Olivia Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, and Edward Norton appear in “The Invite” by Olivia Wilde, an official selection of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. (Courtesy of Sundance Institute)
Appreciation of independent film is a year-round activity at Sundance Institute, and we get especially excited when familiar titles are recognized with nominations as awards season rolls around. The Gotham Film & Media Institute announced nominations for their 36th annual awards today, and we were thrilled to find seven Institute-supported films among the nominees, spanning nine categories.
Among the nominees are six films that premiered earlier this year at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, including Fest award winners Josephine (U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic, Audience Award: U.S. Dramatic) and Filipiñana (World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Creative Vision). Also making an appearance on the list is Mad Bills to Pay (or Destiny, dile que no soy malo), which took home the NEXT Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast at the 2025 Festival.
Learn more about the Institute-supported nominees below, and mark your calendar for the awards ceremony on November 30 to see who takes home the prizes.
The Invite (2026 Sundance Film Festival) — Best Feature, Best Adapted Screenplay (Rashida Jones, Will McCormack), Outstanding Supporting Performance (Penélope Cruz), Gotham Audience Award
Josephine (Feature Film Program, 2026 Sundance Film Festival) — Best Feature, Outstanding Supporting Performance (Channing Tatum), Breakthrough Performer (Mason Reeves)
Filipiñana (2026 Sundance Film Festival) — Best International Feature
Closure (2026 Sundance Film Festival) — Best Documentary Feature
Once Upon a Time in Harlem (2026 Sundance Film Festival) — Best Documentary Feature
Mad Bills to Pay (or Destiny, dile que no soy malo) (2025 Sundance Film Festival) — Breakthrough Director (Joel Alfonso Vargas)
The Only Living Pickpocket in New York (2026 Sundance Film Festival) — Outstanding Lead Performance (John Turturro)
