In this March 3, 2018 photo, director Chloe Zhao, winner of the Bonnie Award, poses in the press room during the 2018 Film Independent Spirit Awards, in Santa Monica, California. (JEAN-BAPTISTE LACROIX / AFP)

LOS ANGELES - Chinese-born director Chloe Zhao or Zhao Ting has been named the best director of 2020 for Nomadland by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA), the American film critic organization announced on Sunday.

Nomadland has won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and the People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this year

Nomadland also received recognition as a runner-up for best picture and best cinematography by the organization which is comprised of Los Angeles-based, professional film critics working in the Los Angeles print and electronic media.

Nomadland is the third feature film from Zhao, a Beijing native who went to the United States when she was 15. Based on Jessica Bruder's 2017 non-fiction book Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century, the film stars two-time Oscar winner Frances McDormand as an out-of-work woman who packs her van and sets off from her small town to travel around the vast landscape of the American West, exploring a life outside of conventional society as a modern-day nomad.

In this Sept 12, 2020 photo, Disney's Marketing Director for Italy, Davide Romani acknowledges receiving the Golden Lion for Best Film on behalf of US director Chloe Zhao for "Nomadland" during the closing ceremony on the last day of the 77th Venice Film Festival at Venice Lido. (ALBERTO PIZZOLI / AFP)

Nomadland has won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and the People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this year, making history to be the first film that has won both top honors. Zhao was also named the best director of the year by another major American film critic organization, the New York Film Critics Circle, on Friday.

Both Zhao and her film are now widely considered as front-runners in this Hollywood awards season.

Nomadland by Disney's Searchlight Pictures is set to open on Feb 19, 2021 in North America.

ALSO READ: Chloe Zhao wins top prize at Venice Film Festival

What's more, the LAFCA critics voted to award best picture to Small Axe, an Amazon anthology film series, created and directed by Steve McQueen. The film also won best cinematography of the year.

The LAFCA best-film winner has won the Oscar for best picture 11 times in the 46 years the organization has been giving out awards, including three times in the last five years, The Wrap, a news site covering the entertainment and media businesses, reported.

In this June 6, 2019 photo, US actor Chadwick Boseman speaks on stage during the 47th American Film Institute (AFI) Life Achievement Award Gala at the Dolby theatre in Hollywood. (JEAN-BAPTISTE LACROIX / AFP)

Best actor went to Chadwick Boseman this year for his performance in drama film Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. Carey Mulligan took home the best actress award for the black comedy thriller film Promising Young Woman.

Best supporting actor was given to Glynn Turman for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom while best supporting actress was awarded to South Korean actress Youn Yuh-jung for the drama film Minari.

The critics gave the best animation award to Apple TV+'s Wolfwalkers. Beanpole was the winner of best foreign-language film.

LAFCA President Claudia Puig said in a statement that the organization is "honored to award the artistry of a wonderfully diverse and massively talented group of winning filmmakers."

"Particularly notable in a year when the film industry took a huge blow, our winners reflect extraordinary achievement," Puig added.