“The Descendants” photo courtesy of the Hawaii International Film Festival

“The Descendants,” starring George Clooney, has been chosen as this year’s best film by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association according to the the Associated Press.

Earlier this year, the movie, which was filmed in Hawaii, also won the Audience Award For Favorite Narrative Feature when it premiered at the Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF).

During the festival, HIFF presented “The Descendants” director, Alexander Payne, with the Vision and Film award. Hawaii author Kaui Hart Hemmings, was also on hand to celebrate. After all, she wrote the the novel that the film is based on.

Alexander Payne and Kaui Hart Hemmings | Photo © Heidi Chang