An acclaimed drama about three ages in the life of a young man on the mean streets of Miami has been chosen as Best Picture by the Toronto Film Critics Association.

 “Moonlight” was also announced as best picture by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and it expected to figure prominently in other awards leading up to the Oscars on February 26th.

The Toronto critics also singled out Maheshala Ali for best supporting actor for his role as a crack dealer who becomes a father figure for the protagonist Chiron.

Moonlight beat out another Oscar favourite, Manchester By The Sea and the Cannes-winning film “Toni Erdmann”, a German film about a father-daughter relationship.