Jesse Eisenberg,the young co-star of Roger Dodger, Judy Marte and Victor Rasuk from Raising Victor Vargas, and Paul Schneider from All The RealGirls are among thenominees for Breakthrough Actor Award at this year's IFP Gotham Awards.

Others vying forthe honour, which was won last year by Maggie Gyllenhaal for her acclaimedperformance in Secretary, are Bobby Cannavale for The Station Agent and Lee Pace for Soldier's Girl.

Nominees for theOpen Palm Award for Outstanding Directorial Debut go to Tom McCarthy for TheStation Agent, PeterSollett for Raising Victor Vargas, Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini for AmericanSplendor, Alfredo DeVilla for Washington Heights, Dylan Kidd for Roger Dodger, and Peter Hedges for Pieces Of April.

Previous winners in the directing categoryinclude Eric Earson for Manito and John Cameron Mitchell for Hedwig And The Angry Inch.

The awards willbe presented at the 13th Annual IFP Gotham Awards Gala in New York on Sept 22.

'This year's nomineesfor the Breakthrough Actor and Open Palm Awards epitomise the kind of talentthat the IFP encourages and champions,' Michelle Byrd, executive directorof IFP/New York, said in a statement.

'The actors, inparticular, reflect the diversity of young talent that breathes fresh life intocharacters we don't frequently see on the screen.

'This year's Open Palmnominees demonstrate that independent films remain a vibrant space in whichfilm-makers can push the boundaries of creative expression andstorytelling.'

This year's jury comprisesdirectors Michael Almereyda (Hamlet)and Nancy Savoca (True Love) andVariety journalist David Rooney.