Filmmakers got their chance to shine at the Gotham Awards

Hollywood could have been decimated under the onslaught of the coronavirus pandemic, yet the Gotham Awards in New York over the weekend proved that the industry has several things to smile about and look forward to. As a key stop on the pathway to the Oscars throughout awards season, Hollywood’s best and brightest were more than up to the task of bringing the industry back into the black with stellar performances and technicality to match.

However, it was clear that there were some Oscar contenders conspicuously absent from the list of nominees for the Gothams. Representatives for The Power of Dog, Tick, Tick…Boom!, and The Harder They Fall found themselves on the red carpet and in the audience with an incomplete list of awards to look forward to – despite bringing in stellar results at the box office. It turns out that this was because they exceeded the $35 million budget limit to be eligible.

Let’s take a closer look into all the glittering details of the Gotham Awards, and all the winners who now have a clearer path towards the top of awards season.

Big winners

Netflix was the name on everyone’s mouths for the majority of the pandemic, and now as awards season is here it’s clear why. The streaming giant’s The Lost Daughter was by and far the winner of the night, taking home the largest amount of prizes in best feature, breakthrough director for Maggie Gyllenhaal, outstanding lead performance for Olivia Colman and best screenplay.

Alongside The Lost Daughter, the breakaway hit Squid Game was a shoo-in for top prizes, taking the prize for Long Form Series. Elsewhere, Apple’s CODA nabbed rising prizes for Best Supporting Performance and Breakthrough Performer. Winners swept up awards and gifts like bottles of Robert Hall wine to take home for more celebration.

Inclusive changes

According to Variety, this year’s set of Gotham awards were extra special in the way of inclusivity for all types of filmmaking.

For the first time, international documentaries were eligible for wins in the best documentary feature category. At the same time, new categories entirely were created in the form of Breakthrough Nonfiction Series. Outstanding Lead Performance, Outstanding Supporting Performance, and Outstanding Performance In A New Series in television.

Outstanding Lead Performance, Breakthrough Performance, and Outstanding Supporting Performance also celebrated gender neutrality as awards not contingent on what gender the recipient was. In total, 8 men and 14 women were nominated.

Outstanding efforts

Frankie Faison was a big winner of the night as the recipient of the Outstanding Lead Performance.

His response to the win was in equal parts heartfelt and empowering. “This film was made with such passion, commitment and honesty, and gives the message that our society needs to hear right now. I’d like to thank Morgan Freeman and Lori McCreary from Revelations Entertainment for jumping in and picking us up when we needed to be picked up. This small train went uphill and uphill thanks to you guys.”

Jane Campion was paid tribute by the awards show with a director’s statue, while Eamonn Bowles of Magnolia Pictures received the industry tribute honorary award for his time as the chief of the lauded film company. Kristen Stewart and Peter Dinklage were awarded with this year’s performer tribute awards and the cast of The Harder They Fall received the ensemble tribute award.

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Who do you think is most likely to succeed at the Oscars past nomination and onto the stage as a winner? Who do you think was wrongfully snubbed at the Gotham Awards? Let us know in the comments!