'Toni Erdmann' Named Best Film Of 2016 In Sight & Sound's Annual Poll
![Toni Erdmann](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/20x11/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/toni-erdmann.webp)
German-Austrian comedy Toni Erdmann has topped Sight & Sound’s poll and been named as the best film of the year in a poll of leading film critics.
It was a strong year for female directors, with three of the top five films helmed by women. The top 20 also features no fewer than thirteen films that public audiences were able to see at the London Film Festival earlier in the year. Second on the list is awards favourite Moonlight.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnSKm839wsk&t=4s
Top 20 films of 2016
1. Toni Erdmann
2. Moonlight
3. Elle
6. I, Daniel Blake
7. Manchester by the Sea
8. Things to Come (L’Avenir)
9. Paterson
10. The Death of Louis XIV
11. Personal Shopper
11. Sieranevada
13. Fire At Sea (Fuocoamare)
13. Nocturama
13. Julieta
16. La La Land
16. Cameraperson
18. Love & Friendship
19. Aquarius
19. Victoria
Director of Toni Erdmann, Maren Ade told Sight & Sound that “This makes us extremely proud, especially considering how many films you all watch in a year – and since we are all longstanding followers of the poll!”
As well as Ade, the other female directors in the top five were Andrea Arnold (American Honey) and Kelly Reichardt (Certain Women).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coVJQ2y4OZ4&t=3s
Rounding out the top of the list were Barry Jenkins for his powerful drama Moonlight and Paul Verhoeven for the thriller Elle, starring French screen icon Isabelle Huppert. Both films are front-runners for the awards season alongside La La Land and Manchester By The Sea.
Sight & Sound is the internationally renowned publication produced by the British Film Institute (BFI). Last year critics voted The Assassin as best film followed by Carol and Mad Max: Fury Road.