[Note: We classify films by their theatrical release anywhere in the world, so certain films we saw in 2012 (like “The Deep Blue Sea,” “Mozart’s Sister” or “A Simple Life”) are classed as 2011, because they were released in their home countries in that year. A festival screening does not count as a theatrical release.]

2012

Cal’s Top Ten:

1. “Tabu” / Miguel Gomes
2. “Like Someone In Love” / Abbas Kiarostami
3. “Beasts of the Southern Wild” / Benh Zeitlin
4. “Starlet” / Sean Baker
   
5. “Sister” / Ursula Meier
6. “Lincoln” / Steven Spielberg
7. “Damsels in Distress” / Whit Stillman
8. “Holy Motors” / Leos Carax
9. “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” / Stephen Chbosky
10. “The Cabin in the Woods” / Drew Goddard

Pete’s Top Ten:

1. “Samsara” / Ron Fricke
2. “Robot & Frank” / Jake Schreier
3. “On Air” / Pierre Pinaud
4. “Barbara” / Christian Petzold
5. “I, Anna” / Barnaby Southcombe
6. “English Vinglish” / Gauri Shinde
7. “War Witch” / Kim Nguyen
8. “Wreck-It Ralph” / Rich Moore
9. “No” / Pablo Larrain
10. “Must Have Been Love” / Eirik Svensson

Cal’s acting ballot:

Actress in a Leading Role:

• Veerle Baetens, “The Broken Circle Breakdown”
• Suzanne Clement, “Laurence Anyways”
• Nina Hoss, “Barbara”
• Analynne McCord, “Excision”
• Margarete Tiesel, “Paradise: Love”
  

Actor in a Leading Role:

• Daniel Day-Lewis, “Lincoln”
• Denis Lavant, “Holy Motors”
• Logan Lerman, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”
• Joaquin Phoenix, “The Master”
• Jean-Louis Trintignant, “Amour”

Actress in a Supporting Role:

• Carmen Ejogo, “Sparkle”
• Besedka Johnson, “Starlet”
  
• Diane Kruger, “Farewell My Queen”
• Brit Marling, “Sound of My Voice”
• Irit Sheleg, “Fill the Void”

Actor in a Supporting Role:

• Armie Hammer, “Mirror Mirror”
• Matthew McConaughey, “Magic Mike”
• Ben Mendelsohn, “Killing Them Softly”
• Ezra Miller, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”
• Sam Rockwell, “Seven Psychopaths”

Pete’s acting ballot:

Actress in a Leading Role:

• Juliette Binoche, “Another Woman’s Life”
• Nina Hoss, “Barbara”
• Charlotte Rampling, “I, Anna”
• Sridevi, “English Vinglish”
• Karin Viard, “On Air”

Actor in a Leading Role:

• Daniel Day-Lewis, “Lincoln”
• Mikkel Boe Følsgaard, “A Royal Affair”
• Gael Garcia Bernal, “No”
• Toby Jones, “Berberian Sound Studio”
• Mads Mikkelsen, “The Hunt”

Actress in a Supporting Role:

• Bae Doo-Na, “Cloud Atlas”
• Molly Blixt Egelind, “Love Is All You Need”
  
• Kristin Scott-Thomas, “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen”
• Paprika Steen, “Love Is All You Need”
  
• Naomi Watts, “The Impossible”

Actor in a Supporting Role:

• Zac Efron, “Liberal Arts”
• Jude Law, “Anna Karenina”
• Ezra Miller, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”
• Eddie Redmayne, “Les Miserables”
• Guy Pearce, “Lawless”