This Sunday, December 17th, the Utah Film Critics Association will meet to honor the best of 2017’s cinema. Pizza will be eaten, opinions will be passionately shared and I’ll close the book on my tenth year as a member of this amazing group of movie critics.

Despite a lackluster summer box office, 2017 was brimming with movies that will stay with me for years to come. From action to comedy to heartache to hope, there’s a slice of every emotion in my nominations below.

I challenge you to broaden your horizons and open your mind. Explore. Chances are you’ll be inspired, enlightened and entertained. That’s cinema. That’s art. At the very least, you’ll walk away with a smidge more empathy than you did whey ystarted. And in today’s climate of toxic politics, the empathy needle needs a boost.

PS, check back December 29th for my Top 25 Movies of 2017 AND my Top Movie Moments of 2017.

Best Picture 

1. A GHOST STORY
2. THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI
3. THE FLORIDA PROJECT
4. THE SHAPE OF WATER
5. CALL ME BY YOUR NAME

Best Achievement in Directing

1. David Lowery, A GHOST STORY
2. Sean Baker, THE FLORIDA PROJECT
3. Guillermo del Toro, THE SHAPE OF WATER
4. Denis Villeneuve, BLADE RUNNER 2049
5. Christopher Nolan, DUNKIRK

Best Lead Performance by an Actor, Female

1.  Hayley Lu Richardson, COLUMBUS
2. Frances McDormand, THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE OF EBBING, MISSOURI
3. Sally Hawkins, THE SHAPE OF WATER
4. Brooklyn Prince, THE FLORIDA PROJECT
5. Roonie Mara, A GHOST STORY

 Best Lead Performance by an Actor, Male

1. Timothée Chalamet, CALL ME BY YOUR NAME
2. Christian Bale, HOSTILES
3. Daniel Kaluuya, GET OUT
4. James Franco, THE DISASTER ARTIST
5. Andy Serkis, WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES

Best Supporting Performance by an Actor, Female

1. Laurie Metcalf, LADY BIRD
2. Holly Hunter, THE BIG SICK
3. Hong Chau, DOWNSIZING
4. Mary J. Blige, MUDBOUND
5. Lois Smith, MARJORIE PRIME

Best Supporting Performance by an Actor, Male

1. Willem Dafoe, THE FLORIDA PROJECT
2. Sam Rockwell, THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI
3. Richard Jenkins, THE SHAPE OF WATER
4. Daniel Craig, LOGAN LUCKY
5. Patrick Stewart, LOGAN

Best Original Screenplay

1. David Lowery, A GHOST STORY
2. Greta Gerwig, LADY BIRD
3. Sean Baker, THE FLORIDA PROJECT
4. Martin McDonagh, THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI
5. Jordan Peele, GET OUT

Best Adapted Screenplay

1. James Ivory, CALL ME BY YOUR NAME
2. Scott Frank and James Mangold, LOGAN
3. Rian Johnson, STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI
4. Chase Palmer, Cary Fukunaga and Gary Dauberman, IT
5. Aaron Sorkin, MOLLY’S GAME

Best Achievement in Cinematography

1. Alexis Zabe, THE FLORIDA PROJECT
2. Andrew Draz Palermo, A GHOST STORY
3. Sayombhu Mukdeeprom, CALL ME BY YOUR NAME
4. Roger Deakins, BLADE RUNNER 2049
5. Hoyte Van Hoytema, DUNKIRK

Best Original Score

1. Daniel Hart, A GHOST STORY
2. Alexandre Desplat, THE SHAPE OF WATER
3. Hans Zimmer and Benjamin Wallfisch, BLADE RUNNER 2049
4. Michael Giacchino, WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES
5. Carter Burwell, THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI

Best Animated Feature

1.  THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE
2. COCO
3. YOUR NAME