Half Billion Dollars at Worldwide Box Office for "Fantastic Beasts"

“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” Generates a Magical Half Billion Dollars at the Worldwide Box Office

The much-anticipated return to J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World, directed by David Yates and starring Eddie Redmayne, crosses $500 million worldwide after just two weekends in release.

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On the heels of topping the box office in its opening weekend, the widely acclaimed magical adventure “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” surpassed half a billion dollars at the global box office on Tuesday, November 29, 2016 following its second weekend in release. The announcement was made today by Sue Kroll, President of Worldwide Marketing and Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.

Audiences everywhere have flocked to theatres, eager to experience the new era in the wizarding world created by J.K. Rowling. To date, the film has earned $161 million domestically and $344 million internationally for a global box office cume of $505 million and counting. “Fantastic Beasts,” which is Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, has also received praise from critics everywhere.

In making the announcement, Kroll stated, “We are thrilled by the success of this new adventure, which is also the start of an exciting new franchise for the studio. With ‘Fantastic Beasts,’ the brilliant J.K. Rowling has created an immersive story with timeless themes that are resonating with both critics and audiences in every corner of the world. We congratulate her, our director David Yates, the wonderful cast and everyone involved in the film on this milestone.”

Jeff Goldstein, President, Domestic Distribution, said, “Anticipation grew exponentially in the weeks leading up to the release of ‘Fantastic Beasts,’ and now with the film in theaters we are seeing strong word of mouth and repeat attendance, which should carry the film through the holiday season and beyond.”

Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, President, International Distribution and Growth Initiatives, added, “The enthusiastic global response to ‘Fantastic Beasts’ proves once again that the appeal of the wizarding world transcends language and borders. We, too, foresee strong holds through the holidays and well into the new year.”

“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” takes us to a new era in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World, decades before Harry Potter and half a world away.

Academy Award winner Eddie Redmayne (“The Theory of Everything”) stars in the central role of wizarding world Magizoologist Newt Scamander, under the direction of David Yates, who helmed the last four “Harry Potter” blockbusters.

“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” opens in 1926 as Newt Scamander has just completed a global excursion to find and document an extraordinary array of magical creatures. Arriving in New York for a brief stopover, he might have come and gone without incident…were it not for a No-Maj (American for Muggle) named Jacob, a misplaced magical case, and the escape of some of Newt’s fantastic beasts, which could spell trouble for both the wizarding and No-Maj worlds.

“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” also stars Katherine Waterston (“Steve Jobs,” “Inherent Vice”), Tony Award winner Dan Fogler (“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”), Alison Sudol (“Dig,” “Transparent”), Ezra Miller (“Trainwreck,” upcoming “Justice League”), two-time Oscar nominee Samantha Morton (“In America,” “Sweet and Lowdown”), Oscar winner Jon Voight (“Coming Home,” TV’s “Ray Donovan”), Carmen Ejogo (“Selma”), and Colin Farrell (“True Detective”).

The film marks the screenwriting debut of J.K. Rowling, whose beloved Harry Potter books were adapted into the top-grossing film franchise of all time. Her script was inspired by the Hogwarts textbook Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, written by her character Newt Scamander.

In addition to Yates, the film reunited a number of people from the “Harry Potter” features, including producers David Heyman, J.K. Rowling, Steve Kloves and Lionel Wigram. Tim Lewis, Neil Blair and Rick Senat served as executive producers.

Warner Bros. Pictures presents a Heyday Films Production, a David Yates Film, “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.” The film opened worldwide on November 18, 2016, in 2D and 3D in select theatres and IMAX and is being distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

This film has been rated PG-13 for some fantasy action violence.

fantasticbeasts.com

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New York Film Critics Circle Names "La La Land" Best Picture of 2016

Founded in 1935, the New York Film Critics Circle is, according to their website, “an organization of film reviewers from New York-based publications that exists to honor excellence in U.S. and world cinema.”  Members are critics from daily newspapers, weekly newspapers, magazines, and online general-interest publications (that meet certain qualifications). Every year in December, Circle members meet in New York to vote on awards for the year's films.  The Circle also puts on an awards presentation, which will be held in January 2017 to honor 2016 winners.

The Circle was the first film critics organization that I encountered as a budding, young movie lover.  The Circle's awards have been predictors of the Oscar nominations. However, The Circle sees it awards “as a principled alternative to the Oscars, honoring esthetic merit in a forum that is immune to commercial and political pressures,” according to their website.

