Moonlight, the rapturously received story of a young gay black man at three stages in his life, has swept the board at the Gotham awards in New York. The ceremony, which took place on Monday, saw Barry Jenkins’s drama pick up best feature, best screenplay and the audience award, as well as special jury prize for best ensemble.
Some have interpreted the win in these leading indie awards as lending momentum to Moonlight’s Oscars campaign; the last two winners of the Gotham feature prize – Birdman and Spotlight – progressed to best picture victory at the Academy Awards.
The current frontrunner this time round is Damien Chazelle’s La La Land – but it may face competition from Jenkins’s up-and-comer, as well as from Martin Scorsese’s Silence.
Casey Affleck won the best actor award for his role as a traumatised janitor in Kenneth Lonergan’s comeback film, Manchester by the Sea, while Isabelle Huppert was the surprise winner of best actress for her role in Paul Verhoeven’s controversial rape comedy Elle.
“I’m breathless. I’m speechless,” said Huppert at the podium. “I didn’t expect that to happen, I promise. They told me it’s an American award: ‘You’re French, and you’ll never get it.’”
Huppert triumphed over favourites such as Natalie Portman (Jackie) and Annette Bening (20th Century Women). Amy Adams was presented with a tribute prize by Cate Blanchett; Ethan Hawke also picked one up from Winona Ryder.
Other winners included OJ: Made in America (best documentary), Krisha director Trey Edward Shults (best breakthrough), The Witch’s Anya Taylor-Joy (breakthrough actor), Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (longform series) and Her Story (breakthrough shortform series).
