I previously reviewed Nickel Boys and touted its masterful encapsulation of maintaining humanity through oppression.
Gotham Awards
Actor @colmandomingo talks @weare_thegotham win! #GothamAwards #GothamAwards2024 #TheGothams2024 pic.twitter.com/9wS1tTejyJ
— THE KNOCKTURNAL (@_TheKnockturnal) December 4, 2024
Exclusive: Clarence Maclin talks @weare_thegotham win! #GothamAwards2024 #singsing #thegothams2024 @A24films_ pic.twitter.com/YaqQ4bzD2X
— THE KNOCKTURNAL (@_TheKnockturnal) December 4, 2024
Exclusive: Colman Domingo and Clarence Maclin Talk Gotham Wins for “Sing Sing”
The actors deliver remarkable and deeply emotional performances in the A24 prison drama.
The 34th annual Gotham Awards, held on December 2, 2024, at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City, honored the best in independent film and media. Hosted by the Gotham Film & Media Institute, the ceremony celebrated innovation, diversity, and excellence in storytelling across categories such as film, television, and emerging talent.
Exclusive: Arthur Harari Talks Gotham Win for ‘Anatomy of a Fall’
Anatomy of a Fall has won not one, but two awards at the 33rd Annual Gotham Awards, live from Cipriani Wall Street on Monday night.
Exclusive: A.V. Rockwell Talks Gotham Win for ‘A Thousand and One’
A.V. Rockwell, director of A Thousand and One, was honored with the Breakthrough Director Award at the 33rd Annual Gotham Awards, live from Cipriani Wall Street on Monday night.
AIR was honored with the Visionary Icon & Creator Tribute by The Gotham Film & Media Institute, at the 33rd Annual Gotham Awards, live from Cipriani Wall Street on Monday night.
33rd Annual Gotham Awards: Unveiling the Best Feature Films, Series, and Standout Performances
Jeffrey Sharp, esteemed film producer and Executive Director of The Gotham, and and Kia Brooks, Deputy Director of The Gotham has just unveiled the eagerly-anticipated nominations for the 33rd Annual Gotham Awards, via livestream from Cipriani Wall Street.
Exclusive: Directors Charlotte Wells, Gina Prince-Bythewood & Shaunak Sen Talk Gotham Wins
As the entertainment and film industry enters awards season, many filmmakers, actors, and directors were recognized at this year’s Gotham Awards.
Executive director of Gotham Jeffery Sharp stands before a golden backdrop. The word ‘award’ sits in big block letters behind him. He expresses gratitude towards Gotham’s and independent artists’ accomplishments. He thanks celebrities in attendance, like Adam Sandler and Gina Prince-Bythewood. He welcomes editor-in-chief of Vanity Fair Radhika Jones to present the first Gotham Award.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 28: Lupita Nyong’o attends The 2022 Gotham Awards at Cipriani Wall Street on November 28, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Gotham Film & Media Institute)
The Gotham Film and Media Institute provides important access, resources, and recognition for students and creators. Gotham hopes to elevate untold cultural stories across TV, film, and audio. The Gotham Awards annually showcase the best in independent film entertainment. For 2022, Vanity Fair served as premiere sponsor. Greenslate served as a platinum sponsor. Other sponsors included JetBlue, Justin Wines, Cadillac and Fiji Water. Companies in the tribute circle included Netflix, Apple TV+, Audible, and Universal.
The Knockturnal had the pleasure of sitting at Blue Moon beer’s table. Attendees at the gala enjoyed Blue Moon’s all night. We were especially honored to be sitting with legendary actor Brian d’Arcy James, who was Blue Moon’s VIP guest. Brian was there celebrating The Cathedral that was nominated for Best Picture as a guest of Blue Moon beer. It was surreal to be back there as last time he was there was when he won the Ensemble award for the feature film Spotlight as part of the cast. He was also on a huge high as just last week he was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award in the category of Best Supporting Performance, his first individual nod as actor in a film and those awards will be given out in March of next year. You can see him for six more weeks starting in Into The Woods on Broadway!