2016 NYFCC Awards:

Best Picture
La La Land

Best Director
Barry Jenkins - Moonlight

Best Screenplay
Kenneth Lonergan - Manchester by the Sea

Best Actress
Isabelle Huppert – Elle; The Things to Come

Best Actor
Casey Affleck - Manchester by the Sea

Best Supporting Actress
Michelle Williams - Manchester by the Sea; Certain Women

Best Supporting Actor
Mahershala Ali - Moonlight

Best Cinematographer
James Laxton - Moonlight

Best Animated Film
Zootopia

Best Non-Fiction Film (Documentary)
O.J.: Made in America

Best Foreign Language Film
Toni Erdmann

Best First Film
Kelly Fremon Craig - The Edge of Seventeen

Best First Film
Trey Edward Shults - Krisha

Special Award:
Thelma Schoonmaker & Julie Dash - Daughters of the Dust (25th Anniversary Restoration)

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2016 British Independent Film Award Nominations Announced

In 1998, Raindance created the British Independent Film Awards to celebrate merit and achievement in independently funded British filmmaking.  The awards also honor new talent and promote British films and filmmaking to a wider public.

On Tuesday, November 1, 2016, the nominations for the 2015/19th Moët British Independent Film Awards were announced in London.  The winners will be announced at The Moët British Independent Film Awards on Sunday, December 4, 2016 at Old Billingsgate. The event, hosted by Jennifer Saunders, will be live streamed on www.bifa.film.

The 2016 / 19th Moët British Independent Film Awards nominations:

BRITISH INDEPENDENT FILM
AMERICAN HONEY Andrea Arnold, Lars Knudsen, Jay Van Hoy, Pouya Shahbazian, Alice Weinberg, Thomas Benski, Lucas Ochoa
COUPLE IN A HOLE Tom Geens, Zorana Piggott
I, DANIEL BLAKE Ken Loach, Paul Laverty, Rebecca O’Brien
NOTES ON BLINDNESS Peter Middleton, James Spinney, Mike Brett, Jo-Jo Ellison, Steve Jamison, Alex Usborne
UNDER THE SHADOW Babak Anvari, Emily Leo, Oliver Roskill, Lucan Toh

INTERNATIONAL INDEPENDENT FILM
HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE Taika Waititi, Carthew Neal, Matt Noonan, Leanne Saunders
MANCHESTER BY THE SEA Kenneth Lonergan, Kimberly Steward, Matt Damon, Chris Moore, Lauren Beck, Kevin J. Walsh
MOONLIGHT Barry Jenkins, Adele Romanski, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner
MUSTANG Deniz Gamze Ergüven, Alice Winocour, Charles Gillibert
TONI ERDMANN Maren Ade, Janine Jackowski, Jonas Dornbach, Michel Merkt

DIRECTOR
ANDREA ARNOLD American Honey
BABAK ANVARI Under the Shadow
BEN WHEATLEY Free Fire
KEN LOACH I, Daniel Blake
PETER MIDDLETON, JAMES SPINNEY, Notes on Blindness

SCREENPLAY
ANDREA ARNOLD American Honey
BABAK ANVARI Under the Shadow
BILLY O’BRIEN, CHRISTOPHER HYDE I Am Not a Serial Killer
PAUL LAVERTY I, Daniel Blake
RACHEL TUNNARD Adult Life Skills

ACTRESS
HAYLEY SQUIRES I, Daniel Blake
JODIE WHITTAKER Adult Life Skills
KATE DICKIE Couple in a Hole
NARGES RASHIDI Under the Shadow
SASHA LANE American Honey

ACTOR
DAVE JOHNS I, Daniel Blake
MAX RECORDS I Am Not a Serial Killer
MICHAEL FASSBENDER Trespass Against Us
SHIA LABEOUF American Honey
STEVE BRANDON My Feral Heart

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
AVIN MANSHADI Under the Shadow
GEMMA ARTERTON The Girl With All the Gifts
NAOMIE HARRIS Our Kind of Traitor
SHANA SWASH My Feral Heart
TERRY PHETO A United Kingdom

SUPPORTING ACTOR
ARINZÉ KENE The Pass
BRETT GOLDSTEIN Adult Life Skills
CHRISTOPHER LLOYD I Am Not a Serial Killer
JAMIE DORNAN Anthropoid
SEAN HARRIS Trespass Against Us

