New York Film Critics Circle: ‘One Battle,’ Wagner Moura, Amy Madigan, and Benicio Del Toro lead the way

A handful of acting Oscar contenders may have just received a well-timed bump from the New York Film Critics Circle after the association handed out its year-end awards this morning.

Wagner Moura, Amy Madigan, and Benicio Del Toro won Best Actor, Supporting Actress, and Supporting Actor respectively as each of them is currently predicted by Gold Derby odds to receive an Oscar nomination, while lagging behind perceived favorites in their categories.

All three have made significant gains in the last few weeks, but the top spots have remained just out of reach. Moura is contending with two heavyweights in Leonardo DiCaprio from One Battle After Another and Timothée Chalamet in Marty Supreme. Madigan has been on a steady climb since the release of Weapons revealed her instant-classic. And del Toro has the difficulty of contending with another bravura performance in his own movie with Sean Penn‘s One Battle After Another turn.

Similarly, director Jafar Panahi‘s win in Best Director for It Was Just an Accident comes as he has cracked the top five in Oscar predictions and in the immediate wake of his political sentencing to prison in his native Iran, a powerful actual-stakes narrative that could affect the race.

But perhaps the biggest boost could be seen in the Best Actress category. Rose Byrne has received raves for her If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, but has struggled to stay within the top five of Gold Derby predictions. With a barrage of awards and nominations coming down the pike, this could be the first in a series of honors for Byrne and presage an entry into safer nomination territory.

Here’s the full list of New York Film Critics Circle winners:

Best Picture: One Battle After Another

Best Actress: Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You

Best Director: Jafar Panahi, It Was Just an Accident

Best Screenplay: Marty Supreme

Best Actor: Wagner Moura, The Secret Agent

Best Cinematography: Sinners

Best Supporting Actress: Amy Madigan, Weapons

Best Non-Fiction Film: My Undesirable Friends: Part I — Last Air in Moscow

Best Animated Film: KPop Demon Hunters

Best Supporting Actor: Benicio Del Toro, One Battle After Another

Best International Feature: The Secret Agent

Best First Film: Eephus