Celebrity guests including Adam Scott, Brendan Fraser, and Gabrielle Union. Joel Kim Booster, Bryan Tyree Henry, and Janelle James attended. Blue Moon’s backstage winners’ room features winners, honorees, and guests. Solvan “Slick’ Naim, Mo Amer, and Ramy Youssef (from Ramy) toasted to their success. Daniel Scheinart, Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan, Jonathan Wang, and Daniel Wang (from Everything, Everywhere All at Once) celebrated their win. Honoree Adam Sandler partied as well.
Jennifer Lawerence presents the Best Feature award to Everything, Everywhere All At Once. She notes how independent film creates “intimate stories that demand we pay attention.” The creative team thanks A24 and producers for the technicality behind the movie. He says, “Behind all the glitz and glamor, there is a desk and a person.” Directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert receive praise for their film.
Adam Sandler accepts the Performer Tribute award. His teenage daughters allegedly wrote his speech. Sanders explains his reason: “I said ‘Daddy’s tired.’” A hilarious, crowd-rousing speech ensues. His daughters describe what they think of Sandler: “a 56-year-old uncut gem” with “an iconic Southern accent.” Sandler smiles wide at the adjectives. His daughters thank Gotham for selecting Sandler.
Modern Family’s Jesse Tyler Furgeson presents the Ensemble Tribute to ‘Fire Island.’ He discusses the real Fire Island as an LGBTQIA+ pride. He says, “It’s the gayest, sexiest, most fun summer party.” Tyler notes that Pride and Prejudice inspired the screenplay. Upon accepting the award, the cast applauds director Andrew Ahn. The cast says, “We could not have been The Ensemble that we were without him.”
CODA Actress Emilia Jones presents the Best Supporting Performance award to Ke Huy Quan. Jones notes the importance of strong characters in film. She says they allow us to “invest in their relationships, the people around them.” In his acceptance speech, Quan notes his love for Adam Sandler. Additionally, he references his career’s progress. Quan says, “This time last year all I was hoping for was just a job.” He thanks Gotham for the award.
Jonathan Majors and Derik Murphy present the Icon Tribute for Sidney Poitier. Poitier’s daughters— Anika, Pamela, and Sherri— accepted the award on his behalf. Majors and Murphy discuss the origin of the Icon Tribute: to call attention to minority filmmakers’ works. The speakers say Poitier’s “work and activism changed the way we see movies and the way we see ourselves.” Majors shares a personal letter he wrote to Poitier early in 2022. Poitier’s daughters spoke about his passion for independent film.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 28: (L-R) Josh Safdie, Adam Sandler and Benny Safdie attend The 2022 Gotham Awards at Cipriani Wall Street on November 28, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Gotham Film & Media Institute)
The breakthrough performer category featured international actors, gritty dramas, and cultural commentary. Winner Gracija Filipovic the influence of American entertainment in Croatia. She remembers wandering through a Croatian theater and dreaming big. “I told myself I was going to come to New York.” Filipovic credit to her film’s director. “She taught me everything I know about movies, art, and life.”
Audible.com founder Don Katz receives a tribute for his company’s success. Julianne Moore discusses Katz’ brief biography and business ventures. She says, “Audible’s mission was to celebrate words as performance art and take spoken word into the media.” In his speech, Katz describes his company’s unique audiobook creation process. He invites actors to record the book as a script. He notes the creative liberation of not needing special hair or makeup.
Winner of three 2021 Gotham Awards Maggie Gyllenhaal underlines a great screenplay’s importance. She asks the audience to applaud every screenplay nominee. “It’s really hard to write a script,” she says. Winner Todd Field opens his speech with the definition of ‘best.’ He says the word should have no meaning in creative contexts. “We pray for it so the things we made will be seen and heard.” He says that writing a screenplay involves a self-critical eye.
Film director of “Elvis,” Baz Luhrmann asks the audience to applaud Field’s sentiments again. Luhrmann notes the importance of award shows: “to remember what movies can do for us in a global interconnected society.” He presented the Best International Feature award to director Audrey Diwan. She thanks the film producer who fought against creative team layoffs.
