2010 Gotham Independent Film Awards Winners

Tonight, the Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP) held the 20th Anniversary Gotham Independent Film Awards ceremony in New York City's Cipriani Wall Street. The winners were comprised mostly of films which played earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival. A total of 30 films received nominations in seven competitive categories, including: Best Feature, Best Documentary, Breakthrough Director, Breakthrough Actor, Best Ensemble Performance, Festival Genius Audience Award and Best Film Not Playing at a Theater Near You®. Hit the jump to read the full list of winners and the official press release.

Winners Announced

New York, NY (November 29, 2010) – The Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP), the nation's oldest and largest organization of independent filmmakers, announced today the winners at the 20th Anniversary Gotham Independent Film Awards ceremony in New York City's Cipriani Wall Street.

Presented by IFP, the Gotham Independent Film Awards™ is one of the leading awards for independent film and the first major honors of the film awards season. As previously announced, the awards ceremony streamed live in its entirety to a global audience via a partnership with The Big Live, Inc. You can see the show at www.ifp.org.

A total of 30 films received nominations in seven competitive categories, including: Best Feature, Best Documentary, Breakthrough Director, Breakthrough Actor, Best Ensemble Performance, Festival Genius Audience Award and Best Film Not Playing at a Theater Near You®.

For the first time, IFP will honor the recipient of the Best Film Not Playing at a Theater Near You award with a theatrical release package so the winner WILL show at a Theater Near You. The package includes a one-week run at Cinema Village in New York City, distribution consultation and market strategy from CrowdStarter, advertising support in the New York Times, publicity consultation from Donna Daniels PR and a cash award of $15,000 from The Royal Bank of Canada.

In addition to the competitive awards, career tributes were given to actors Robert Duvall and Hilary Swank (Swank tribute sponsored by euphoria Calvin Klein), director Darren Aronofsky and Focus Features CEO, James Shamus.

The 20th Anniversary Gotham Independent Film Award™ Recipients:

Best Feature presented by actors Steve Buscemi and Melissa Leo.

WINTER'S BONE

Directed by Debra Granik; Produced by Anne Rosellini and Alix Madigan-Yorkin

Released by Roadside Attractions

The Best Feature Jury included: actors Ethan Hawke and Parker Posey; producer Christine Vachon; director Melvin Van Peebles and editor Tricia Cooke.

Best Documentary presented by actor Sam Rockwell and documentarian Barbara Kopple

THE OATH

Directed and produced by Laura Poitras

Released by Zeitgeist Films and American Documentary/POV

The Best Documentary Jury included: actor Alec Baldwin; composer Terence Blanchard; documentarians Barbara Kopple and Robert Kenner and editor Mary Lampson

Breakthrough Director Award presented by actors Julianna Margulies and Paul Rudd

KEVIN ASCH

Writer and director, HOLY ROLLERS

Released by First Independent Pictures

The Breakthrough Director Jury included: actor Zooey Deschanel; cinematographer Maryse Alberti; composer Carter Burwell; producer Frida Torresblanco.

Breakthrough Actor Award presented by actors Michelle Williams and Jesse Eisenberg

RONALD BRONSTEIN

Actor, DADDY LONGLEGS

Released by IFC Films

The Breakthrough Actor Jury included: actor Josh Brolin; filmmakers David Gordon Green and Peter Sollett; actress Amber Tamblyn; and producer Monty Ross.

Best Ensemble Performance Award presented by actors Ethan Hawke and Ethan Coen.

Jennifer Lawrence, John Hawkes, Dale Dickey, Lauren Sweetser, Garret Dillahunt, Devin Breznahan

in WINTER'S BONE

Released by Roadside Attractions

The Best Ensemble Performance Jury included: actors Anthony Mackie and Lili Taylor;

producer Lisa Cortes; writer Larry Gross; and filmmaker Miguel Arteta.

Best Film Not Playing at a Theater Near You Award presented by actor Rosie Perez and RBC CEO, Mark Standish

LITTLEROCK

Mike Ott, director; Frederick Thornton, Laura Ragsdale, Sierra Leoni, producers

The recipient of The Best Film Not Playing at a Theater Near You™ award was determined by the editors of Filmmaker magazine, a publication of IFP, and a curator from The Museum of Modern Art.

The Festival Genius Audience Award presented by actors Anthony Mackie and Leighton Meester

WAITING FOR "SUPERMAN"

Davis Guggenheim, director; Leslie Chilcott and Michael Brietal, producers

The Festival Genius Audience Award was voted on line by filmgoers who love movies.

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IFP partnered with eBay to launch a silent auction to support its programs throughout the year. Unique experiential items still available are fishing in Manhattan with Ed Burns, tickets and backstage passes to Fela!, Boardwalk Empire, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, True Blood and ping pong with Susan Sarandon. Go to www.ebay.com/gothamawards to donate today.

The Premier sponsors of the 2010 Gotham Independent Film Awards™ are The New York Times and The Royal Bank of Canada. Presenting sponsors euphoria Calvin Klein and Fox Searchlight; preferred sponsors Focus Features and Deluxe Entertainment Services Group, Official Spirit, Russian Standard Vodka, Official Hotel, Andaz Wall Street, Official Partners MoMA and Slated, Official Beer, Stella Artois, Official Car BMW and preferred sponsor Alfred Dunhill.

About Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP)

The Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP) is the nation's oldest and largest not-for-profit advocacy organization for independent filmmakers. Since its debut at the 1979 New York Film Festival, IFP has supported the production of over 7,000 films and offered resources to more than 20,000 filmmakers, providing an opportunity for many diverse voices to be heard. IFP believes that independent films enrich the universal language of cinema, seeding the global culture with new ideas, kindling awareness, and fostering activism. The organization has championed early work by pioneering, independent filmmakers, including Charles Burnett, Edward Burns, Jim Jarmusch, Barbara Kopple, Michael Moore, Mira Nair and Kevin Smith.

IFP represents a network of 10,000 filmmakers in New York City and around the world. Through its workshops, seminars, conferences, mentorships and Filmmaker Magazine, IFP schools its members in the art, technology and business of independent filmmaking. The year-round program includes an Independent Film Week, The Gotham Awards, Filmmaking Labs and Seminars, and a range of programs to promote racial, ethnic, religious, ideological, gender and sexual diversity. IFP, often in collaboration with other cultural institutions, builds audiences by hosting premieres and special screenings. The IFP fosters the development of 300 feature and documentary films each year. Recently, the organization licensed the popular Festival Genius software platform through which IFP now reaches over 200,000 film fans worldwide.

For more information: www.ifp.org

About the Gotham Independent Film Awards™

The Gotham Independent Film Awards, selected by distinguished juries and presented in New York City, the home of independent film, are the first honors of the film awards season. This public showcase honors the filmmaking community, expands the audience for independent films, and supports the work that IFP does behind the scenes throughout the year to bring such films to fruition.

For information about the Gotham Independent Film Awards: http://gotham.ifp.org