Low key rodeo drama The Rider took the main prize at the Gotham awards as much hyped contenders such as Roma and The Favourite failed to make a major impact, in the first significant indicator of this year’s awards season.
Ethan Hawke won best actor in his role of tormented minister Ernst Toller, while Schrader won the best screenplay award, again defeating nominations leader The Favourite.
Colman, who won the best actress award at the Venice film festival for The Favourite, was not nominated, but she did pick up the jury’s best ensemble award with co-stars Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone.
The Rider, directed by Chloé Zhao and starring real-life former rodeo rider Brady Jandreau, has been widely admired but was not expected to defeat The Favourite, the 18th-century-set comedy with Olivia Colman.