“MOONLIGHT” was named this year’s best picture by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association on Sunday. The critics group also recognized the drama about a gay black man coming of age in a rough Miami neighborhood with awards for director Barry Jenkins; supporting actor Mahershala Ali, who plays a drug dealer who takes a fatherly interest in a fearful boy; and cinematographer James Laxton.

    The LAFCA voted as best picture runner-up the musical “La La Land,” which was named best picture by the New York Film Critics Circle earlier in the week. “La La Land” was also cited for its music score by Justin Hurwitz, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.

    French actress Isabelle Huppert was hailed as best actress for both “Elle,” in which she plays a strong woman dealing with rape, and “Things to Come,” in which she plays a philosphy teacher dealing with grief and betrayal.

    In several categories, the LAFCA chose to shine their spotlight on smaller indie films, tapping Adam Driver as best actor for playing a poetic bus driver in “Paterson” and Lily Gladstone as best supporting actress for portraying a lonely Montana ranch hand in “Certain Women.”

    In one surprise result, the critics group gave its best editing award not to a narrative feature but to Ezra Edelman’s epic documentary “O.J.: Made in America.” (“La La Land” was the editing runner-up.) But “O.J.” lost the documentary prize, coming in runner-up to Raoul Peck’s “I Am Not Your Negro,” which uses the words of James Baldwin to examine black life in America.

    The winners will be celebrated at the annual awards dinner Jan. 14 at the InterContinental Hotel in Century City.

    Shirley MacLaine will receive this year’s career achievement honor, and the ceremony will be dedicated to late director Curtis Hanson.

    (SD-Agencies)