Jonathan Foremanhas stepped down as chairman of the New York Film Critics Circle due to ajournalistic assignment in Asia and has been replaced by US Weekly criticThelma Adams.

"We would like to thank Jonathan Foreman for hiscontribution to the Circle to date," Adams said in a statement.

"I'm honoured tostep in and lead a group to which I'm so passionately committed - especially inthis strong year of intelligent and provocative films."

The group willannounce its awards on Dec 13 in New York, with the 70th annual awards dinnerscheduled to take place in New York on Jan 9.