The New York Film Critics Circle released its winners of the 2017 film cycle. The veteran cinema organization is usually a suitable precursor on what actors, directors, and films might have a chance in grabbing one of the five most prestigious awards in the movie industry. Every actor always prepares a speech if they receive an Oscar, Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Screen Actors' Awards. Aspiring directors hope to join Kathryn Bigelow and the Coen Brothers in the winner's circle as they receive the Director Guild of America' Award for Outstanding Directing-Feature Film Award.

3 Breakout Stars And A Veteran

Breakout stars Saoirse Ronan and Timothee Chalamet each received the Best Actress and Best Actor Awards for their respective performances in Lady Bird and Call Me by Your Name. Ronan portrayed the title role in Greta Gertwig's directorial debut, while Chalamet portrayed 17-year-old Elio Perlman, Oliver's (Armie Hammer) love interest in the controversial LGBT film Call Me by Your Name. Rising comedian Tiffany Haddish's portrayal of Dana in Girls Trip earned her this year's Best Supporting Actress, while veteran actor Willem Dafoe won the New York Film Critics Circle's Best Supporting Actor for his work in The Florida Project.

Early Oscar Contenders

The New York Film Critics Circle named the comedy-drama film Lady Bird, the 2017 Best Picture award, which gave Gerwig, one of her first professional awards in her 11-year career. Lady Bird focuses on high school senior, Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson (Ronan)'s rocky relationship with her mother, Marion (Laurie Metcalf). Lady Bird was awarded the highest critics' approval rating in modern cinema history. The organization also named Sean Baker -the Best Director of 2017. Baker directed the dark drama The Florida Project. The drama follows the misadventures of 6-year-old Moonie (Brooklynn Prince) and her mother, Halley (Bria Vinaite), who "live" at the Magic Castle Motel, which Dafoe's Bobby Hicks operates. Screenwriter and director Paul Thomas Anderson earned his second New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Screenplay for Phantom Thread.  Phantom Thread is expected to be veteran Daniel Day-Lewis's last film before his retirement from acting.

Coco And Peele

Pixar's latest film, Coco, earned its Best Animated Feature award. Coco has done very well with the box office as the animated film beat Justice League during Thanksgiving weekend. Comedy powerhouse Jordan Peele proved that he could make the jump from telling stories about a cat named Keanu to horror with the hit film: Get Out.  The film earned Jordan Peele the New York Film Critics' Circle's Best First Film award.

Tags: Lady Bird saoirse ronan The Florida Project Oscars