The 34th Annual Gotham Awards (2024) delivered an evening filled with unexpected wins, powerful performances, and unforgettable moments, showcasing the best of independent cinema. Held at the iconic Cipriani Wall Street in New York on Monday, the ceremony spotlighted films and talent that have shaped the current awards season landscape, but perhaps none more surprising than A Different Man.
A Different Man, a 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 Feature, despite being considered an underdog. Directed by Aaron Schimberg, the film film explores themes of identity and transformation, with Stan playing an actor with neurofibromatosis who undergoes an experimental surgery to remove facial tumors, only to find himself at odds with another man who embraces his unconventional appearance with confidence.
Though A Different Man was considered a lesser-known contender in the Best Feature category, its win was a testament to the unpredictability of the awards season and the ability of smaller films to make a lasting impact. The victory was especially surprising given the widespread expectations that Anora, the Palme d’Or-winning drama, would be the frontrunner. Even Schimberg, who admitted to not preparing an acceptance speech in fear of jinxing the moment, seemed caught off guard by the win, adding an element of surprise that made the evening even more thrilling.
While A Different Man’s success could 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 Sing, a 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 Lead Performance and Clarence Maclin earning Best Supporting Performance.
Domingo, who has captivated audiences with his roles in The Color Purple and Rustin, used his acceptance speech to encourage fellow filmmakers and artists to continue doing “work that really matters” and shines a light in dark times. Maclin, in a similarly heartfelt moment, reminded the crowd of the power of storytelling to create real-world change.
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 honors for their performances in Challengers and A Complete Unknown, while the visionary director Denis Villeneuve was celebrated for his work on Dune: Part Two.
Additionally, Angelina Jolie, who starred in Maria, was recognized with a Performer Tribute, and James Mangold, who directed A Complete Unknown, earned a Visionary Tribute for his trailblazing work in the industry. The evening also saw the cast of Sing Sing receive the Social Justice Tribute, solidifying the film’s role as a powerful force for change and advocacy in Hollywood.
The Gotham Awards have long been a pivotal moment in the awards season, particularly 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 cinema. This year’s awards were no different, as the ceremony continued to support films that would otherwise go unnoticed.
As the Gotham Film & Media Institute lifted its $35 million budget cap on eligible films for the second consecutive year, it allowed a more diverse range of projects, such as Sing Sing and A Different Man, to have their moment in the spotlight. This is particularly notable given the prestigious company these films now keep, following in the footsteps of past winners like Moonlight, Spotlight, and Everything Everywhere All at Once—all of which went on to achieve Best Picture nominations at the Oscars.
As the 2024 awards season gains momentum, the Gotham Awards stand out as more than just a stepping stone to the Oscars—they’re a celebration of bold, independent storytelling. With A Different Man and Sing Sing making headlines, here’s the full list of this year’s winners of Gotham Awards!
Best Feature
- “Anora” (Neon)
- “Babygirl” (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 Supporting 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 Feature
- “Dahomey” (Mubi)
- “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 Screenplay
- “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, Ng 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 a Land Unknown” (Watermelon Pictures)
Breakthrough Performer
- 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