Three films dominated the 34th annual Gotham Independent Film Awards Monday night, with Aaron Schimberg’s dark comedy psychological thriller "A Different Man" winning Best Feature while "Nickel Boys" and "Sing Sing" each won two competitive awards.

"A Different Man" tells the story of an aspiring actor (Sebastian Stan) who suffers from the medical condition neurofibromatosis, which causes severe facial disfigurements. A novel medical procedure changes his appearance, but his new look does not bring him the joy or success he was hoping for. The film co-stars Renate Reinsve and Adam Pearson, an actor with neurofibromatosis.

RaMell Ross won Best Director for his feature directorial debut "Nickel Boys." The historical drama is an adaptation of the 2019 novel of the same name by Colson Whitehead, which centers on two African American boys who are sent to an abusive reform school in 1960s Florida. The novel was inspired by the real-life Dozier School for Boys, a reform school in Florida that was notorious for its abusive treatment of students.

Ethan Herisse and Brandon Wilson star as the two students, with Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Hamish Linklater, Fred Hechinger, and Daveed Diggs in supporting roles. Wilson won the film's second award of the night in the category Breakthrough Performer. Previous winners of this award include Amy Adams, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Michael B. Jordan, and Timothée Chalamet, among others who went on to have highly successful film careers.

Unlike many other awarding bodies, the Gotham Film & Media Institute does not differentiate between male and female performances in its acting categories. Ten actors and actresses earned nominations for Outstanding Lead Performance, and Colman Domingo won the big prize for his performance in "Sing Sing." His co-star Clarence Maclin, who was incarcerated at Sing Sing Correctional Facility for more than a decade, won the award for Outstanding Supporting Performance.

Directed by Greg Kwedar, "Sing Sing" follows a group of incarcerated men who participate in theatrical shows at Sing Sing through a program similar to the real-life Rehabilitation Through the Arts program. Maclin is an alum of the program, and today he serves as a youth counselor trying to steer young men toward the creative arts rather than criminal activities.

Other films that won prizes include "His Three Daughters," which won the award for Best Screenplay. Screenwriter Azazel Jacobs took home the first prize of the night for his film that stars two actresses familiar to Broadway Stages – Natasha Lyonne ("Poker Face") and Carrie Coon "The Gilded Age."

"All We Imagine as Light," directed by Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia, won Best International Feature. Best Documentary Feature went to "No Other Land," directed by Palestinian-Israeli activists Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham, and Rachel Szor in their directorial debut. The award for Breakthrough Director went to filmmaker Vera Drew for the superhero parody "The People’s Joker." Previous winners of this award include Darren Aronofsky, Ryan Coogler, and Jordan Peele.

Despite entering the evening with the most nominations, Sean Baker's Palme d'Or winner "Anora" came up empty-handed in all four categories in which it was nominated.

Each year the Gotham Film & Media Institute also presents tribute awards to honor visionary talent in front of and behind the camera. This year's recipients included Angelina Jolie, Denis Villeneuve, Zendaya, Timothée Chalamet and James Mangold for "A Complete Unknown," the cast of "The Piano Lesson," the cast of "Sing Sing," and Franklin Leonard and his company The Black List.

The Gotham Film & Media Institute is a New York-based nonprofit that celebrates and nurtures independent film and media creators, providing career-building resources, access to industry influencers, and pathways to wider recognition.

Congratulations to all winners and nominees!