Two-time Gotham Award winner Paul Dano highlights Michelle Williams’ accomplishments. He mentions Williams’ early success on ‘Dawson’s Creek.’ He credits her with roles in ‘Brokeback Mountain’ and independent film ‘The Station Agent.’ “I think there is the sense of bravery and searching that runs through Michelle William’s career.” In her speech, Williams wishes that Mary Beth Peil could attend the awards. She notes the early-career support from Peel.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 28: Michelle Williams and Busy Philipps attend The 2022 Gotham Awards at Cipriani Wall Street at Cipriani Wall Street on November 28, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for The Gotham Film & Media Institute)
The 32nd Annual Gotham Award recipients are:
For Best Feature, presented by Jennifer Lawrence
Everything Everywhere All at Once
Directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert
Produced by Joe Russo, Anthony Russo, Mike Larocca, Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert, and Jonathan Wang
Released by A24
The Best Feature jury included Colman Domingo, Mary Harron, Bill Holderman, Emily Mortimer, and Michael H. Weber.
For Best Documentary Feature, presented by Soledad O’Brien and Alina Cho
All That Breathes
Directed Shaunak Sen
Produced by Aman Mann, Shaunak Sen, and Teddy Leifer
Released by Sideshow & Submarine Deluxe in association with HBO Documentary Films
The Best Documentary jury included Jessica Beshir, Keiko Deguchi, Grace Lee, Jonas Poher Rasmussen, and Bassam Tariq.
For Best International Feature, presented Baz Luhrmann
Happening
Directed by Audrey Diwan
Produced by Edouard Weil and Alice Girard
Released by IFC Films
The Best International Feature jury included Michael Greyeyes, Brittany S. Hall, Talia Kleinhendler, Andrij Parekh, and Jeremiah Zagar.
For Outstanding Lead Performance, presented by Danai Gurira and Lupita Nyong’o
Danielle Deadwyler in Till
Released by United Artists Releasing / Orion Pictures
The Outstanding Lead Performance jury included Richard Gladstein, Lily Gladstone, Aldis Hodge, Pamela Koffler, and Jay Van Hoy.
For Outstanding Supporting Performance, presented by Emilia Jones
Ke Huy Quan in Everything Everywhere All At Once
Released by A24
The Outstanding Supporting Performance jury included Thuso Mbedu, Simon Rex, Michael Sarnoski, Emma Seligman, and Katie Silberman.
For Breakthrough Performer, presented by Radhika Jones and Jeffrey Sharp
Gracija Filipovic in Murina
Released by Kino Lorber
The Breakthrough Performer jury included Ana Lily Amirpour, Jasmine Batchelor, Tristan Goligher, Jeremy O. Harris, and Alex Thompson.
For Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director, presented by Darren Aronofsky
Charlotte Wells for Aftersun
Released by A24
The Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director jury included Jayme Lemons, Payman Maadi, Crystal Moselle, Kristen Stewart, and Neil Creque Williams.
For Best Screenplay, presented by Maggie Gyllenhaal
Todd Field for Tár
Released by Focus Features
The Best Screenplay jury included Clea DuVall, David Henry Hwang, Marian Macgowan, Chris Messina, and Keenan Scott II.
For Breakthrough Series (Over 40 Minutes), presented by Stephanie March and Brian Tyree Henry
Pachinko
Created by Soo Hugh
Executive Produced by Soo Hugh, Michael Ellenberg, Lindsey Springer, Theresa Kang-Lowe, Richard Middleton, Kogonada, and Justin Cho.
Apple TV+
The Breakthrough Series (Over 40 Minutes) jury included Nikole Beckwith, Roxann Dawson, Evan Hayes, Corbin Reid, and Bradley Whitford.
For Breakthrough Series (Under 40 Minutes), presented by Aubrey Plaza and Adam Scott
Mo
Created by Mohammed Amer and Ramy Youssef
Executive Produced by Mohammed Amer, Ramy Youssef, Ravi Nandan, Hallie Sekoff, Solvan “Slick” Naim, Harris Danow, and Luvh Rakhe.