DOCUMENTARY
THE CONFESSION: LIVING THE WAR ON TERROR Ashish Ghadiali, James Rogan
DANCER Steven Cantor, Gabrielle Tana
THE HARD STOP George Amponsah, Dionne Walker
NOTES ON BLINDNESS Peter Middleton, James Spinney, Mike Brett, Jo-Jo Ellison, Steve Jamison, Alex Usborne
VERSUS: THE LIFE AND FILMS OF KEN LOACH Louise Osmond, Rebecca O’Brien

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN CRAFT
JOAKIM SUNDSTRÖM Sound – Notes on Blindness
PAUL MONAGHAN, MAT WHITECROSS Editing – Supersonic
ROBBIE RYAN Cinematography – American Honey
SEB BARKER Visual Effects – The Girl With All the Gifts
SHAHEEN BAIG Casting – Free Fire

THE DOUGLAS HICKOX AWARD (DEBUT DIRECTOR)
ADAM SMITH Trespass Against Us
ALICE LOWE Prevenge
BABAK ANVARI Under the Shadow
PETER MIDDLETON, JAMES SPINNEY Notes on Blindness
RACHEL TUNNARD Adult Life Skills

DEBUT SCREENWRITER
ED TALFAN The Passing (Yr Ymadawiad)
HOPE DICKSON LEACH The Levelling
JOHN CAIRNS, MICHAEL McCARTNEY A Patch of Fog
RACHEL TUNNARD Adult Life Skills
SIMON FARNABY, JULIAN BARRATT Mindhorn

BREAKTHROUGH PRODUCER
CAMILLE GATIN The Girl With All the Gifts
DIONNE WALKER The Hard Stop
MICHAEL BERLINER Adult Life Skills
MIKE BRETT, JO-JO ELLISON, STEVE JAMISON Notes on Blindness
PAUL FEGAN Where You’re Meant to Be

MOST PROMISING NEWCOMER
DAVE JOHNS I, Daniel Blake
HAYLEY SQUIRES I, Daniel Blake
LETITIA WRIGHT Urban Hymn
SENNIA NANUA The Girl With All the Gifts
STEVE BRANDON My Feral Heart

THE DISCOVERY AWARD
BLACK MOUNTAIN POETS Jamie Adams, Jon Rennie
THE DARKEST UNIVERSE Tom Kingsley, Will Sharpe, Tiani Ghosh, Jo-Jo Ellison
THE GHOUL Gareth Tunley, Jack Healy Guttmann, Tom Meeten
GOZO Miranda Bowen, Leo Scott
THE GREASY STRANGLER Jim Hosking, Toby Harvard, Daniel Noah, Andrew Starke, Ant Timpson, Josh C Waller, Elijah Wood

BRITISH SHORT
JACKED Rene Pannevis, Ashish Ghadiali, Jennifer Eriksson
MOTHER Leo Leigh, Scott O’Donnell
OVER Jörn Threlfall, Jeremy Bannister
RATE ME Fyzal Boulifa, Taina Galis
THE WRONG END OF THE STICK Terri Matthews, Chris Cornwell, Sam Bank

The BIFA Variety Award:
Naomie Harris
(The Variety Award recognises a director, actor, writer or producer who has made a global impact and helped to focus the international spotlight on the UK.)

The Richard Harris Award:
Alison Steadman
(The Richard Harris Award was introduced in 2002 in honour of Richard Harris and recognises outstanding contribution to British film by an actor.)

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December 2016 is in the House

It's December 2016, and hopefully it will be a December to remember! Welcome to Negromancer 2.0.  This is the rebirth of Negromancer, the former movie review website as a new movie review and movie news site.

Support me on Patreon.

All images and text appearing on this blog are © copyright and/or trademark their respective owners.

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from November 20th to 30th, 2016 - Update #28

Support Leroy on Patreon.

ECO - From RSN:  Neil Young calls on President Obama to end violence against protestors at Standing Rock #NoDAPL.

From Inquisitr:  From Standing Rock, actress Shailene Woodley declaries that Thanksgiving was founded on a massacre.

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STAR TREK - From DeadlineTV:  Doug Jones and Anthony Rapp added to cast of "Star Trek: Discovery."

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ECO - From YouTube:  Mark Ruffalo tweets about this video press conference on those responsible for violence at #NoDAPL protests.

ECO - From TheIntercept:  I know that this story is not as important as "Rogue One" or the college football "playoff," journalists are being arrested at #NoDAPL protests, which is testing First Amendment boundaries.

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TELEVISION - From Indiewire:  Anne Rice is planning a "Game of Thrones"-style television based on her "The Vampire Chronicles," which began with the novel, "Interview with a Vampire."

