Can 'Manchester by the Sea' Gotham nominations lead to awards season glory?

Can ‘Manchester by the Sea’ Gotham nominations lead to awards season glory?

“Manchester By The Sea” stars Kyle Chandler, Michelle Williams and Casey Affleck.

Oct. 20, 2016 9 AM PT

Kenneth Lonergan’s acclaimed drama “Manchester by the Sea” was the leader Thursday morning in the 26th annual Gotham Awards nominations.

The film earned four mentions, for feature, screenplay, actor (Casey Affleck) and breakthrough actor (Lucas Hedges).

Kelly Reichardt’s “Certain Women,” Barry Jenkins’ “Moonlight,” Jim Jarmusch’s “Paterson” and Richard Linklater’s “Everybody Wants Some!!” rounded out the feature nominees.

In the actor category, Affleck is joined by Jeff Bridges, Adam Driver, Joel Edgerton and Craig Robinson.

Meanwhile, Kate Beckinsale, Annette Bening, Isabelle Huppert, Ruth Negga and Natalie Portman were nominated for the actress trophy.

“Moonlight” also picked up a special jury award for its ensemble cast, which includes Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris and Alex Hibbert.

The trailer for “Moonlight.”

The documentary category included nominees “Cameraperson,” “I Am Not Your Negro,” “O.J.: Made in America,” “Tower” and “Weiner.”

The Gothams also highlight achievements in television and short-form content, this year nominating such TV series as “Jessica Jones,” “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” “Master of None,” “The Girlfriend Experience” and “Horace and Pete,” created by Louis C.K.

As an arm of the Independent Feature Project, the Gothams honor independent releases and can help raise the profile of smaller films entering the awards season. The previous two feature winners — “Spotlight” last year and “Birdman” in 2014 — went on to earn the Academy Award for best picture. For “Manchester,” which has been building significant buzz since it premiered at Cannes, the Gotham Award nominations are likely just the beginning.

The Gotham Awards will be presented on Nov. 28 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.

The full list of nominees:

Feature

“Certain Women”

“Everybody Wants Some!!”

“Manchester by the Sea”

“Moonlight”

“Paterson”

Documentary

“Cameraperson”

“I Am Not Your Negro”

“O.J.: Made in America”

“Tower”

“Weiner”

Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award

Robert Eggers for “The Witch”

Anna Rose Holmer for “The Fits”

Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert for “Swiss Army Man”

Trey Edward Shults for “Krisha”

Richard Tanne for “Southside with You”

Screenplay

“Hell or High Water,” Taylor Sheridan

“Love & Friendship,” Whit Stillman

“Manchester by the Sea,” Kenneth Lonergan

“Moonlight,” story by Tarell Alvin McCraney, screenplay by Barry Jenkins

“Paterson,” Jim Jarmusch

Actor

Casey Affleck, “Manchester by the Sea”

Jeff Bridges, “Hell or High Water”

Adam Driver, “Paterson”

Joel Edgerton, “Loving”

Craig Robinson, “Morris From America”

Actress

Kate Beckinsale, “Love & Friendship”

Annette Bening, “20th Century Women”

Isabelle Huppert, “Elle”

Ruth Negga, “Loving”

Natalie Portman, “Jackie”

Breakthrough Actor

Lily Gladstone, “Certain Women”

Lucas Hedges, “Manchester by the Sea”

Royalty Hightower, “The Fits”

Sasha Lane, “American Honey”

Anya Taylor-Joy, “The Witch”

Special Jury Award For Ensemble Performance

Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Alex Hibbert, André Holland, Jharrel Jerome, Janelle Monáe, Jaden Piner, Trevante Rhodes and Ashton Sanders, “Moonlight”

Breakthrough Series – Long Form

“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”

“The Girlfriend Experience”

“Horace and Pete”

“Jessica Jones”

“Master of None”

Breakthrough Series – Short Form

“The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo” (YouTube)

“Her Story” (herstoryshow.com)

“The Movement” (Mic.com)

“Sitting in Bathrooms with Trans People” (Seriously.TV)

“Surviving” (YouTube)