“SPOTLIGHT,” Tom McCarthy’s drama about the Boston Globe reporters who exposed sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, was named best picture of the year by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, edging out George Miller’s “Mad Max: Fury Road,” which was runner-up in the top category. “Spotlight,” which was written by Josh Singer and McCarthy, also earned the award for best screenplay.

    Miller, however, claimed best director honors, with Carol’s Todd Haynes emerging as runner-up. “Mad Max” scored two other awards as well: One for John Seale’s cinematography and the other for Colin Gibson’s production design.

    Top acting awards went to Michael Fassbender for playing the title role in “Steve Jobs” and Charlotte Rampling, who plays a woman suddenly questioning her long-time marriage in “45 Years.” Supporting actor honors were given to Michael Shannon for his role as a foreclosure specialist in “99 Homes” and Alicia Vikander, who appears as a sentient android in “Ex Machina.”

    The winners will be honored at a Jan. 9 ceremony, which will be dedicated to the late Belgian director Chantal Akerman. The event will also see film editor Anne V. Coates, who nabbed the film-editing Oscar for her work on 1963’s “Lawrence of Arabia,” honored with the group’s career achievement award.(SD-Agencies)