In lead performances, Rose Byrne and Ethan Hawke were recognized, with Timothée Chalamet and Wagner Moura as runners-up.

The Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA) has announced winners in several major categories: Best Production Design went to Hannah Beachler for Sinners, with Tamara Deverell for Frankenstein as runner-up; Best Music Score awarded to Kangding Ray for Sirāt, while Ludwig Göransson for Sinners is the runner-up; and Best Cinematography earned by Adolpho Veloso for Train Dreams, with Autumn Durald Arkapaw for Sinners as runner-up.

Several top categories remain unsettled for now, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Film Not in the English Language, and the New Generation category, with the awards live-refreshing as winners may still be updated.

In Best Animation, Little Amélie or the Character of Rain won, beating KPop Demon Hunters which took the runner-up spot.

Coverage and sourcing come from The Wrap, Deadline Film & TV, Gold Derby (and related Oscar-season context), The Hollywood Reporter, and Variety.

Context on LAFCA: founded in 1975 with roughly 60 California critics, including notable members and officers such as Justin Chang, Peter Debruge, Amy Nicholson, and Leonard Maltin.

Background on AwardsWatch founder Erik Anderson and the platform’s mission and credentialed status are noted in the coverage.

The report references linked items and related figures, including Ethan Hawke, Paul Thomas Anderson, and titles like EN TIERRA HOSTIL (Dark Wind/Hostile Ground) to frame broader coverage.

LAFCA’s influence on the Oscar race is highlighted, with emphasis on highlighting late-breaking contenders and elevating under-the-radar performers.

The piece notes the New York Film Critics Circle’s top prize going to One Battle After Another, placing LAFCA results in a broader critics’ landscape.

Context compares awards circuits including Gotham Awards and National Board of Review, with One Battle After Another appearing as a frequent contender across polls.

The discussion touches on notable titles such as The Hurt Locker and Moonlight in the awards conversation, referencing related IMDb entries.

LAFCA’s 2025 format features two Best Lead Performance trophies, two Best Supporting Performance trophies, and a single Best Screenplay category, aligning with Oscar-style distinctions but using gender-neutral categories.

This marks LAFCA’s 51st annual awards, with winners to be revealed on Sunday morning as part of the evolving 2025 awards race ahead of the Oscars, and Philip Kaufman receiving the Career Achievement Award.

Updates dated December 7, 2025, reflect ongoing Oscar-season coverage with multiple outlets reporting on LAFCA’s selections.

The page functions as a live-updating roundup of winners and commentary, guiding readers to full lists via linked outlets.

Related coverage includes Golden Globes nominations watch guides and Oscar-odds discussions tied to Gotham and LAFCA outcomes, illustrating the interconnected awards ecosystem.

Historically, LAFCA winners have often foreshadowed Oscar outcomes, with multiple overlaps in recent years between LAFCA winners and Academy Award winners.

Last year’s LAFCA Best Picture winner Anora went on to receive an Oscar nomination, underscoring the association between LAFCA and the Oscars.

Gender-neutral acting categories continue for the fourth year in a row, with ongoing updates as results come in.

In supporting performances, Stellan Skarsgård won for Sentimental Value and Teyana Taylor for One Battle After Another, with Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas and Andrew Scott as runners-up.

The awards slate includes honors such as the Douglas Edwards Experimental Film Prize to Albert Serra for Afternoons of Solitude, the Douglas Edwards Special Award to Thom Andersen, and the Career Achievement Award to Philip Kaufman.

Voting occurred in the lead-up to a ceremony scheduled for January at the Biltmore Hotel, outlining the timeline for this year’s nominations.

Among documentary honors, My Undesirable Friends: Part I – Last Air in Moscow won best documentary/nonfiction with The Perfect Neighbor as runner-up.

Best screenplay went to Jafar Panahi for It Was Just an Accident, with Eva Victor Sorry, Baby as runner-up.

Editing honors went to Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie for Marty Supreme, with Andy Jurgensen for One Battle After Another as runner-up.

The page functions as a hub aggregating multiple outlets and items, including standard IMDb-style accuracy notes.