Birdman Wins Big at the NYC Gotham Independent Film Awards

The 2014 Gotham Independent Film Awards wrapped up in New York Monday night with Alejandro G. Inarritu’s Birdman winning best feature.

Inarritu’s dark comedy beat Richard Linklater’s Boyhood, which won the audience award and just hours earlier picked up best picture from the New York Film Critics Circle, the Wrap reports.

Birdman hit a bit of a winning streak with Michael Keaton bagging best actor for his portrayal of washed-up actor turned Broadway playwright Riggan Thomson.

Laura Poitras’s film Citizenfour on National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden was named Best Documentary.

Tessa Thompson picked up best Breakthrough Actor for her role playing Ivy League college student Sam White in Dear White People.

The Gotham Awards showcase independent films from around the U.S. and abroad and generally marks the beginning of the awards season.

Here is a rundown of the winners:

Best Feature: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Best Documentary: Citizenfour

Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award: Ana Lily Amirpour, A Girl Walks Home Alone Tonight

Best Actor: Michael Keaton, Birdman

Best Actress: Julianne Moore, Still Alice

Breakthrough Actor: Tessa Thompson, Dear White People

Spotlight on Women Filmakers ‘Live the Dream’ Grant: Chloe Zhao, director, Songs my Brothers Taught Me

Gotham Independent Film Audience Award: Boyhood

Special Jury Award: Steve Carell, Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo, Foxcatcher

[The Wrap]