The showbiz satire Birdman won best film at the Gotham Independent Film Awards, along with best actor for its star, Michael Keaton.

The annual Gotham gala, held Monday night in downtown New York, was the first glitzy gathering in Hollywood's three-month-long awards season. Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's Birdman (Or the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) emerged as the night's top winner.

Uma Thurman hosted the non-televised event to honour independent film with awards picked by panels of critics and film writers.

Julianne Moore took best actress for her performance as a middle-aged woman with early onset Alzheimer's in "Still Alice."

The wrestling drama "Foxcatcher" was honored for its ensemble cast, as well as a career tribute for its director, Bennett Miller.

Richard Linklater's coming-of-age tale "Boyhood" won the Gotham's audience award.