Netflix
The Breakthrough Series (Under 40 Minutes) jury included Ryan Cunningham, Leigh Davenport, Edi Gathegi, Carly Hugo, and Devery Jacobs.
For Outstanding Performance in a New Series, presented by Ramy Youssef and Mohammed Amer
Ben Whishaw in This is Going to Hurt
AMC+ in association with BBC
The Outstanding Performance in a New Series jury included Stephanie Allain, John David Coles, Rafael Casal, Nia DaCosta, and Da’Vine Joy Randolph.
For Breakthrough Nonfiction Series, presented by Devery Jacobs and Helena Howard
We Need To Talk About Cosby
Created and directed by W. Kamau Bell
Executive Produced by W. Kamau Bell, Andrew Fried, Katie A. King, Vinnie Malhotra, Dane Lillegard, Sarina Roma, and Jordan Wynn
SHOWTIME
The Breakthrough Nonfiction Series jury included Yoni Brook, Lisa Cortés, Michael Gottwald, Hasan Minhaj, and Caroline Waterlow.
In the winners room, we spoke with Adam Sandler and asked him how New York has impacted him as an actor and creative. See what he had to say below!
The Knockturnal was on the scene in the winners room at the 2021 Gotham Awards.
The Gotham Awards, one of the leading honors for independent film and television, provides early acknowledgement to groundbreaking independent films and television series. Selected by distinguished juries and presented in New York City, the home of independent film, the Gotham Awards are the first honors of the film awards season. This public showcase honors the filmmaking community, expands the audience for independent films, and supports the work that The Gotham Film & Media Institute does behind the scenes throughout the year to bring such films to fruition.
Additionally announced during the ceremony:
The Questlove Gotham EDU Scholarship
Questlove announced the creation of a $150,000 scholarship fund earmarked for HBCU students’ tuition and to allow participation in the Gotham EDU suite of programs and mentor support. The award is supported by iHeartMedia.
Focus Features & JetBlue Student Short Film Showcase
Tessa Thompson announced the winners of the third annual showcase supported by sponsoring partners Focus Features and JetBlue. The program is designed to discover and empower a diverse group of emerging filmmakers and foster multi-platform distribution of their work. Each winner receives a $10,000 grant and have their films shown for twelve months on JetBlue’s seatback entertainment systems under the “Gotham Selects” movie category and on Focus Features digital streaming platforms. Throughout 2022, winning filmmakers will also receive ongoing mentorship and workshopping opportunities from The Gotham.
The winning filmmakers and shorts were:
· Evan Bode, Thine Own Self, Syracuse University
· Jorge G. Camarena, Spaceship, American Film Institute
· Akanksha Chawla, Close Ties to Home Country, Columbia College
· Jun Hee Han, Uncle, University of California, Los Angeles
· J. Sean Smith, #Whitina, University of Southern California
An Ensemble Tribute (presented by Jeymes Samuel) was given to the cast of The Harder They Fall, including Jonathan Majors, Zazie Beetz, Delroy Lindo, LaKeith Stanfield, Danielle Deadwyler, Edi Gathegi, R.J. Cyler, Damon Wayans Jr., Deon Cole with Regina King and Idris Elba.
Check out our interviews with Jeymes, Deon Cole & Zazie Beetz in the winners room:
Actor @deoncole talks @weare_thegotham win for @netflix #HarderTheyFall pic.twitter.com/CS3vHP7uM1
— The Knockturnal (@_TheKnockturnal) November 30, 2021
The 31st Annual Gotham Award recipients are:
For Best Feature, presented by Dakota Johnson
The Lost Daughter
Directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal
Produced by Osnat Handelsman Keren, Talia Kleinhendler, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Charles Dorfman
Released by Netflix
The Best Feature jury included Jason Mitchell, Lydia Dean Pilcher, Adele Romanski, Peter Saraf, and Cathy Yan.
For Best Documentary, presented by Devery Jacobs and Michael Greyeyes
Flee
Directed Jonas Poher Rasmussen
Produced Monica Hellström, Signe Byrge Sørensen, and Charlotte De La Gournerie
Released by NEON
The Best Documentary jury included Bonni Cohen, Ramona Diaz, Kirsten Johnson, Roger Ross Williams, and Hao Wu.
