Nicole Beharie & Riz Ahmed win at the Gothams
Wednesday, January 13, 2021 at 7:04PM
NATHANIEL R in Gotham Awards, Identifying Features, Jeffrey Wright, Miss Juneteenth, Nicole Beharie, Riz Ahmed, The Vast of Night, precursor awards

by Nathaniel R

It's not always helpful to "lead" in the nominations. First Cow came on strong when the Gotham nominations were announced but two months later at the hybrid real / virtual ceremony it didn't manage a single win. The winners lineup surprised with an award for the wondrously talented Nicole Beharie for Miss Juneteenth and two ties in other categories. We don't remember the Gothams doing this before but maybe they have? I don't know if you've heard but there are... things going on in the world... and in the nation's capitol... in short: it's difficult to focus).

Without the hubbub of traditional awards ceremonies this year we don't know how much of that "winner" aura is going to rub off on various contenders as we head toward Oscar. Will anything stick?  The winners and a few speeches are after the jump... 

Best Feature

Nomadland has long since emerged as the frontrunner for Best Picture at the Oscars, even if it would make for an atypical winner (to say the least). Now had First Cow won this perhaps it might have helped that film with traction. Not that the Oscar race is everything, mind you. Congratulations to Chloe Zhao and Frances McDormand. 

Best Documentary

Time has been collecting plenty of hardware and media attention but this is a nice get for A Thousand Cuts which needed more attention. They both face robust competition in the upcoming Oscar race. The 15 finalists for the Oscar will be announced on February 9th. 

Best International Feature

Well, that's a surprise! Identifying Features, about a Mexican woman trying to find her son who had travelled to the US for work, premiered as a work-in-progress in the fall of 2019 at the San Sebastian Film Festival before taking the Sundance World Cinema prize a year ago this month. Nevertheless the other films have all racked up much more subsequent attention.

Breakthrough Director

I am not anti Vast of Night. I found it interesting but I haven't quite accounted for its obviously large appeal in terms of breakthrough or debut prizes against such considerable competition this year. 

Best Screenplay

Another TIE. 

Best Actor

Nice get for Riz who is just superb in the disability drama. Rooting for the Oscar nomination but that competition is pretty crowded. 

Best Actress

Beharie has been winning raves for Miss Juneteenth all year long. We've admired her since Shame (2011) so this is a nice crescendo for her career (she was also just sensational in her episode of Monsterland on Hulu this past fall.)

Breakthrough Actor 

We though Flanigan would triumph here, being such a critical darling, but we were wrong. 

Breakthrough Series (Long Form)

Breakthrough Series (Short Form)

Audience Award Nomadland

Actress and Actor Tributes: Viola Davis & Chadwick Boseman

Ensemble Tribute: The Trial of the Chicago 7

Directors Tribute: Steve McQueen

Industry Tribute: Ryan Murphy

Made in NY Tribute: Jeffrey Wright

Article originally appeared on The Film Experience (http://thefilmexperience.net/).
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