[Dispatch=Lee Myeong-ju Reporter] Director Lee Chang-dong's new film "Potential Love" has kicked off the American Academy race.

The Gotham Film Awards announced the list of nominees for the 36th ceremony through its website on the 28th (Korean time).

"Potential Love" received nominations in three categories. These include Outstanding International Feature Film, Outstanding Screenplay (Lee Chang-dong, Oh Jeong-mi), and Outstanding Performance (Jeon Do-yeon).

It did not enter the Outstanding Film category. This is because the category has separate guidelines allowing only American feature films with American participation.

Instead, it is aiming for Outstanding International Feature Film. "Potential Love" is competing against director Ryusuke Hamaguchi's "Suddenly, It's Gotten Worse" and director Sandra Wollner's "Everytime."

The Outstanding Performance category for which Jeon Do-yeon was nominated is fiercer than ever. Acting legends such as Julianne Moore ("The Debut") and Gillian Anderson ("What Happened in Camp Miasma") have been nominated together.

Unlike last year when "One Battle After Another" monopolized six category nominations, this year's ceremony is characterized by multiple works receiving nominations in major categories.

The films with the most category nominations include "Suddenly, It's Gotten Worse," "The Perfect Invitation" (Olivia Wilde), "That Night, to Clarissa" (Ari Eshiri, Chuko Eshiri), "La Gradiva" (Marin Atlant), and "Tender Loving Care" (Mike Leigh). Each received four category nominations.

The Gotham Awards is a ceremony that highlights works that transcend the boundaries of outstanding artistry and creativity. It is called a prelude to the American Academy Awards.

Beginning as an awards ceremony for independent films, it has expanded its nominee pool to include general films. Last year, director Park Chan-wook's "No Way Out" received nominations in three categories.

"Potential Love" tells the story of a laid-off worker couple and a documentary director couple whose lives become entangled through documentary production, confronting hidden desires.

It advanced to the competition section of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival and became the first Korean film to receive the Jury Prize. It also won awards at the Toronto International Film Festival and Mill Valley Film Festival.

Meanwhile, the Gotham Awards will be held in New York on the 30th of next month.

<Photo source=Netflix>