strings”
Runner-Up: “Sausage Party”
Best Foreign Language Film
Winner: “The Handmaiden”
Runner-Up: “A Man Called Ove”
Best Documentary
Winner: “O.J.: Made in America”
Runner-Up: “Weiner”
Best Original Screenplay
Winner: Kenneth Lonergan, “Manchester by the Sea”
Runner-up: Taylor Sheridan, “Hell or High Water”
Best Adapted Screenplay
Winner: Barry Jenkins, “Moonlight”
Runner-up: Eric Heisserer, “Arrival”
Best Director
Winner: Damien Chazelle, “La La Land”
Runner-up: Kenneth Lonergan, “Manchester by the Sea”
Best Actress
Winner: Rebecca Hall, “Christine”
Runner-up: Natalie Portman, “Jackie”
Best Supporting Actress
Winner: Viola Davis, “Fences”
Runner-up: Naomie Harris, “Moonlight”
Best Actor
Winner: Casey Affleck, “Manchester by the Sea”
Runner-up: Ethan Hawke, “Born to Be Blue”
Best Supporting Actor
Winner: Mahershala Ali, “Moonlight”
Runner-up: Jeff Bridges, “Hell or High Water”
Best Vocal/Motion Capture Performance
Winner: Alan Tudyk, “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”
Runner-up: Nick Kroll, “Sausage Party”
Best Ensemble Acting
Winner: “Everybody Wants Some!!”
Runner-up: “Don’t Think Twice”
Best Musical Score
Winner: Mica Levi, “Jackie”
Runner-up: Justin Hurwitz, “La La Land”
Breakout of the Year
Winner: Robert Eggers, writer-director, “The Witch”
Runner-up: Sasha Lane, star of “American Honey”
Original Vision Award
Winner: “The Lobster”
Runner-up: “Sausage Party”
The Hoosier Award
Winner: Andrew Cohn, “Night School
(As a special award, no runner-up is declared in this category.)
The Indiana Film Journalists Association was established in February 2009. Members must reside in the Hoosier State and produce consistent, quality film criticism or commentary in any medium.