"La La Land," a musical love story of two struggling artists set in Los Angeles has swept the top prizes at the Critics' Choice Awards, taking Best Picture and Best Director for Damien Chazelle.
The film won in eight of the 11 categories in which it was nominated, cementing its status as an early front-runner in the Hollywood awards season.
Casey Affleck was named Best Actor for his role as the reluctant guardian of a 16-year-old nephew in Manchester by the Sea.
Best Actress went to Natalie Portman for her portrayal of former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy in Jackie, which blends factual events with fiction in depicting the week after the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
Viola Davis' reprisal of her Broadway role as a concerned mother and wife in the film adaptation of August Wilson's play Fences garnered her the Best Supporting Actress award.
Mahershala Ali won Best Supporting Actor for his depiction of a crack dealer in the drama Moonlight.
Accolades were also given to the top television series and stars in several categories. The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story was recognised as the Best Movie Made For Television or Limited Series.
Game Of Thrones won best drama series, while Silicon Valley picked up the best comedy series prize.
Alec Baldwin was named best guest performer in a comedy series for his portrayal of Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live. It comes after the US president-elect repeatedly criticised the sketch show and Baldwin's performance, tweeting that the program is "totally biased, not funny and the Baldwin impersonation just can't get any worse".
Kate McKinnon, who has played Hillary Clinton opposite Baldwin's Trump, won best actress in a comedy series.
Evan Rachel Wood won best actress in a drama series for her role as robot Dolores in Westworld. Bob Odenkirk was named best actor in a drama series for Better Call Saul, the spin-off show to Breaking Bad.
The Critics' Choice Awards are chosen by the more than 300 members of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA).
Although its members are not usually part of the same guilds that pick nominees and winners for most of Hollywood's awards shows, the critics' awards help to build the buzz for potential Oscar front-runners.
