Colman Domingo secures top acting gong at Gotham Awards

US actor Colman Domingo secured the top acting prize for his role in Sing Sing at the 2024 Gotham Awards, while A Different Man starring Sebastian Stan and Adam Pearson scooped best feature film.

The independent film celebration, held in New York, kicks off awards season and is considered by many to be a bellwether for more major events, including the Oscars.

The star-studded 34th annual ceremony saw Hollywood stars including Demi Moore, Nicole Kidman, Jessica Chastain, Adrian Brody, Pamela Anderson, Shailene Woodley, Zoe Kravitz, Saoirse Ronan and Bella Ramsey pose on the carpet.

Oscar-nominated actor Domingo secured the gong for outstanding lead performance following his role in Sing Sing, about the real-life story of Divine G – a man imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit who finds purpose by acting in a theatre group.

Rustin and The Colour Purple star Domingo said of the group: “They found art to be the parachute that could save them and they poured themselves into it…I am making art that I think can make a difference in this world.”

Meanwhile, A Different Man, about an aspiring actor who undergoes a radical medical procedure to drastically transform his appearance, scooped the top prize of best feature at the ceremony.

Director Aaron Schimberg was shocked to collect the award “considering the other nominees”.

The ceremony saw tributes made to stars including Zendaya, Denis Villeneuve, Timothee Chalamet and Angelina Jolie.

British actor Josh O’Connor presented the spotlight award to Zendaya, after the pair starred in Challengers together.

O’Connor likened Zendaya to stars including the late Dame Maggie Smith, using “authenticity as a superpower”, having “seamlessly” navigated her way from being a child star.

Zendaya described the award as “quite the honour”, before praising her film crew: “My character is only an amalgamation of the beautiful ideas of the amazing creative people around me,” she said.

“I have to say, I love what I do, so much. So incredibly grateful I get to this for a living,” Zendaya added, before shouting out her mother who was in the crowd.

The Dune star later presented the director tribute award to filmmaker Villeneuve, alongside Prisoners star Jake Gyllenhaal – who described Villeneuve as a “super serious artist but incredibly funny”.

On stage, Villeneuve said when he first transitioned from the world of independent film to Hollywood he asked for a private chat with Oscar-winning filmmaker Martin Scorsese, who told him to “stay intact”.

Villeneuve said he is most proud that over 12 years in the industry he has been able to “protect my flame” and not compromise his independent freedom and creativity.

Meanwhile, Dune star Oscar Isaac presented Chalamet and director James Mangold with the visionary award for their Bob Dylan biopic, A Complete Unknown – which began life in 2019.

Chalamet, sporting a moustache, said: “Getting to study and immerse myself in the world of Bob Dylan has been the greatest education a young artist can receive.

“If you’re already a fan of Bob Dylan, this film will make perfect sense to you. If you’re not familiar with his work, perhaps our film can serve as a humble gateway to one of the great poets and chroniclers of our time.”

Jolie, who most recently played late opera star Maria Callas in her final days in 1970s Paris, also received the performer tribute during the ceremony.

“I grew up with a mother who kept books inside the oven because there were more books in our house than shelves in the apartment we had,” Jolie said on stage.

The US actress said early influences “nurture and shape us as artists”, noting the importance of art “taught in our schools, and so concerning that many of those programmes are being reduced”.

The ceremony also saw Nickel Boys filmmaker RaMell Ross win the best director gong, while the star of the film Brandon Wilson received the prize for best breakthrough performer.

Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Colson Whitehead, Nickel Boys follows the powerful friendship between two men navigating a brutal reformatory school together in Florida.