Director Ben Affleck’s “Argo,” the true story of six Americans who escape from Iran courtesy of a science fiction film scam, is the Denver Film Critics Society’s selection for 2012’s best film.

Affleck also earned honors for best direction in a film, a strong indicator “Argo” will be featured prominently when the Academy Award nominations are announced Thursday.

Best acting honors went to Daniel Day-Lewis for his stunning transformation into the 16th president in “Lincoln” and Jennifer Lawrence for her mature, exhilarating turn in “Silver Linings Playbook” 

The complete list of DFCS winners:

The Denver Film Critics Society, featuring movie critics from the greater Denver region, selected “The Tree of Life” as 2011’s Best Film.

(Note: Christian Toto, assistant editor at Big Hollywood, is co-chair of DFCS)

  • Best Film – “Argo”
  • Best Achievement in Directing – Ben Affleck, “Argo”
  • Best Lead Performance by an Actor, Male – Daniel Day-Lewis, “Lincoln”
  • Best Lead Performance by an Actor, Female – Jennifer Lawrence, “Silver Linings Playbook”
  • Best Supporting Performance by an Actor, Male – Philip Seymour Hoffman, “The Master”
  • Best Supporting Performance by an Actor, Female – Anne Hathaway, “Les Miserables”
  • Best Animated Feature – “ParaNorman”
  • Best Original Screenplay – Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola, “Moonrise Kingdom”
  • Best Adapted Screenplay – David O. Russell, “Silver Linings Playbook”
  • Best Documentary Feature – “Jiro Dreams of Sushi”
  • Best Original Song “Skyfall,” Adele, “Skyfall”
  • Best Original Score – Hans Zimmer, “The Dark Knight Rises”
  • Best Non-English Language Feature – “Amour”
  • Best Film – “Argo”
  • Best Achievement in Directing – Ben Affleck, “Argo”
  • Best Lead Performance by an Actor, Male – Daniel Day-Lewis, “Lincoln”
  • Best Lead Performance by an Actor, Female – Jennifer Lawrence, “Silver Linings Playbook”
  • Best Supporting Performance by an Actor, Male – Philip Seymour Hoffman, “The Master”
  • Best Supporting Performance by an Actor, Female – Anne Hathaway, “Les Miserables”
  • Best Animated Feature – “ParaNorman”
  • Best Original Screenplay – Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola, “Moonrise Kingdom”
  • Best Adapted Screenplay – David O. Russell, “Silver Linings Playbook”
  • Best Documentary Feature – “Jiro Dreams of Sushi”
  • Best Original Song “Skyfall,” Adele, “Skyfall”
  • Best Original Score – Hans Zimmer, “The Dark Knight Rises”
  • Best Non-English Language Feature – “Amour”
  • Best Film – “Argo”
  • Best Achievement in Directing – Ben Affleck, “Argo”
  • Best Lead Performance by an Actor, Male – Daniel Day-Lewis, “Lincoln”
  • Best Lead Performance by an Actor, Female – Jennifer Lawrence, “Silver Linings Playbook”
  • Best Supporting Performance by an Actor, Male – Philip Seymour Hoffman, “The Master”
  • Best Supporting Performance by an Actor, Female – Anne Hathaway, “Les Miserables”
  • Best Animated Feature – “ParaNorman”
  • Best Original Screenplay – Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola, “Moonrise Kingdom”
  • Best Adapted Screenplay – David O. Russell, “Silver Linings Playbook”
  • Best Documentary Feature – “Jiro Dreams of Sushi”
  • Best Original Song “Skyfall,” Adele, “Skyfall”
  • Best Original Score – Hans Zimmer, “The Dark Knight Rises”
  • Best Non-English Language Feature – “Amour”