By: Jordan Park

Sports Editor

In the midst of award season, the 34th annual Gotham Awards took place on Dec. 2 at New York’s Cipriani Wall Street, honoring breakthrough talent and film excellence with major stars in attendance. 

Going into the ceremony, the recent film Anora, directed by Sean Baker, led with four nominations, including Best Feature Film, but left empty-handed. The Best Feature Film award ultimately went to A Different Man starring Adam Pearson and Sebastian Stan. The film beat other highly praised films such as Challengers, Nickel Boys, Anora, and Babygirl. Director Aaron Schimberg accepted the award on behalf of A Different Man. In disbelief, he stated,  “I don’t think I’m the only person in this room who’s totally stunned…considering the other nominees, I thought it would be hubris to prepare a speech.”

Pablo Larraín, the director of the new Netflix film Maria, presented Angelina Jolie with the Performer Tribute for her role of opera singer Maria Callas.  Jolie’s seatmate, Azazel Jacobs, won shortly after for Best Screenplay for his film His Three Daughters, in which actors Carrie Coon, Natasha Lyonne, and Elizabeth Olsen portray sisters caring for their ill father. 

Of the other awards that evening, Zendaya accepted the Spotlight Tribute for her role as Tashi Donaldson in Challengers, a film directed by Luca Guadagnino. Co-star Josh O’Connor presented the award with a touching speech recounting their first introduction roughly two years ago. Brandon Wilson won Breakthrough Performer for his role in the Nickel Boys. Nickel Boys director RaMell Ross took home the award for Best Director, defeating Baker and Jane Schoenbrun and others. The Breakthrough Director award went to Vera Drew for the movie The People’s Joker. The only international category of the night was The Best International Feature award, which went to Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia for her debut film All We Imagine as Light. 

A24’s Sing Sing took home multiple coveted awards; critics expect the film to sweep the boards across various categories at upcoming ceremonies. Sing Sing actor Clarence Maclin won the Outstanding Supporting Performance award with his role as Divine Eye, a character based on himself. Maclin was up against stiff competition from actors including Guy Pearce, Danielle Deadwyler, Kieran Culkin, and Natasha Lyonne. Similarly, actor Colman Domingo walked away with the Outstanding Lead Performance nod for Sing Sing. The film also received the Social Justice Tribute, concluding its winnings.  

The Gothams showcased the latest in fashion on the red carpet and film on the big screen, highlighting the brilliance of some of the most recent movies in the industry. Make sure to keep an eye out for all of the upcoming 2024 film and entertainment award shows! 

(Sources: The Gotham Awards, Vogue)