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You have hit the nail on the head. The festivals also play absurd box ticking games but, on balance, they are a better guide than the awards season for recognising genuine achievements.

The top five charter selections for best director has an ominous look to it for other contenders in the prestigious awards categories. Four received nominations for best drama picture and best director at the Golden Globes and the other has obvious BAFTA street cred.

In the truly amazing omissions category, it was disappointing that John Hawkes did not receive recognition for his supporting role in Winter Bone.

If there was any justice, Lambert Wilson (Of Gods and Men) would have received a best actor nomination but it was never going to happen.

The Girl With a Dragon Tattoo's inclusion in the non-English lang category (ahead of Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives and many more) lays bear the critical/commercial balancing act at play in the awards season genuinely.

And rough justice for The Ghost (Writer), which should, at the very least, have received a best directors inclusion.