Ang Lee's Brokeback Mountain, a film about two gay ranch hands who fall in love, has been named 2005's best film by Los Angeles film critics.
The film, which stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger, also earned Lee the best director prize.
Phillip Seymour Hoffman took best actor for his portrayal of author Truman Capote in Capote.
Vera Farmiga won best actress for playing a wife and mother who becomes addicted to drugs in Down To The Bone.
With 12 weeks to go until the Academy Awards, the critics' choices mark the start of the countdown to the Oscars.
Brokeback Mountain, adapted from a story by E Annie Proulx, also took top honours at the Venice Film Festival in September.
It has only just gone on release in the US, and does not reach UK cinemas until next month.
Eclectic film-maker
In recent years Lee has carved a name for himself as one of cinema's most eclectic film-makers. The Taiwanese director's other work includes martial arts drama Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, comic book adaptation Hulk, and Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility.
Ledger was the runner-up for the best actor prize, while Dame Judi Dench was the runner-up for the best actress award for her role in Mrs Henderson Presents.
Thriller A History of Violence was the runner-up for best film, with its director David Cronenbourg the runner-up for the best director award.
Catherine Keener took the best supporting actress prize for her work in Capote as well as three other films - The 40-Year-Old Virgin, The Interpreter, and The Ballad of Jack and Rose. Runner-up was Junebug's Amy Adams, who plays a pregnant young woman from the southern US who is captivated by her sister-in-law.
William Hurt took best supporting actor for his role in A History of Violence, with Good Night and Good Luck's Frank Langella the runner-up.
The Los Angeles Film Critics Association's awards will be handed out on 17 January. Next year's Oscars will take place on 5 March.
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