Birdman, the existential black comedy that details the story of a forgotten Hollywood actor attempting to make a comeback, emerged as the big winner at the Gotham Awards on Monday, as Alejandro G. Iñarritu's masterpiece grabbed the best feature film award.

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The film's lead, Michael Keaton, meanwhile, won the award for best actor.

"I did this film for all of us that in our age are still wandering and questioning what...life is about,what's the point of all this," an emotional Iñarritu told the crown upon receiving the prize.

‎Birdman defeated the award's strongest candidate, Boyhood.

Observers noted that the awards night was actually a tightly-contested race.‎

While the Richard Linklater coming-of-age movie failed to win the top honors, it managed to bag the audience award.

Boyhood has just been honored with the best picture trophy at the New York Film Critics Circle earlier Monday.

Michael Keaton, meanwhile, outdid Ethan Hawke in the best actor category, thanks to his stirring performance as the beleaguered yet determined Riggan Thomson aiming to make a stunning comeback.

Julianne Moore's magnificent delivery as the Alzheimer's - stricken professor in Still Alice easily landed her the best actress trophy.

Laura Poitras' Citizenfour, which concerns Edward Snowden and the NSA spying scandal, solidified the film's image as the year's leading documentary after wining back-to-back, first at the New York Film Critics Circle, then at the Gotham.

The best feature prize is usually decided by a five-member critic. This year's included Jane Fonda and Jon Hamm.

Birdman's and Keaton's wins increased the film's potentials to win-or at least make to the nominations-of the Oscars, although Boyhood still remains a strong contender this awards season.

A highlight at the awards ceremony was Keaton's lines, who thanked the "fine folks at Gotham," saying "It's good to be back home," in reference to the fictional city of the same name, where his character Batman lived.

Keaton gained international fame for his dramatic rendition of Bruce Wayne / Batman in Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992).

TagsBirdman, Michael Keaton, gotham independent awards