Los Angeles Film Critics Honor 'Spotlight,' 'Mad Max: Fury Road'

The Los Angeles Film Critics Association has handed out its annual honors, and the group's top prizes went to both expected recipients ("Spotlight") and wild card flicks ("Mad Max: Fury Road").

"Spotlight" nabbed the top prize, taking home Best Film, in addition to Best Screenplay. But "Max" is proving it's a force to be reckoned with, earning runner-up to Best Film, as well as trophies for Best Director (George Miller), Best Cinematography, and Best Production Design.

Though critically beloved and commercially successful, the high-octane "Max" hadn't been considered a serious awards season contender. But its recent announcement as Best Film of 2015 by the National Board of Review and strong showing with the L.A. critics could indicate a push toward Academy Award nominations come January.

The full list of winners (and runners up) is below.

BEST PICTURE
Spotlight
(Runner-up: Mad Max: Fury Road)

BEST DIRECTOR
George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road
(Runner-up: Todd Haynes, Carol)

BEST ACTOR
Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs
(Runner-up: Géza Röhrig, Son of Saul)

BEST ACTRESS
Charlotte Rampling, 45 Years
(Runner-up: Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Alicia Vikander, Ex Machina
(Runner-up: Kristen Stewart, Clouds of Sils Maria)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Michael Shannon, 99 Homes
(Runner-up: Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies)

BEST SCREENPLAY
Josh Singer and Tom McCarthy, Spotlight
(Runner-up: Charlie Kaufman, Anomalisa)

BEST DOCUMENTARY/NONFICTION FILM
Amy
(Runner-up: The Look of Silence)

BEST FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM
Son of Saul
(Runner-up: The Tribe)

BEST ANIMATION
Anomalisa
(Runner-up: Inside Out)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
John Seale, Mad Max: Fury Road
(Runner-up: Edward Lachman, Carol)

BEST MUSIC SCORE
Carter Burwell, Anomalisa and Carol
(Runner-up: Ennio Morricone, The Hateful Eight)

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Colin Gibson, Mad Max: Fury Road
(Runner-up: Judy Becker, Carol)

BEST EDITING
Hank Corwin, The Big Short
(Runner-up: Margaret Sixel, Mad Max: Fury Road)

SPECIAL CITATION
Film preservationist David Shepherd

CAREER ACHIEVEMENT
Anne V. Coates

[via: Los Angeles Film Critics Association]