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CELEBRITY:  From YahooCelebrity:  "Westworld" actress Evan Rachel Wood reveals that she was raped.

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OBIT - From Deadline:  The actor Fritz Weaver has died at the age of 90, Saturday, November 26, 2016.  He could be described "patrician."

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MOVIES - From THR:  There is a lawsuit concerning the ownership of the characters and concepts associated with the film, "The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension."  At stake is the creation of a new TV series that involves Kevin Smith and Amazon Studios.

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BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  Disney's "Moana" won the 11/25 to 11/27/2016 weekend box office with an estimated take of $55.5 million and the 2016 5-day Thanksgiving weekend box office with an estimated take of $81.1 million.

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OBIT - From Variety:  The actor, Ron Glass, has died at the age of 71, Friday, November 25, 2016. He was best known in the roles of "Ron Harris" ("Barney Miller") and "Shepherd Derrial Book" ("Firefly")

From Variety:  Ron Glass' colleagues from the short-lived (but fantastic) TV series, "Firefly," remember him.

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WALT DISNEY - From Indiewire:  Angela Lansbury starred as Mrs. Potts in the original "Beauty and the Beast."  Now, she is confused as to why Disney is remaking it as a live-action film.  Money, of course.

OBIT - From YahooNews:   Fidel Castro, former leader of Cuba, has died at the age of 90, Friday, November 25, 2016.  Some know him as a dictator; others know him as the man who drove the gangsters and racists out of Cuba.

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OBIT - From YahooTV:  The actress, Florence Henderson, has died at the age of 82, Thursday, November 24, 2016.  Henderson was most famous for playing Carol Brady, the mother of a six-children brood on the the classic television series, "The Brady Bunch" (1969 t0 1974).

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COMICS-FILM - Variety:  Variety talks to Marvel's Kevin Feige.

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COMICS-FILM - From ScreenRant:  An animatic video for the in-development "New Mutants" film suggests it could go the direction of being a horror film.

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MOVIES  - From YahooNews:  "Alien: Covenant" unleashes freaky poster.

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COMICS-FILM - From ScreenRant:  Fox has announced some release dates, some cryptic.

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STAR TREK - From Mashable:   Michelle Yeoh is apparently a cast member in the upcoming CBS series, "Star Trek: Discovery."

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OBIT -  From USAToday: Beloved Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher, Ralph Branca, has died at the age of 90, Wednesday, November 23, 2016.  His most famous moment is when he gave up "The Shot Heard 'Round the World," a three-run home run to Bobby Thompson of the New York Giants, giving the Giants the 1951 National League pennant.

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MOVIES - From Gamespot:  New images from "Pacific Rim 2" feature John Boyega in action.

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COMICS - From Vulture:  From Grant Morrison - "The Savage Sword of Jesus Christ."

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POLITICS - From Deadspin:  Could CNN be in for some payback from President-elect Trump.

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CULTURE - From NBC:  President Barack Obama honors 21 persons (19 of them living) with the Medal of Freedom, includes Robert Redford, Tom Hanks, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, Cicely Tyson, among others.

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MUSIC - From ABC:  A unreleased song by Prince, "Moonbeam Level" gets a listening party.

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MOVIES - From Deadline:  Marvel has announced that Oscar and Emmy-nominated actress, Angela Bassett has joined the cast of its "Black Panther" movie.  She will play Black Panther's mother.

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TELEVISION - From TVSeriesFinale:   There could be a "Game of Thrones" prequel series.

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BOX OFFICE - BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the 11/18 to 11/20/2016 weekend box office is "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" (which is set in the world of Harry Potter) with an estimated take of $75 million.

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MUSIC - From YahooMusic:  Adam Yauch Park is named for the Beastie Boy who died 4 year ago (already?!).  A playground at the park was defaced with pro-Donald Trump graffiti and two swastikas.  Sunday morning, fellow Beastie Boy, Ad-Rock, led an anti-hate rally.

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CELEBRITY - From NYPost:  President-elect Donald Trump's wife, Melania, and their son, Barron, are reportedly not moving to the White House after the inauguration.

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MOVIES - From IndieWire:  Matthew McConaughey to star in the film, "White Boy Rick," based on the true story of Richard Wershe, Jr. and his father.

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POLITICS - From GuardianUK:  Rudy Giuliani - from leading race riots to a Presidential cabinet position.

National Board of Review Names "Manchester by the Sea" Best Film of 2016

The National Board of Review of Motion Pictures, which is made up of film enthusiasts, academics, students, and filmmakers, historically launches the movie awards season.

