Pete Ross

Akinola Davis sees himself as part of a new generation of British filmmakers.

We're able to make films that reflect ourselves from an honest point of view.

I think they're really important for all the communities here in the UK.

And one film getting considerable early awards season attention is the Norwegian picture Sentimental Value.

Seen as a perceptive and finely crafted family drama with strong acting, it's expected to feature prominently in pre-Oscar contests.

At the Gotham Awards in New York this week, originally set up to honour independent cinema, the picture It Was Just an Accident, a revenge drama from Iranian director Jafar Panahi, was the big winner, taking home three awards.

The dissident filmmaker has spent time in jail in Iran for propaganda against the state and now faces a new sentence.

His film was made in secret.

But it was the latest work of an independent-minded American director, Paul Thomas Anderson, with his picture One Battle After Another, that took home the top Best Feature Film trophy at the Gotham Awards.

This action movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio, laden with political and social satire, is one of the most critically praised films of the year.

And at this stage, most Oscar prognosticators view it as the Academy Awards frontrunner.

Tom Brook And that's all from us for now, but there will be a new edition of the Global News Podcast later.

The editor is Karen Martin.

I'm Pete Ross.

Until next time, goodbye.