The movie awards season is open, with the first gongs being handed out as the film industry starts the long run-up to the Oscars in February. LGBT films are already off to a great start, with the 21st annual Gotham Independent Awards making the surprise choice of handing the Best Picture award to Beginners, in a tie with The Tree Of Life.

The movie, about an older man (Christopher Plummer) who comes out as gay after the death of his wife, and how that affects his family, was also given the Best Ensemble Performance Award.

Pariah, a powerful drama about a black lesbian teenager struggling with coming out to her family, saw helmer Dee Rees named Breakthrough Director.

LGBT movies also made a decent showing in the nominations for the Independent Spirit Awards, which were announced yesterday, with Beginners picking up four nominations (Best Feature, Director, Screenplay, Supporting Actor), Pariah two (Best low budget first feature, Best Lead Performance), and one nomination apiece for Circumstance, Gun Hill Road and the AIDS documentary, We Were Here.

There was some surprise though that Glenn Close didn’t get a nomination for Albert Nobbs, in which she plays a woman living as a man in 19th Century Ireland, although Janet McTeer was recognised in the Best Supporting Performance category. However, many are still tipping Close for an Oscar nom.

While these early awards have focussed on independent movies, it’s thought Clint Eastwood’s J. Edgar may also pick up some nominations in the more mainstream awards.

The Independent Spirit Awards will be handed out on February 25th, the day before the Oscars.