See the Movies Nominated For the First Big Awards of the Season

Awards season is officially upon us, marked by the announcement of the nominees for the 25th Annual IFP Gotham Independent Film Awards. The IFP prides itself on holding the first major film honors of the year and being the first stop on the road to the Oscars, and because they're held so early they can have an influence on everything that comes after.

The Gotham nominations give us the initial look at what movies and performances are actually in contention for being named the best of 2015. Here's a simple guide to what's up for what and where and when you can see them for yourself:

Best Feature

Carol
Directed by Todd Haynes
Produced by Elizabeth Karlsen, Tessa Ross, Christine Vachon and Stephen Woolley
Distributed by the Weinstein Company
Festival win: Queer Palm at the Cannes Film Festival
Theatrical release: November 20, 2015

The Diary of a Teenage Girl
Directed by Marielle Heller
Produced by Anne Carey, Bert Hamelinck, Madeline Samit and Miranda Bailey
Distributed by Sony Pictures Classics
Festival win: Grand Prix of the Generation 14plus International Jury at the Berlin Film Festival
Home video release: December 2015

Heaven Knows What
Directed by Josh and Benny Safdie
Produced by Oscar Boyson and Sebastian Bear-McClard
Distributed by RADiUS
Festival win: C.I.C.A.E. Award at the Venice Film Festival
Now available on: DVD, Blu-ray, iTunes, Amazon Instant Video and more

Spotlight
Directed by Tom McCarthy
Produced by Michael Sugar, Steve Golin, Nicole Rocklin and Blye Pagan Faust
Distributed by Open Road Films
Festival win: Brian Award and Silver Mouse at the Venice Film Festival
Theatrical release: November 6, 2015

Tangerine
Directed by Sean Bake
Produced by Darren Dean, Shih-Ching Tsou, Marcus Cox and Karrie Cox
Distributed by Magnolia Pictures
Festival win: Stanley Kubrick Award at the Traverse City Film Festival
Home video release: November 10, 2015

Best Documentary

Approaching the Elephant
Directed by Amanda Rose Wilder
Produced by Jay Craven, Robert Greene and Amanda Rose Wilder
Distributed by Kingdom County Productions
Festival win: Emerging Cinematic Vision Award at the Camden International Film Festival
Now streaming on Netflix

Cartel Land
Directed by Matthew Heineman
Produced by Matthew Heineman and Tom Yellin
Distributed by The Orchard and A&E IndieFilms
Festival wins: Directing Award and Cinematography Award at the Sundance Film Festival
Now available on DVD, iTunes, Amazon Instant Video and more

Heart of a Dog
Directed by Laurie Anderson
Produced by Dan Janvey and Laurie Anderson
Distributed by Abramorama and HBO Documentary Films
Festival win: Lina Mangiacapre Award at the Venice Film Festival
Now playing in limited release

Listen to Me Marlon
Directed by Stevan Riley
Produced by John Battsek, RJ Cutler and George Chignell
Distributed by Showtime Documentary Films
Festival win: Founders Prize for Best Film at the Traverse City Film Festival
Awaiting home video release

The Look of Silence
Directed by Joshua Oppenheimer
Produced by Signe Byrge Sørensen
Distributed by Drafthouse Films
Festival wins: Grand Special Jury Prize, FIPRESCI Prize, Golden Mouse, Fedeora Award and Human Rights Film Network Award at the Venice Film Festival
Now playing in limited release

Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award

Marielle Heller
For The Diary of a Teenage Girl
Distributed by Sony Pictures Classics
Home video release: December 2015

Desiree Akhavan
For Appropriate Behavior
Distributed by Gravitas Ventures
Now available on DVD, iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, Cinemax On Demand and more
Read: our interview with Akhavan

Jonas Carpigano
For Mediterranea
Distributed by Sundance Selects
Theatrical release: November 20, 2015

John Magary
For The Mend
Distributed by Cinelicious Pics
Available on iTunes, Amazon Instant Video and more

Josh Mond
For James White
Distributed by the Film Arcade
Festival win: Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival
Theatrical release: November 13, 2015

Best Screenplay

Carol
Written by Phyllis Nagy
Distributed by the Weinstein Company
Theatrical release: November 20, 2015

The Diary of a Teenage Girl
Written by Marielle Heller
Distributed by Sony Pictures Classics
Home video release: December 2015

Love & Mercy
Written by Oren Moverman and Michael Alan Lerner
Distributed by Roadside Attractions, Lionsgate, and River Road Entertainment
Now available on DVD, Blu-ray iTunes, Amazon Instant Video and more

Spotlight
Written by Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer
Distributed by Open Road Films
Theatrical release: November 6, 2015

While We’re Young
Written by Noah Baumbach
Distributed by A24
Now available on DVD, Blu-ray, iTunes, Amazon Instant Video and more

Best Actor

Christopher Abbott
In James White
Distributed by The Film Arcade
Theatrical release: November 13, 2015

Kevin Corrigan
In Results
Distributed by Magnolia Pictures
Now streaming on Netflix and available on DVD, Blu-ray, iTunes, Amazon Instant Video and more

Paul Dano
In Love & Mercy
Distributed by Roadside Attractions, Lionsgate, and River Road Entertainment
Now available on DVD, Blu-ray iTunes, Amazon Instant Video and more

Peter Sarsgaard
In Experimenter
Distributed by Magnolia Pictures
Now playing in limited release and available on iTunes, Amazon Instant Video and more

Michael Shannon
In 99 Homes
Distributed by Broad Green Pictures
Now playing in limited release

Best Actress

Blythe Danner
In I'll See You In My Dreams
Distributed by Bleecker Street
Now available on DVD, Blu-ray, iTunes, Amazon Instant Video and more

Cate Blanchett
In Carol
Distributed by the Weinstein Company
Theatrical release: November 20, 2015

Brie Larson
In Room
Distributed by A24 Films
Now playing in limited release

Lily Tomlin
In Grandma
Distributed by Sony Pictures Classics
Now playing in limited release

Bel Powley
In The Diary of a Teenage Girl
Distributed by Sony Pictures Classics
Home video release: December 2015

Kristen Wiig
In Welcome to Me
Distributed by Alchemy
Now available on DVD, Blu-ray, iTunes, Amazon Instant Video and more

Breakthrough Actor

Rory Culkin
In Gabriel
Distributed by Oscilloscope Laboratories
Now streaming on Amazon Prime and available on iTunes

Arielle Holmes
In Heaven Knows What
Distributed by RADiUS
Now available on: DVD, Blu-ray, iTunes, Amazon Instant Video and more

Lola Kirke
In Mistress America
Distributed by Fox Searchlight Pictures
Awaiting home video release

Kitana Kiki Rodriguez
In Tangerine
Distributed by Magnolia Pictures
Home video release: November 10, 2015

Mya Taylor
In Tangerine
Distributed by Magnolia Pictures
Home video release: November 10, 2015