'12 Years a Slave' is year's best film, say D.C. critics

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 (UPI) -- The Washington, D.C. Area Film Critics Association declared "12 Years a Slave" the Best Film of 2013 Monday morning.

Set in the mid-19th century, the film is about a free black man from New York who was kidnapped and sold into more than a decade of bondage in Louisiana.

The critics also bestowed its Best Actor honor on the film's leading man Chiwetel Ejiofor and its Best Supporting Actress accolade on his co-star Lupita Nyong'o. The movie earned the awards for Best Ensemble, Best Adapted Screenplay for John Ridley and Best Original Score for Hans Zimmer, as well.

"This story of perseverance and the triumph of the human spirit over degradation and misery appealed to our members in a powerful way," WAFCA President Tim Gordon said in a statement, "and I'm proud of the choice that we collectively made."

Alfonso Cuaron won the Best Director prize for helming "Gravity," while the drama about an inexperienced astronaut [played by Sandra Bullock] left alone in space after her ship is destroyed also earned the Best Cinematography and Best Editing awards.

The Best Actress award went to Cate Blanchett for "Blue Jasmine," the Best Supporting Actor honor went to Jared Leto for "Dallas Buyers Club" and the

Best Original Screenplay prize went to Spike Jonze for "Her."

"Frozen" was named Best Animated Feature, "Blackfish" Best Documentary and "The Broken Circle Breakdown" Best Foreign Language Film.