Director Von Ancken nominated for Gotham Award

Variety: Awards season got underway Monday morning with the announcement of nominees for the Gotham Awards.

Oct. 22, 2007

By ERIN MAXWELL

Craig Zobel's "Great World of Sound" nabbed top praise from IFP with three noms -- top feature, director and actor (Kene Holliday). Julia Loktev's "Day Night Day Night" scored noms for director and actor (Luisa Williams) while "Into the Wild" picked up noms for feature and actor (Emile Hirsch).

"2007 was an incredibly strong year for independent film," said Michelle Byrd, exec director of IFP. "Ranging from the small gems produced on micro-budgets to extraordinary films from specialty divisions, the nominees all share the type of creative vision and risk-taking that are a hallmark of independent film."

The Gotham Awards has chosen to honor six industry vets for their work in film: actor Javier Bardem, critic Roger Ebert, production designer Mark Friedberg, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, director Mira Nair and Jonathan Sehring, creator of the IFC Center.

The awards will be presented at Steiner Studios, chosen to mark the city's growth in film production.

The kudos will be held Nov. 27, 2007.

17th Gotham Awards

The nominees for this independent film awards were announced yesterday and here they are.

Best Feature

Great World of Sound, Craig Zobel
I’m Not There, Todd Haynes
Into the Wild, Sean Penn
Margot at the Wedding, Noah Baumbach
The Namesake, Mira Nair

Best Ensemble Cast

Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead: Albert Finney, Rosemary Harris, Ethan Hawke, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Brian F. O’Byrne, AmyRyan, Michael Shannon, Marisa Tomei (THINKFilm)

The Last Winter: Connie Britton, Kevin Corrigan, Zach Gilford, James LeGros, Ron Perlman (IFC First Take)

Margot at the Wedding: Jack Black, Flora Cross, Ciarán Hinds, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Zane Pais, JohnTurturro (Paramount Vantage)

The Savages: Philip Bosco, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Laura Linney (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Talk to Me: Cedric the Entertainer, Don Cheadle, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Mike Epps, Vondie Curtis Hall, Taraji P. Henson, Martin Sheen (Focus Features)

Breakthrough Director

Lee Isaac Chung for Munyurangabo
Stephane Gauger for Owl and the Sparrow
Julia Loktev for Day Night Day Night (IFC First Take)
David Von Ancken for Seraphim Falls (Samuel Goldwyn Films)
Craig Zobel for Great World of Sound (Magnolia Pictures)

Breakthrough Actor

Emile Hirsch in Into the Wild (Paramount Vantage)
Kene Holliday in Great World of Sound (Magnolia Pictures)
Ellen Page in Juno (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Jess Weixler in Teeth (Roadside Attractions)
Luisa Williams in Day Night Day Night (IFC First Take)

Best Film Not Playing at a Theater Near You

August the First, Lanre Olabisi
Frowland, Ronald Bronstein
Loren Class, Chris fuller
Mississippi Chicken, John Fiege
Off the Grid: Life on the Mesa, Jeremy Stulberg & Randy Stulberg

The Awards will be presented at Steiner Studios in Brooklyn Navy Yard on Tuesday, November 27th.