Queer Films and Actors Nab Gotham Awards Nominations!

Pictured: The Stars of 'Tangerine'

A handful of queer films and actors have seen their profiles dramatically increase after the nominations for the 25th annual Gotham Independent Film Awards were announced this morning.

Seeing a terrific boost was the shot-on-an-iPhone film, Tangerine, which bagged a best feature nomination along with both its stars, trans actresses Mya Taylor and Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, being nominated for breakthrough actor.

Carol, starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara and directed by queer auteur Todd Haynes, also nabbed a best feature nomination, along with a screenplay nomination and Blanchett being nominated for best actress.

Lily Tomlin was recognized for her hilarious, sublime, and biting performance in this summer's sleeper hit, Grandma. Desiree Akhavan (last seen on Girls' season 4 Iowa Writers Workshop scenes!) even managed to pick up a breakthrough director nomination for her little seen, yet totally fabulous, film Appropriate Behavior.

These films still have a long ways to go if they want to gain some Oscar traction, but this is definitely a terrific start for seeing queer films and actors recognized!

Here's the full list of nominees (and we've put and asterisk by queer-related favorites):

BEST FEATURE

*Carol

The Diary of a Teenage Girl

Heaven Knows What

Spotlight

*Tangerine

BEST ACTOR

Christopher Abbott, James White

Kevin Corrigan, Results

Paul Dano, Love & Mercy

Peter Sarsgaard, Experimenter

Michael Shannon, 99 Homes

BEST ACTRESS

*Cate Blanchett, Carol

Blythe Danner, I'll See You in My Dreams

Brie Larson, Room

Bel Powley, The Diary of a Teenage Girl

*Lily Tomlin, Grandma

Kristen Wiig, Welcome to Me

BEST DOCUMENTARY

Approaching the Elephant

Cartel Land

Heart of a Dog

Listen to Me Marlon

The Look of Silence

BINGHAM RAY BREAKTHROUGH DIRECTOR AWARD

*Desiree Akhavan, Appropriate Behavior

Jonas Carpigano, Mediterranea

Marielle Heller, The Diary of a Teenage Girl

John Magary, The Mend

*Josh Mond, James White

BREAKTHROUGH ACTOR

Rory Culkin, Gabriel

Arielle Holmes, Heaven Knows What

Lola Kirke, Mistress America

*Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Tangerine

*Mya Taylor, Tangerine

BEST SCREENPLAY

*Carol, Phyllis Nagy

The Diary of a Teenage Girl, Marielle Heller

Love & Mercy, Oren Moverman and Michael Alan Lerner

Spotlight, Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer

While We're Young, Noah Baumbach

SPOTLIGHT ON WOMEN DIRECTORS 'LIVE THE DREAM' GRANT

Claire Carre, director, Embers

Deb Shoval, director, AWOL

Chanelle Aponte Pearson, director, 195 Lewis