2015 ALLIANCE OF WOMEN FILM JOURNALISTS AWARDS ANNOUNCED

Kudos to the Alliance of Women Film Journalists. Their picks for the best in film of 2015 may not be game-changing fare, but they make some wise choices that set them out from the pack, choices like Charlotte Rampling for Best Actress in 45 Years, and Phyllis Nagy for Best Adapted Screenplay for Carol. Well deserved, ladies! Alas, Spotlight still takes top honours, but baby steps in the right direction are, at least, still in the right direction. Have a look at the AWFJ's nominations here, and their winners below:

AWFJ EDA 'Best Of' Awards

Best Film

Spotlight

Best Director (Female or Male)

Tom McCarthy (Spotlight)

Best Actor

Leonardo DiCaprio (The Revenant)

Best Actress

Charlotte Rampling (45 Years)

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Paul Dano (Love & Mercy)

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Kristen Stewart (Clouds of Sils Maria)

Best Screenplay, Original

Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer (Spotlight)

Best Screenplay, Adapted

Phyllis Nagy (Carol)

Best Cinematography

Edward Lachman (Carol)

Best Editing

Margaret Sixel (Mad Max: Fury Road)

Best Film Music or Score

Ennio Morricone (The Hateful Eight)

Best Ensemble Cast

Spotlight

Best Animated Film

Inside Out (Ronnie del Carmen and Pete Docter)

Best Documentary

Amy (Asif Kapadia)

Best Non-English-Language Film

Son of Saul (Nemes Laszlo)

EDA Female Focus Awards

Best Woman Director

Marielle Heller (The Diary of a Teenage Girl)

Best Woman Screenwriter

Emma Donoghue (Room)

Best Breakthrough Performance

Alicia Vikander (The Danish Girl / Ex Machina / Testament of Youth)

Best Female Action Star

Charlize Theron (Mad Max: Fury Road)

Female Icon of the Year Award (a woman whose work in film and/or in life made a difference)

Chantal Akerman - In Memoriam for being a great filmmaker and an inspiration

EDA Special Mention Awards

Actress Defying Age and Ageism

Charlotte Rampling

Lily Tomlin

Best Depiction of Nudity, Sexuality or Seduction

Anomalisa

Carol

Movie You Wanted to Love, but Just Couldn't

The Danish Girl

Actress Most in Need of a New Agent

Emma Stone (Aloha)

Most Egregious Age Difference between the Lead Character and the Love Interest

Katarina Cas (born 1976) and Al Pacino (born 1940) (Danny Collins)