After two weeks of Star Wars: The Force Awakens dominating the cinema world – and a pause in the year-end critics group awards during that same time – The National Society of Film Critics have resumed the Oscar race on January 3rd by naming Spotlight the Best Film of 2015. While no film has swept the various Oscar harbingers, this victory helps Spotlight keeps its completive edge as one of the most consistently cited.

The big news made by the NSFC’s group of 53 elite national film reviewers was their choice of Michael B. Jordan as Best Actor for his inspiring turn as the son of Apollo Creed in the Rocky-franchise reboot Creed. A long-shot for an Academy Award nomination, this may cause some Oscar voters still filling out their ballots to give serious consideration to more than co-star Sylvester Stallone.

Here are the group’s other choices for the year’s best:

NATIONAL SOCIETY OF FILM CRITICS
Best in Film 2015

Best Picture: Spotlight
Best Director: Todd Haynes, Carol
Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan, Creed
Best Actress: Charlotte Rampling, 45 Years
Best Supporting Actor: Mark Rylance, Bridge Of Spies
Best Supporting Actress: Kristen Stewart, Clouds of Sils Maria
Best Screenplay: Spotlight (Josh Singer & Tom McCarthy)
Best Cinematography: Carol (Ed Lachman, D.P.)

To see winners in other major Critics Group lists, and nominees in other upcoming awards ceremonies, click on each link below:

National Board of Review 2015
New York Film Critics Circle 2015
Boston Society of Film Critics 2015
Los Angeles Critics Association 2015
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association 2015

The Golden Globe Awards Nominations 2015
The Screen Actors Guild Awards Nominations 2015
The Critics Choice Awards Nominations 2015