The Los Angeles Film Critics Association picked “Amour” Michael Haneke’s film about an elderly couple dealing with ageing and dementia “as the best film of 2012. “The Master” which stars Joaquin Phoenix as a World War II veteran who comes under the sway of a charismatic cult leader was chosen as best-picture runner-up.

“The Master” did win four awards including best director for Paul Thomas Anderson, best actor for Joaquin Phoenix, supporting actress for Amy Adams and production design for David Crank and Jack Fisk.

38th Annual Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award Winners:

 BEST PICTURE

“AMOUR”

RUNNER-UP: “THE MASTER”

BEST DIRECTOR

PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON, “THE MASTER”

RUNNER-UP: KATHRYN BIGELOW (“ZERO DARK THIRTY”)

BEST ACTOR

JOAQUIN PHOENIX “THE MASTER”

RUNNER-UP: DENIS LAVANT (“HOLY MOTORS”)

BEST ACTRESS

JENNIFER LAWRENCE, “SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK” AND EMMANUELLE RIVA, “AMOUR” (TIE)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

DWIGHT HENRY “BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD”

RUNNER-UP: CHRISTOPH WALTZ (“DJANGO UNCHAINED”)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

AMY ADAMS, “THE MASTER”

RUNNER-UP: ANNE HATHAWAY (“THE DARK KNIGHT RISES” AND “LES MISERABLES”)

BEST SCREENPLAY

CHRIS TERRIO, “ARGO”

RUNNER-UP: DAVID O. RUSSELL (“SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK”)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

ROGER DEAKINS, “SKYFALL”

RUNNER-UP: MIHAI MALAIMARE JR (“THE MASTER”)

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

JACK FISK AND DAVID CRANK, “THE MASTER”

RUNNER-UP: ADAM STOCKHAUSEN (“MOONRISE KINGDOM”)

BEST EDITING

DYLAN TICHENOR AND WILLIAM GOLDENBERG, “ZERO DARK THIRTY”

RUNNER-UP: WILLIAM GOLDENBERG (“ARGO”)

BEST MUSIC SCORE

“BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD” DAN ROMER AND BENH ZEITLIN 

RUNNER-UP: JONNY GREENWOOD (“THE MASTER”)

BEST FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM

“HOLY MOTORS” DIRECTED BY LEOS CARAX

RUNNER-UP: “FOOTNOTE” DIRECTED BY JOSEPH CEDAR

BEST DOCUMENTARY/NON-FICTION FILM

“THE GATEKEEPERS” DIRECTED BY DROR MOREH

RUNNER-UP: “SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN” BY MALIK BENDJELLOUL

BEST ANIMATION

“FRANKENWEENIE” DIRECTED BY TIM BURTON

RUNNER-UP: “IT’S SUCH A BEAUTIFUL DAY” DIRECTED BY DON HERTZFELDT

NEW GENERATION

BENH ZEITLIN, “BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD”

CAREER ACHIEVEMENT

FREDERICK WISEMAN

THE DOUGLAS EDWARDS EXPERIMENTAL/INDEPENDENT FILM/VIDEO AWARD

“LEVIATHAN”