PENELOPE CRUZ dazzled on the red carpet at the Gotham Awards in New York on Tuesday (02Dec08) night, and walked away with an award for her role in Woody Allen movie VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA.

Cruz joined a star-studded guest list including Ethan Hawke, Gus Van Sant, Patricia Clarkson, Marisa Tomei and Amy Adams at the celebration of independent cinema.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona, which starred Cruz, Scarlett Johansson, and Javier Bardem, shared the Best Ensemble Performance prize with Synecdoche, New York, which has a cast-list including Philip Seymour Hoffman and Catherine Keener.

The Spanish actress was also one of four movie icons honoured at the bash, picking up a tribute prize, alongside other honorees Van Sant, Melvin Van Peebles and HBO boss Sheila Nevins

Elsewhere, the Best Feature prize went to Frozen River, and its star Melissa Leo won the Breakthrough Actor award.

Lance Hammer won Breakthrough Director for Ballast, and Trouble The Water won Best Documentary.