Chinese filmmaker wins best picture of the year from critics society

NEW YORK - The National Society of Film Critics (a US film critic organization) on Saturday chose Chloe Zhao's low-budget debut feature, The Rider, as best picture of 2018.

Director Alfonso Cuaron's black-and-white Roma period piece set in modern Mexico won the most awards - as best picture runner-up, best foreign-language film and for best cinematography. Cuaron also got the award for best director.

The society of leading movie critics voted for Olivia Colman as best actress in The Favorite, and Ethan Hawke as best actor in First Reformed. The top accolade for best supporting actor went to Steve Yeun of Burning, while Regina King of If Beale Street Could Talk nabbed best supporting actress. About 40 of the society's 64 members voted.