2015 seemed to be an odd year for films. I saw about 35 films at the cinema and this list (not in any particular order) are 10 that have stayed with me or are little gems that I have been championing, but few of them would make it into my top 100 films.

If you think I have missed any major films, it may have been that I haven't seen them yet. I have added at the end a few films that have been appearing on many lists of the best of the year and are on my to catch up with list.

The Duke of Burgandy

Director: Peter Strickland Starring: Sidse Babett Knudsen, Monica Swinn, Chiara D'Anna, Eugenia Caruso, Kata Bartsch, Fatma Mohamed, Eszter Tompa, Zita Kraszkó

Inside Out

Director: Pete Docter, Ronaldo Del Carmen Starring: Amy Poehler, Mindy Kaling, Diane Lane, Bill Hader, Phyllis Smith (voices)

Ex-Machina

Director: Alex Garland

Starring: Domhnall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander, Sonoya Mizuno and Oscar Isaac

The Martian

Director: Ridley Scott

Starring: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Sean Bean

The Dressmaker

Director: Jocelyn Moorhouse

Starring: Kate Winlset, Hugo Waeving, Liam Hemsworth, Judy Davis

The Age of Adaline

Director: Lee Toland Krieger

Starring: Blake Lively, Michiel Huisman, Harrison Ford

London Road

Director: Rufus Norris

Starring: Olivia Colman, Clare Burt, Rosalie Craig

Whiplash

Director: Damien Chazelle Starring: Miles Teller, JK Simmons, Melissa Benoist, Paul Reiser

Bridge of Spies

Director: Stephen Spielberg

Starring: Tom Hanks, Mark Rylance

Spy Director: Paul Feig

Starring: Melissa MCarthyu, Jason Statham, Rose Byrne, Jude Law, Miranda Hart

But I haven’t seen…

Carol

Macbeth

Inherent Vice

Amy