Laura Poitras's CITIZENFOUR

Alejandro G. Iñárritu's Birdman, Laura Poitras's CITIZENFOUR, and Pawel Pawlikowski's Ida were among the big winners as a pair of New York City groups named their selections for of 2014's best films. On Monday night the 24th Gotham Awards named Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) the year's Best Feature. The film closed out the New York Film Festival last month. The Gothams also named Laura Poitras's CITIZENFOUR, which had its World Premiere at NYFF52, the year's Best Documentary. The New York Film Critics Circle also released its choices of the year, selecting CITIZENFOUR as its Best Non-Fiction Film. The group named Boyhood its Best Picture of the year and the feature's filmmaker Richard Linklater Best Director.

Last night the Gothams gave its Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director prize to Ana Lily Amirpour whose film A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night opened New Directors/New Films.

In the acting categories, Timothy Spall was named Best Actor by NYFCC for his role in Mike Leigh's Mr. Turner, which screened at NYFF52, while the Gothams gave its equivalent to Birdman star Michael Keaton. NYFCC awarded Marion Cotillard its Best Actress for her roles in both The Immigrant (NYFF51) and Two Days, One Night (NYFF52). Darius Khondji, meanwhile, was awarded Best Cinematographer by NYFCC for his work in The Immigrant.

The New York Film Critics awarded J.K. Simmons its Best Supporting Actor prize for his role in NYFF's Whiplash, while the Gothams gave its Breakthrough Actor nod to Tessa Thompson from ND/NF's Dear White People. As previously announced by the Gothams, a Special Jury Award was presented jointly to the three leading actors in Foxcatcher—Steve Carell, Mark Ruffalo, and Channing Tatum—for their ensemble work in the film, and career tributes were given to its director Bennett Miller as well as Tilda Swinton and Netflix's Ted Sarandos.


Alejandro G. Iñárritu's Birdman

The full winners of both the Gothams and NYFCC follow.

24th Gotham Award winners:

Best Feature – Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, produced by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, John Lesher, Arnon Milchan, and James W. Skotchdopole; Released by Fox Searchlight Pictures

Best Documentary – CITIZENFOUR
Directed by Laura Poitras, produced by Laura Poitras, Mathilde Bonnefoy, and Dirk Wilutzky; Released by RADiUS, Participant Media, and HBO Documentary Films

Gotham Independent Film Audience Award – Boyhood
Directed by Richard Linklater, produced by Richard Linklater, Cathleen Sutherland, Jonathan Sehring, and John Sloss; Released by IFC Films

Best Actor – Michael Keaton in Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) 
Released by Fox Searchlight Pictures

Best Actress – Julianne Moore in Still Alice
Released by Sony Pictures Classics

Breakthrough Actor – Tessa Thompson in Dear White People 
Released by Roadside Attractions and Lionsgate

Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director – Ana Lily Amirpour for A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night 
Released by Kino Lorber

Special Jury Award – Steve Carell, Mark Ruffalo, and Channing Tatum, for their ensemble work in Foxcatcher
Released by Sony Pictures Classics

Calvin Klein Spotlight on Women Filmmakers ‘Live the Dream’ Grant – Chloé Zhao, director, Songs My Brothers Taught Me


Marion Cotillard and Joaquin Phoenix in The Immigrant

2014 New York Film Critics Circle winners:

Best Picture – Boyhood
 
Best Director – Richard Linklater, Boyhood
 
Best Screenplay – The Grand Budapest Hotel
 
Best Actress – Marion Cotillard, The Immigrant and Two Days, One Night

Best Actor – Timothy Spall, Mr. Turner 
 
Best Supporting Actress – Patricia Arquette, Boyhood

Best Supporting Actor – J.K. Simmons, Whiplash
 
Best Foreign Language Film – Ida
 
Best Cinematography – Darius Khondji, The Immigrant

Best Nonfiction Film – CITIZZENFOUR
 
Best First Film – Jennifer Kent, The Babadook

Best Animated Film – The LEGO Movie
 
Special Award – Adrienne Mancia