The 34th Annual Gotham Awards (2024) delivered a night filled with unexpected wins, powerful performances and unforgettable moments, showcasing the best of independent film. Held at New York’s iconic Cipriani Wall Street on Monday, the ceremony highlighted films and talent that have shaped the current awards landscape, but perhaps none more surprising than Another man.
Another mana dark indie comedy, starring Sebastian Stan in a role that challenges traditional notions of beauty and identity, walked away with the night’s top honor: Best Picture, despite being considered an underdog. The film, directed by Aaron Schimberg, explores themes of identity and transformation, with Stan playing an actor with neurofibromatosis who undergoes experimental surgery to remove facial tumors, only to find himself at odds with another man who embraces his unconventional appearance with self-confidence.
Fixed Another man considered a lesser-known contender in the Best Picture category, the win was a testament to the unpredictability of awards season and the ability of smaller films to make a lasting impact. The victory was particularly surprising given the widespread expectations for it Anorathe Palme d’Or winning drama, would be the forerunner. Even Schimberg, who admitted he hadn’t prepared an acceptance speech for fear of jinxing the moment, seemed surprised by the win, which added an element of surprise that made the evening even more exciting.
While Another mans success may boost the chances of its stars, Sebastian Stan and Adam Pearson (who also delivered a powerful performance), the night’s honors didn’t stop there. Sing Singa gripping prison drama that explores themes of justice and redemption, emerged as a major force at the ceremony, sweeping the acting categories with Colman Domingo taking home Best Actor and Clarence Maclin winning Best Supporting Actor.
Domingo, who has captivated audiences with his roles in The color purple and Rustyused his acceptance speech to encourage other filmmakers and artists to keep doing “work that really matters” and shine a light in dark times. In an equally heartfelt moment, Maclin reminded the audience of the power of storytelling to create change in reality.
Adding another layer of excitement to the evening were the tributes, which honored some of Hollywood’s brightest stars and most influential filmmakers. Zendaya and Timothée Chalamet received well-deserved recognition for their performances in Challenger and A complete unknownwhile visionary director Denis Villeneuve was praised for his work on Dune: Part Two.
In addition, Angelina Jolie, who starred in Mariawas recognized with a Performer Tribute and James Mangold, who directed A complete unknownreceived a Visionary Tribute for his pioneering work in the industry. The evening also saw off the cast Sing Sing receive the Social Justice Tribute, cementing film’s role as a powerful force for change and advocacy in Hollywood.
The Gotham Awards have long been a defining moment of awards season, especially for independent films that may not have the same marketing budgets or star power as their studio counterparts, but still deserve recognition for their unique contributions to film. This year’s awards were no different, as the ceremony continued to support films that would otherwise go unnoticed.
When the Gotham Film & Media Institute raised its $35 million budget cap for eligible films for the second year in a row, it allowed for a more diverse range of projects, such as Sing Sing and Another manto get their moment in the spotlight. This is particularly notable given the prestigious company these films now hold, following in the footsteps of previous winners who Moonlight, Spotlight, and Everything everywhere at once– all of which went on to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.
As the 2024 awards season heats up, the Gotham Awards appear to be more than just a stepping stone to the Oscars—they’re a celebration of bold, independent storytelling. With Another man and Sing Sing making headlines, here’s the full list of this year’s Gotham Awards winners!
Best feature
- “Anora” (neon)
- “Baby Girl” (A24)
- “Challengers” (Amazon MGM Studios)
- “A Different Man” (A24) — WINNER
- “Nickel Boys” (Amazon MGM Studios)
Outstanding lead performance
- Pamela Anderson, “The Last Showgirl” (Roadside Attractions)
- Adrien Brody, “The Brutalist” (A24)
- Colman Domingo, “Sing Sing” (A24) — WINNER
- Marianne Jean-Baptiste, “Hard Truths” (Bleecker Street)
- Nicole Kidman, “Babygirl” (A24)
- Keith Kupferer, “Ghostlight” (IFC Films)
- Mikey Madison, “Anora” (Neon)
- Demi Moore, “The Substance” (Mubi)
- Saoirse Ronan, “The Outrun” (Sony Pictures Classics)
- Justice Smith, “I Saw the TV Glow” (A24)
Outstanding support performance
- Yura Borisov, “Anora” (neon)
- Kieran Culkin, “A Real Pain” (Searchlight Pictures)
- Danielle Deadwyler, “The Piano Lesson” (Netflix)
- Brigette Lundy-Paine, “I Saw the TV Glow” (A24)
- Natasha Lyonne, “His Three Daughters” (Netflix)
- Clarence Maclin, “Sing Sing” (A24) — WINNER
- Katy O’Brian, “Love Lies Bleeding” (A24)
- Guy Pearce, “The Brutalist” (A24)
- Adam Pearson, “A Different Man” (A24)
- Brian Tyree Henry, “The Fire Inside” (Amazon MGM Studios)
Best director
- Payal Kapadia, “All We Imagine as Light” (Sideshow and Janus Films)
- Sean Baker, “Anora” (Neon)
- Guan Hu, “Black Dog” (The Forge)
- Jane Schoenbrun, “I Saw the TV Glow” (A24)
- RaMell Ross, “Nickel Boys” (Amazon MGM Studios) — WINNER
Best international feature
- “All We Imagine as Light” (Sideshow and Janus Films) — WINNER
- “Green border” (Kino Lorber)
- “Hard Truths” (Bleecker Street)
- “Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell” (Kino Lorber)
- “Vermiglio” (Sideshow and Janus Films)
Best Documentary Film
- “Dahomey” (evil)
- “Intercepted” (Grasshopper Film)
- “No Other Land” (Antipode Films) — WINNER
- “Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat” (Kino Lorber)
- “Sugarcane” (National Geographic Documentary Films)
- “Union” (self-distributed)
Best script
- “Between the Temples” (Sony Pictures Classics) – Nathan Silver, C. Mason Wells
- “Evil Does Not Exist” (Sideshow and Janus Films) – Ryûsuke Hamaguchi
- “Femme” (Utopia) – Sam H. Freeman, by Choon Ping
- “His Three Daughters” (Netflix) – Azazel Jacobs — WINNER
- “Janet Planet” (A24) – Annie Baker
Breakthrough Director
- Shuchi Talati, “Girls Will Be Girls” (Juno Films, Inc.)
- India Donaldson, “Good One” (Metrograph Pictures)
- Alessandra Lacorazza, “In the Summers” (Music Box Films)
- Vera Drew, “The People’s Joker” (Altered Innocence) — WINNER
- Mahdi Fleifel, “To an unknown land” (watermelon pictures)
Pioneering artist
- Lily Collias, “Good One” (Metrograph Pictures)
- Ryan Destiny, “The Fire Inside” (Amazon MGM Studios)
- Maisy Stella, “My Old Ass” (Amazon MGM Studios)
- Izaac Wang, “Dìdi” (Focus Features)
- Brandon Wilson, “Nickel Boys” (Orion Pictures/Amazon MGM Studios) — WINNER
