Manchester by the Sea, directed by Kenneth Lonergan and starring Casey Affleck as a man returning to his hometown after the sudden death of his brother, received four nods, including best feature, best actor for Affleck and best screenplay for Lonergan.
Jim Jarmusch’s Paterson, starring Adam Driver as a poetic bus driver, also scored three nominations: best feature, best actor for Driver and best screenplay for Jarmusch.
The Gotham nominations also confirmed the awards potential of a number of highly rated festival performers, including Natalie Portman’s turn as Jackie Kennedy (nominated for best actress), the David Mackenzie-directed Hell or High Water (best actor for Jeff Bridges and best screenplay for Taylor Sheridan) and Isabelle Huppert in Elle (best actress).
Much-admired indie dramas Manchester by the Sea and Moonlight have made an early mark in this year’s awards season, emerging as the nominations leaders in the Gotham film awards, the first significant moment for the new awards cycle.