Filmmaker Ava DuVernay (Best Feature) and actress Emayatzy Corinealdi (Breakthrough Actor) both received Gotham Independent Film Award nominations for their work on "Middle of Nowhere."

Corinealdi will see competition in that category from Quvenzhané Wallis, who made waves with her performance in "Beasts Of The Southern Wild."

According to Shadow and Act, this may be the first time that two Black actresses were nominated in that category in the same year.

Shareeka Epps was nominated in 2006, for "Half Nelson." She split the win with Rinko Kikuchi.

Before that, Yolonda Ross won in 2001 for "Stranger Inside."