We saw. We met. We voted. The BOSTON SOCIETY OF FILM CRITICS (BSFC) has just announced its awards for the best films, performances, and technical achievements in 15 major categories for 2012!

Topping the list with three awards is director Kathryn Bigelow’s ZERO DARK THIRTY about the ten-year hunt for Osama bin Laden which won BEST FILM, BEST DIRECTOR, and BEST FILM EDITING. Bigelow is on familiar territory here as the first woman in history to win an Oscar for Best Director in 2010 for THE HURT LOCKER.

Also with three awards is LINCOLN which earned a nod for Daniel Day-Lewis BEST ACTOR, Sally Field (we really like her) BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS, and Tony Kushner BEST SCREENPLAY.

For a complete list of all BSFC awards including special year-end honors and commendations, check the BSFC website. The Boston Society Of Film Critics Awards are our local version of the Oscars, and may in fact influence those national awards as Academy voters and studios take note of local critics’ groups to see which performers and films are receiving recognition around the country.

So herewith, the Boston Society of Film Critics picks for the best of 2012:

Best Picture  –  ZERO DARK THIRTY

Best Actor –  Daniel Day Lewis for LINCOLN

Best Actress – Emmanuelle Riva for AMOUR

Best Supporting Actor –  Ezra Miller for THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER

Best Supporting Actress –  Sally Field for LINCOLN

Best Director –  Kathryn Bigelow for ZERO DARK THIRTY

Best Screenplay –  Tony Kushner for LINCOLN

Best Cinematography – Mihai Malaimare, Jr. for THE MASTER

Best Documentary –  HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE

Best Foreign-Language Film –  AMOUR

Best Animated Film –  FRANKENWEENIE

Best Film Editing – William Goldenberg and Dylan Tichenor for ZERO DARK THIRTY

Best New Filmmaker –  David France for HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE

Best Ensemble Cast – SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS

Best Use of Music in a Film  – MOONRISE KINGDOM