On Thursday, the Gotham Awards will announce its annual nominations.

The IFP Awards are one of the first precursor awards of the season which focuses on independent awards. However, it is not the best Oscar prognosticator.

The awards ceremony has six categories and an audience award that is chosen by IFP members. The Best Picture category is the one most pundits will be looking out for, as it usually contains at least one future Best Picture nominee. However, the Gotham Awards, which are run by a New York organization, are never the best predictors of the eventual Best Picture winner. The organization usually likes to award a New York-based picture.

As matter of fact, the last time a Best Picture Oscar winner won the Gotham was in 2009, when "The Hurt Locker" took the top prize. Last year, "12 Years a Slave" was nominated but eventually lost to "Inside Llewyn Davis."

As noted, the Gotham Awards reward independent films, which means a number of this year's Best Picture contenders which were produced by the studios will not make the cut. The guidelines to be nominated state that it must be an American feature and it should be directed by a U.S.-born or based filmmaker. They also state that it had to be made with an economy of means. The American rule puts into question "Birdman," which was partially funded by America and is directed by Mexican-born Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, as well as "The Grand Budapest Hotel" and "Only Lovers Left Alive," which were co-productions with the U.K. and Germany, as well as the U.S.

"Wild" was directed by Canadian born Jean-Marc Vallee, which may hurt its chances.

As a result of the American rule, "Mr. Turner," "The Imitation Game," "The Theory of Everything" and "Snowpiercer" will be completely eliminated.

"Gone Girl," "Inherent Vice," "American Sniper" and "Unbroken" will also most likely be disqualified since they were made through a studio.

However, this rule can sometimes be blurred as in 2006, "The Departed" was nominated and in 2011 "The Tree of Life," which had a production budget of $32 million, won the Best Picture award.

There are, however, a number of films that will most likely be nominated, including the Sundance winner "Whiplash," "The Skeleton Twins," "Listen Up Philip," "A Most Violent Year" and "Foxcatcher."

Two categories that Oscar pundits will definitely look out for will be the acting categories, which were established last year. The Gothams handed Matthew McConaughey his first precursor before he won an Oscar for "Dallas Buyers Club." Cate Blanchett was also nominated, but she was dethroned by Brie Larson, who won for her role in the indie hit "Short Term 12."

This year, the Gothams could preview the acting races once again and a number of actors could get nominated. In the Best Actress race, expect Jessica Chastain to get nominated for "A Most Violent Year," as well as Reese Witherspoon for "Wild" and Julianne Moore for "Still Alice." Keira Knightley could even turn up for her role in "Laggies" or the beloved "Begin Again."

In the Best Actor race, expect Steve Carell to be nominated for "Foxcatcher," as well as Michael Keaton for "Birdman" and Ralph Fiennes for "The Grand Budapest Hotel." John Lithgow and Alfred Molina could surprise by being shortlisted for their work in "Love is Strange."

The Gotham Awards may not be the best precursors, but it definitely raves anticipation for awards season and creates buzz for a number of unknown films.

Previous winners include "Inside Llewyn Davis," "Moonrise Kingdom," "Beginners," "The Tree of Life" and "Winter's Bone."

The Gotham Awards will honor Steve Carell and Tilda Swinton this year and the awards will handed out on Dec. 1.

FOR MORE MOVIE AND ENTERTAINMENT NEWS, CLICK ON THIS LINK TO VISIT LATIN POST.COM'S ENTERTAINMENT PAGE

Related