​Is it that time of the year already? Apparently so — The National Board of Review (NBR), first out of the gate with year-end awards, has selected director Kenneth Lonergan's Manchester by the Sea as the best film of 2016.

Also awarded from that film? Casey Affleck was named best actor, Kenneth Lonergan was cited for best screenplay, and Lucas Hedges was selected for his breakthrough performance.

moonlight

Moonlight

The only other film to receive NBR citations in multiple categories was Moonlight, which earned nods for director Barry Jenkins and supporting actress Naomie Harris. The group's award for best animated feature film went to Kubo and the Two Strings. 

Who is the National Board of Review? According to the group's website, it's made of up of "film enthusiasts, filmmakers, professionals, academics and students of varying ages and backgrounds." The NBR doesn't exactly predict the Oscars, but it is one of several early indicators that helps kick-start awards-season conversation. and Manchester by the Sea is certainly the front-runner at the moment.

In case you're curious how groups like the NBR and NYFCC voted on the year's best movies when essentially nobody has yet seen Martin Scorsese's highly anticipated Silence, a November 19 screening was reportedly held specifically to get the film in front of NBR members (who decided it had the year's best adapted screenplay), while the New York Film Critics Circle won't lay eyes on it until tomorrow night — right before that group's voting takes place Thursday, December 1.

Here's the complete list of 2016 award recipients announced today by the National Board of Review. 

Best Film: Manchester by the Sea
Best Director: Barry Jenkins, Moonlight
Best Actor: Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea
Best Actress: Amy Adams, Arrival
Best Supporting Actor: Jeff Bridges, Hell or High Water
Best Supporting Actress: Naomie Harris, Moonlight
Best Original Screenplay: Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester by the Sea
Best Adapted Screenplay: Jay Cocks and Martin Scorsese, Silence
Best Animated Feature: Kubo and the Two Strings
Breakthrough Performance (Male): Lucas Hedges, Manchester by the Sea
Breakthrough Performance (Female): Royalty Hightower, The Fits
Best Directorial Debut: Trey Edward Shults, Krisha
Best Foreign Language Film: The Salesman
Best Documentary: O.J.: Made in America
Best Ensemble: Hidden Figures
Spotlight Award: Creative Collaboration of Peter Berg and Mark Wahlberg
NBR Freedom of Expression Award: Cameraperson

Top Films
Arrival
Hacksaw Ridge
Hail, Caesar!
Hell or High Water
Hidden Figures
La La Land
Moonlight
Patriots Day
Silence
Sully

Top 5 Foreign Language Films
Elle
The Handmaiden
Julieta
Land of Mine
Neruda

Top 5 Documentaries
De Palma
The Eagle Huntress
Gleason
Life, Animated
Miss Sharon Jones!

Top 10 Independent Films
20th Century Women
Captain Fantastic
Creative Control
Eye in the Sky
The Fits
Green Room
Hello, My Name is Doris
Krisha
Morris from America
Sing Street