The 2016 version of the organization’s Annual Gala will be held on Wednesday, January 4, 2017 with NBC’s Willie Geist set to return as host.

The National Board of Review has named Manchester by the Sea 2016’s Best Film of the Year.  That was announced Tuesday, November 29, 2016, along with the organization’s other year-end honors.

2016 National Board of Review award winners:

Best Film: Manchester by the Sea

Best Director: Barry Jenkins, Moonlight

Best Actor: Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea

Best Actress: Amy Adams, Arrival

Best Supporting Actor: Jeff Bridges, Hell or High Water

Best Supporting Actress: Naomie Harris, Moonlight

Best Original Screenplay: Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester by the Sea

Best Adapted Screenplay: Jay Cocks and Martin Scorsese, Silence

Best Animated Feature: Kubo and the Two Strings

Breakthrough Performance (Male): Lucas Hedges, Manchester by the Sea

Breakthrough Performance (Female): Royalty Hightower, The Fits

Best Directorial Debut: Trey Edward Shults, Krisha

Best Foreign Language Film: The Salesman

Best Documentary: O.J.: Made in America

Best Ensemble: Hidden Figures

Spotlight Award: Creative Collaboration of Peter Berg and Mark Wahlberg

NBR Freedom of Expression Award: Cameraperson

2016 Top Films
Arrival
Hacksaw Ridge
Hail, Caesar!
Hell or High Water
Hidden Figures
La La Land
Moonlight
Patriots Day
Silence
Sully

2016 Top 5 Foreign Language Films
Elle
The Handmaiden
Julieta
Land of Mine
Neruda

2016 Top 5 Documentaries
De Palma
The Eagle Huntress
Gleason
Life, Animated
Miss Sharon Jones!

2016 Top 10 Independent Films
20th Century Women
Captain Fantastic
Creative Control
Eye in the Sky
The Fits
Green Room
Hello, My Name is Doris
Krisha
Morris from America
Sing Street

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Gotham Awards Names "Moonlight" Best Feature Film of 2016

Honoring independent films, the Gotham Awards are the first major awards of the film awards season.  The Gotham Awards are presented by the Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP), an organization which helps independent filmmakers by connected artists with resources at all stages of film development and distribution.

This year, the 2016 Gotham Awards kicks off the 2016-17 American movie awards season.  The nominations were announced Thursday, October 20, 2016.  The Gotham Awards ceremony was held on Monday, November 28, 2016. at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.

2016 / 26th Annual IFP Gotham Awards winners:

Best Feature
Moonlight
Barry Jenkins, director; Adele Romanski, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, producers (A24)

Best Documentary
O.J.: Made in America
Ezra Edelman, director; Caroline Waterlow, Ezra Edelman, Tamara Rosenberg, Nina Krstic, Deirdre Fenton, Erin Leyden, producers (ESPN Films)

Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award
Trey Edward Shults for Krisha (A24)

Best Screenplay
Moonlight, Story by Tarell Alvin McCraney; Screenplay by Barry Jenkins (A24)

Best Actor*
Casey Affleck in Manchester by the Sea (Amazon Studios)

Best Actress*
Isabelle Huppert in Elle (Sony Pictures Classics)

Breakthrough Actor*
Anya Taylor-Joy in The Witch (A24)

* The 2016 Best Actor/Best Actress and Breakthrough Actor nominating panels also voted to award a special Gotham Jury Award for ensemble performance to Moonlight, “in which actors at all levels of experience give outstanding performances that speak eloquently to one another both within and across each chapter of the story.” The awards will go to actors Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Alex Hibbert, André Holland, Jharrel Jerome, Janelle Monáe, Jaden Piner, Trevante Rhodes, and Ashton Sanders.

Breakthrough Series – Long Form

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Rachel Bloom & Aline Brosh McKenna, creators; Marc Webb, Rachel Bloom, Aline Brosh McKenna, Erin Ehrlich, executive producers (The CW)

Breakthrough Series – Short Form
Her Story, Jen Richards and Laura Zak, creators (herstoryshow.com)

Gotham Independent Film Audience Award
IFP members will determine the Gotham Independent Film Audience Award with nominees comprised of the 15 nominated films in the Best Feature, Best Documentary, and Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award categories. All IFP current, active members at the Individual Level and above will be eligible to vote.  Voting took place online from November 16th at 12:01 AM EST and concluded on November 23rd at 5:00 PM EST.

Moonlight

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