NEW YORK, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of The King" has been selected Best Picture by the New York Film Critics Circle Monday.
The group also named Sofia Coppola Best Director for her film "Lost in Translation."
The 35-member group voted for its 69th annual awards for excellence in cinema today at the Muse Hotel in Manhattan.
"It was a great year for all kinds of movies and I think the diversity of our choices reflect that," says NYFCC chairman and Radar film critic, Andrew Johnston.
"Capturing the Friedmans," directed by Andrew Jarecki, was chosen as the year's Best Non-Fiction Film, while "City of God," directed by Kátia Lund and Fernando Meirelles was selected as Best Foreign-Language Film. Best First Film was given to "American Splendor" filmmakers Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini while "The Triplets of Belleville," written and directed by Sylvain Chomet, was named Best Animated Film.
Sofia Coppola was named Best Director and Best Actor went to Bill Murray, both for the film "Lost in Translation." Hope Davis was named Best Actress for "American Splendor" and "The Secret Lives of Dentists."
The award for Best Supporting Actor went to Eugene Levy for "A Mighty Wind," while Shohreh Aghdashloo was chosen as Best Supporting Actress for "House of Sand and Fog."
The award for Best Cinematography went to Harris Savides for the films "Elephant" and "Jerry." "The Secret Lives of Dentists," written by Craig Lucas, was voted Best Screenplay.
