The first awards ceremony of the season occurred last night with the 2016 Gotham Independent Film Awards. Hosted by Keegan-Michael Key, it honors the best in independent cinema and, like most years, we hope it’s a signifier for what to expect at the Oscars, but that doesn’t always end up being the case.
This year, Moonlight led the honors picking up Best Feature as it beat Certain Women, Everybody Wants Some!!, Manchester by the Sea, and Paterson, as well as Best Screenplay and Special Jury Award for the ensemble. For Best Documentary, the epic-length O.J.: Made in America won top honors, while Isabelle Huppert and Casey Affleck picked up awards for their performances in Elle and Manchester by the Sea, respectively.
Check out the full list below, along with talks with Moonlight director Barry Jenkins and a scene analyzation.
Best Feature
Moonlight
Barry Jenkins, director; Adele Romanski, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, producers (A24)
Best Documentary
O.J.: Made in America
Ezra Edelman, director; Caroline Waterlow, Ezra Edelman, Tamara Rosenberg, Nina Krstic, Deirdre Fenton, Erin Leyden, producers (ESPN Films)
Best Actress
Isabelle Huppert in Elle (Sony Pictures Classics)
Best Actor
Casey Affleck in Manchester by the Sea (Amazon Studios)
Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award
Trey Edward Shults for Krisha (A24)
Best Screenplay
Moonlight, Story by Tarell Alvin McCraney; Screenplay by Barry Jenkins (A24)
Breakthrough Actor
Anya Taylor-Joy in The Witch (A24)
Special Jury Award – Ensemble Performance
Moonlight (A24)
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)
Breakthrough Series – Short Form
Her Story, Jen Richards and Laura Zak, creators (herstoryshow.com)