Awards season is off to a promising start for Dear White People and Beyond the Lights. The art house films have both been nominated for Gotham Independent Film Awards, often recognized as the starting gun in the race to the Oscars.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw was recognized with a Best Actress nomination for her leading role in Beyond the Lights. The British beauty plays a rising pop star who, discontent with a life of fame, falls for a police officer with political ambitions (played by Nate Parker). Love & Basketball helmer Gina Prince-Bythewood directed the romantic drama.
Dear White People, one of the most talked-about indie films of the fall, scored two nominations: Breakthrough Director for Justin Simien, and Breakthrough Actor for Tessa Thompson. 
The Gotham Independent Film Awards will be handed out on December 1 at Cipriani Wall Street in Manhattan. For a complete list of nominees, click here.

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 (Photo: David Buchan/Getty Images for Westfield)