IFP Gotham Independent Film Awards Nominees for 2012

Ava DuVernay's Middle of Nowhere

IFP Gotham Independent Film Awards Logo 2012As our awards screeners start to turn up in the mail, the awards season is upon us as 26 films receive nominations in IFP’s 22nd Annual Gotham Independent Film Awards. Benh Zeitlin’s Beasts of the Southern Wild, Richard Linklater’s Bernie, Ava DuVernay’s Middle of Nowhere and Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom all received 2 nominations a piece.

The interesting thing about the list is Beasts of the Southern Wild was not nominated for Best Feature, despite its high profile and nominations for actress Quvenzhané Wallis. The nomination committees that determine the list of films and winners are quite separate, leading to what THR calls “results in nominations that are all over the map, send mixed messages and into which deeper meaning — read: Oscar implications — should not be read”.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony on 26 November 2012.

Best Feature

BernieThe Loneliest PlanetThe MasterMiddle of NowhereMoonrise Kingdom

Best Documentary

DetropiaHow to Survive a PlagueMarina Abramović: The Artist is PresentRoom 237The Waiting Room

Best Ensemble Performance

BernieMoonrise KingdomSafety Not GuaranteedSilver Linings PlaybookYour Sister’s Sister

Breakthrough Director:

Zal Batmanglij for Sound of My Voice, Brian M. Cassidy and Melanie Shatzky for Francine, Jason Cortlund and Julia Halperin for Now, Forager, Antonio Méndez Esparza for Aquí y Allá (Here and There), Benh Zeitlin for Beasts of the Southern Wild

Breakthrough Actor: Mike Birbiglia in Sleepwalk with Me, Emayatzy Corinealdi in Middle of Nowhere, Thure Lindhardt in Keep the Lights On, Melanie Lynskey in Hello, I Must Be Going, Quvenzhané Wallis in Beasts of the Southern Wild

Best Film Not Playing at a Theater Near You: Kid-ThingAn Oversimplification of Her BeautyRed FlagSun Don’t ShineTiger Tail in Blue