Renner nomination

It's not quite as well known as the Academy Awards. Or the Golden Globes. But the Gotham Independent Film Awards has kicked off what might be a rousing film award season for Modesto native Jeremy Renner.

Both Renner and his megabuzz-spawning film, "The Hurt Locker," were nominated for the awards from the New York-based Independent Filmmaker Project, the nation's oldest and largest organization of indie filmmakers.

"Hurt Locker" is up for best feature with "Big Fan," "Amreeka," "The Maid" and "A Serious Man"; and Renner for "breakthrough actor" alongside Ben Foster ("The Messenger"), Patton Oswalt ("Big Fan"), Catalina Saavedra ("The Maid") and Soulemane Sy Savane ("Goodbye Solo"). "Hurt Locker" director Kathryn Bigelow is among those receiving tributes at the ceremony Nov. 30 in New York City.