Frances McDormand’s black comedy is leader of the pack at London Critics' Circle Film Awards

A black comedy will lead the way at the London Critics’ Circle Film Awards after securing seven nominations, it was announced today.

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri — written and directed by Martin McDonagh — is up for best film, director, screenwriter and British/Irish film of the year.

Its star, Frances McDormand, is nominated for best actress. Her colleagues Sam Rockwell and Woody Harrelson are both in the supporting actor category. In the movie, McDormand plays a mother who hires three billboards to appeal for information about her murdered daughter.

Following close behind at the awards, which are decided by a panel of the UK’s leading film critics, are William Oldroyd’s Lady Macbeth and Paul Thomas Anderson’s Phantom Thread, each with six nominations.

Luca Guadagnino’s Call Me By Your Name, Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk, Paul King’s Paddington 2 and Francis Lee’s God’s Own Country each received five nods.

Ten films are nominated for film of the year: Call Me By Your Name, Dunkirk, The Florida Project, Get Out, God’s Own Country, Lady Bird, Loveless, Phantom Thread, The Shape Of Water, and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

The winners will be announced at a gala ceremony at The May Fair Hotel on January 28, presented by Alice Lowe and Steve Oram.