The members of the New York Film Critics Circle have cast their votes for the best films of 2019, and the results are in. Mati Diop’s “Atlantics” has been named as Best First Film. Set against the backdrop of the refugee crisis, the drama tells the story of star-crossed lovers. The pic premiered at Cannes, where Diop made history as the first black woman director to screen a feature in the fest’s main Competition, and won the Grand Prix. Senegal submitted “Atlantics” for consideration in the Best International Feature Film category at the 2020 Academy Awards.
Tamara Kotevska and Ljubomir Stefanov’s “Honeyland” won the honor of Best Non-Fiction Film. The Sundance-winning doc is a portrait of the last woman working as a wild beekeeper in Europe.
The Best Cinematography prize is going to Claire Mathon for “Portrait of a Lady on Fire.” Céline Sciamma’s acclaimed period pic centers on a woman commissioned to paint a portrait of a reluctant bride.
Lupita Nyong’o was named Best Actress for horror pic “Us” and Laura Dern is being recognized as Best Supporting Actress for her work in divorce drama “Marriage Story” and Greta Gerwig’s take on “Little Women.”
Honorees will be celebrated at the New York Film Critics’ annual gala, which will be held January 7.
Check out all of the winners over at Variety.
