I've been saying for a while now to look out for Barry Jenkins' Moonlight, and the first waves of momentum were picked up tonight at the Gotham Awards. The film swept every single category it was nominated for, including Best Feature, Best Ensemble, Best Screenplay, and the Audience Award.
In a slight surprise (not for those of us who watched the movie), Isabelle Huppert won won Best Actress for her performance in the shocking Paul Verhoeven film, Elle. She topped Natalie Portman who is largely seen as the Oscar frontrunner for Jackie. Despite looming controversy Casey Affleck won Best Actor for Manchester by the Sea, a win that that could signal the start of a streak, although he faces stiff competition from Denzel Washington for Fences.
The full list of winners is below:
AUDIENCE AWARD
(Voted on by IFP members)
“Moonlight”
BEST FEATURE
Moonlight – WINNER
Barry Jenkins, director; Adele Romanski, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, producers (A24)
BEST DOCUMENTARY
O.J.: Made in America – WINNER
Ezra Edelman, director; Caroline Waterlow, Ezra Edelman, Tamara Rosenberg, Nina Krstic, Deirdre Fenton, Erin Leyden, producers (ESPN Films)
BINGHAM RAY BREAKTHROUGH DIRECTOR AWARD
Trey Edward Shults for Krisha (A24) – WINNER
BEST SCREENPLAY
Moonlight, Story by Tarell Alvin McCraney; Screenplay by Barry Jenkins (A24) – WINNER
BEST ACTOR
Casey Affleck in Manchester by the Sea (Amazon Studios) – WINNER
BEST ACTRESS
Isabelle Huppert in Elle (Sony Pictures Classics) – WINNER
BREAKTHROUGH ACTOR
Anya Taylor-Joy in The Witch (A24) – WINNER
SPECIAL GOTHAM JURY AWARD FOR ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE
“Moonlight”
Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Alex Hibbert, André Holland, Jharrel Jerome, Janelle Monáe, Jaden Piner, Trevante Rhodes, and Ashton Sanders.
BREAKTHROUGH SERIES – LONG FORM
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Rachel Bloom & Aline Brosh McKenna, creators; Marc Webb, Rachel Bloom, Aline Brosh McKenna, Erin Ehrlich, executive producers (The CW) – WINNER
BREAKTHROUGH SERIES – SHORT FORM
Her Story, Jen Richards and Laura Zak, creators (herstoryshow.com) – WINNER
