The NBR Awards Dinner took place Tuesday night in New York. You can check out photos from the event via WIREIMAGE here.

THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND's Forest Whitaker, THANK YOU FOR SMOKING director Jason Reitman and WATER director Deepa Mehta all received awards. Our own Peter Rice and Diana Loomis were kind enough to snap some shots of the event from a camera phone (admittedly a bit hazy -- but you get the idea). Deepa and Forest each.

Searchlight President Peter Rice also hosted a lunch Monday at the Four Seasons for Searchlight's NBR honorees. Many asked to meet Forest and congratulate him (apparently lining up to do so). Over 20 academy members attended as well as Jeffrey Lyons and others from the media.

The (previously announced) awards presented to Searchlight films were:

• Deepa Mehta: “Freedom of Expression” Award for WATER
• Forest Whitaker, "Best Actor" for THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND
• Jason Reitman, "Best First Film" for THANK YOU FOR SMOKING