IndieWire has a story on the Gotham Award nominees. Eugene Hernandez clearly seems nonplussed by at least a few of the selections, stating that it's "a selection of films that may stun some observers" and then reporting that indieWire asked IFP Executive Director Michelle Byrd to "reiterate the criteria" for nomination. While I respect indieWire's attempt at so-called "objective" journalism, wouldn't it be so much more interesting for them to just come out and say what they really think instead of having us read between the lines? Hm. Perhaps an editorial is in the works?
Clearly, of the five nominees for Best Feature, a couple, maybe even three, seem out of place. Of course, which two or three depends on your definition of "independent film."
There will probably not be any disputes over the "indie cred" of the "Best Film Not Playing at a Theater Near You" nominees: Steve Barron's "Choking Man," Richard Wong's "Colma: The Musical," So Yong Kim's "In Between Days," Jake Clennell's "The Great Happiness Space: Tale of an Osaka Love Thief," and Goran Dukic's "Wristcutters: A Love Story." Congrats to the nominees.
UPDATE: IndieWire gets response from the indie (and indiewood) community and finds lots of questions and criticism.