The German actors Sandra Hülser (45, “Toni Erdmann”) and Franz Rogowski (37, “Undine”) came away empty-handed at the Gotham Awards on Monday evening (local time) in New York. Rogowski was nominated in the lead actor category for the relationship drama “Passages”, but lost to the American Lily Gladstone in the road movie “The Unknown Country”. Ten actors and actresses were in the running in the category.
Hülser had a chance at a Gotham trophy with her supporting role in the drama “The Zone of Interest.” Juliette Binoche (“Beloved Cook”), Penélope Cruz (“Ferrari”) and Ryan Gosling (“Barbie”) were also nominated in this category. The American Charles Melton won the award for his supporting role in the drama “May December” by director Todd Haynes.
In “The Zone of Interest” Hülser plays the wife of concentration camp commandant Rudolf Höß (Christian Friedel), who lives with his family in a luxurious house right next to the Auschwitz concentration camp.
The legal drama “Anatomy of a Case,” in which Sandra Hülser plays a writer who is accused of killing her husband in their home, won two prizes (for screenplay and best international film). French director Justine Triet’s drama was this year’s winning film at the Cannes Festival.
“Past Lives” was named “Best Film”.
The Best Film award was won by the romance “Past Lives,” the feature film debut of South Korean-Canadian filmmaker Celine Song. Several special prizes were awarded outside of the competition, including for “Killers of the Flower Moon”, “Barbie” and “Maestro”.
The Gotham Awards, which have been presented since 1991, are considered the start of the trophy season, which ends in March with the Oscars. Numerous stars attended the ceremony, including Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, Bradley Cooper, Carey Mulligan Margot Robbie, Greta Gerwig, Penélope Cruz and Natalie Portman.
A small group of critics and filmmakers decide on the awards. Previous Gotham Award winners that went on to win Oscars include films like “Moonlight,” “Spotlight,” “Birdman” and “Nomadland.”
