Awards season underway with Gothams, where 'Get Out' was one of the big winners

— -- The march to the Academy Awards continues with the small but mighty Gotham Awards, where some early favorites took home prizes Monday night in New York City.

"Get Out," the social thriller by comedian Jordan Peele, picked up multiple awards, including best screenplay, breakthrough director and the audience award. But "Call Me by Your Name," a gay love story set in 1980s Italy, won the top prize for best feature.

Now in their 27th year, the Gothams have grown from just recognizing small films to career tributes and television and acting awards. The Gothams have also earned a spot on the awards season trail after launching three previous Gotham winners -- "Birdman," "Spotlight" and "Moonlight" -- all the way to the best picture prize at the Oscars.

Given that kind of track record, here are five trends from the Gotham Awards to watch for as the awards season officially gets underway:

'Get Out'

Since "Get Out" became one of the biggest runaway hits of 2017, Peele has made it clear that his film is more than a horror movie -- a genre that does not typically resonate with Oscar voters. "The movie is truth. The thing that resonated to people is truth. For me, it's more of a historical biopic," he told Stephen Colbert on "The Late Show." Also giving the film gravitas is a new UCLA film course, taught by acclaimed novelist Tananarive Due, that was created around the film and the issues it raises.

'Call Me by Your Name'

This recently released film by Luca Guadagnino, starring Armie Hammer and Timothee Chalamet as lovers who meet in 1980s Italy, has become the darling of critics. In one of his first roles, Chalamet is being touted as a breakthrough star. Picking up the top prize at the Gothams ensures that the film will get some early Oscar buzz.

Saoirse Ronan

After picking up the best actress prize on Monday for playing a high school senior eager to escape her hometown in "Lady Bird," Ronan, who has twice been nominated for an Oscar, looks to pick up a third nomination for her role in the Gerta Gerwig-written and directed film.

James Franco

It's been a while since Franco has been to the Oscars, either as a nominee or in his ill-fated turn as host. But this year, he's gaining momentum for his performance as Tommy Wiseau, the actor-director of the cult 2003 film "The Room." Earning the Gotham award for best actor has made him a likely contender.

Sexual misconduct scandals

Just like at the Hollywood Film Awards and the Governor's Awards, two other stops on the road to Oscars earlier this month, there was little or no mention of the sexual misconduct scandals that have embroiled Hollywood. This could be the playbook Hollywood uses to get through the rest of the awards season.