Check out our exclusive interview with the Flee team in the winners room!
Director Jonas Poher Rasmussen talks @weare_thegotham win for “Flee.” pic.twitter.com/55UK5I8Z3v
— The Knockturnal (@_TheKnockturnal) November 30, 2021
For Best International Feature, presented Thandiwe Newton
Drive My Car
Directed by Ryûsuke Hamaguchi
Produced by Teruhisa Yamamoto
Released by Sideshow and Janus Films
The Best International Feature jury included Jimmie Fails, Eliza Hittman, Orion Lee, Jonathan Raymond, and Catalina Sandino Moreno.
For Outstanding Lead Performance, presented by Dan Levy
To two performers:
Olivia Colman in The Lost Daughter
Released by Netflix
and
Frankie Faison in The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain
Released by Gravitas Ventures
The Outstanding Lead Performance jury included Aldis Hodge, Tamara Jenkins, Avy Kaufman, Lisa Kjerulff, and KiKi Layne.
Check out our exclusive interview with winner Frankie below from the Winners Room.
For Outstanding Supporting Performance, presented by Daveed Diggs
Troy Kotsur in CODA
Released by Apple TV+
The Outstanding Supporting Performance jury included Michael Beach, M. Blair Breard, Blythe Danner, Rob Morgan, and Crystal Moselle.
For Breakthrough Performer, presented by Moses Ingram
Emilia Jones in CODA
Released by Apple TV+
The Breakthrough Performer jury included Matt Bomer, Yolonda Ross, Isabel Sandoval, Shari Springer Berman, and Katherine Waterston.
For Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director, presented by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson
Maggie Gyllenhaal for The Lost Daughter
Released by Netflix
The Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director jury included Anne Carey, Helena Howard, Famke Janssen, John Turturro, and Phillip Youmans.
Check out our exclusive interview with Emilia Jones in the Winners Room right after her big win!
For Best Screenplay, presented by Joe Wright
Maggie Gyllenhaal for The Lost Daughter
Released by Netflix
For Breakthrough Series (Over 40 Minutes), presented by Marlee Matlin and Troy Kotsur
Squid Game
Executive Produced by Kim Ji-yeon and Hwang Dong-hyuk
Netflix
The Breakthrough Series (Over 40 Minutes) jury included Jasmine Batchelor, Eli Goree, Mike Harrop, Amy Koppelman, and Paul Mezey.
Check out what the Squid Game cast told us in the winners room:
For Breakthrough Series (Under 40 Minutes), presented by Marlee Matlin and Troy Kotsur
Reservation Dogs
Created by Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi
Executive Produced by Taika Waititi, Sterlin Harjo, and Garrett Basch
FX
The Breakthrough Series (Under 40 Minutes) jury included Adam Goldman, Anna Konkle, Jenni Konner, Victoria Mahoney, and Jonathan Majors
For Breakthrough Nonfiction Series, presented by Jung Ho-yeun
Philly D.A.
Created by Ted Passon, Yoni Brook, and Nicole Salazar
Executive Produced by Dawn Porter, Sally Jo Fifer, Lois Vossen, Ryan Chanatry, Gena Konstantinakos, Jeff Seelbach, and Patty Quillin
Topic, Independent Lens, PBS
The Breakthrough Nonfiction Series jury included Andrew Jarecki, Laura Ricciardi, Bernardo Ruiz, Elyse Steinberg, and Tracy Heather Strain.
Check out our interviews with “Philly D.A.” directors Ted Passon, Yoni Brook, Nicola Salazar about their @thegotham awards win!
The Premier Sponsor of the 2021 Gotham Awards was The New York Times and the Platinum Sponsors were GreenSlate and AV Club. The Official Auto Partner was Cadillac, the Official Water Partner was FIJI Water, the Official Airline Partner was JetBlue, the Official Wine Partner was Robert Hall Winery, and the Official Tequila Partner was Komos Tequila.
Photo Credit: John Nacion