Congratulations to Pariah director Dee Rees, who was named Breakthrough Director at last night's 21st Annual Gotham Independent Film Awards. 

The event proved to be a big night for Focus Features, whose other release Beginners (directed by Mike Mills) also pulled honors for Best Feature and Best Ensemble Performance.

As Tambay noted yesterday the ceremony, held at Cipriani Wall Street, streamed live on IFP's website and also counted Gun Hill Road's Harmony Santana, Steve James' The Interrupters, and Eric Strauss and Daniele Anastasion's The Redemption of General Butt Naked among the nominees.

 Rees, however, is the only one of the afforementioned to win. 

The full list of winners is as follows:

Best Feature: TIE: The Tree of Life, directed by Terrence Malick and Beginners, directed by Mike Mills

Best Documentary: Better This World, directed by Kelly Duane and Katie Galloway

Best Ensemble Performance: Beginners

Breakthrough Director: Dee Rees, Pariah

Breakthrough Actor: Felicity Jones, Like Crazy

Best Film Not Playing at a Theater Near You: Scenes of a Crime, directed by Blue Hadaegh & Grover Babcock

Audience Choice Award: Girlfriend, directed by Justin Lerner

Tambay is headed to chat with the cast and crew of Pariah as we speak, so expect comments on Dee's win, the upcoming theatrical release of the film, and much more.