A Night of Triumphs at the 2025 Gotham Awards
The 35th annual Gotham Awards, held in Manhattan, celebrated a night of cinematic achievements and honors. Among the standout winners was Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, which took home the prestigious Best Feature award. This marked Anderson’s first Gotham Award, following his fourth career nomination. The film, which follows a group of ex-revolutionaries as their archenemy resurfaces after 16 years, features an ensemble cast including Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, and Benecio Del Toro. The movie has already crossed the $200 million worldwide box office threshold.
Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi emerged as a major winner, with his Palme d’Or-winning film It Was Just An Accident claiming both Best International Feature and Best Director. Additionally, Panahi received the Best Original Screenplay award for the film. His victories came just hours after he was convicted in absentia by Iran and sentenced to one year in prison and two years of probation. In his acceptance speech, Panahi dedicated the awards to independent filmmakers around the world, expressing hope that this tribute would honor those who have been deprived of the right to see and be seen but continue to create and exist.
Celebrating Excellence in Film
Another notable win came from Sopé Dìrísù, who received the Outstanding Lead Performance award for My Father’s Shadow. The semi-autobiographical film, which is the UK’s official Oscar submission for International Feature, tells the story of two young brothers exploring Lagos with their estranged father during the 1993 Nigerian election crisis. Akinola Davies Jr. won Breakthrough Director for the same film. Although Dìrísù was unable to attend, Davies accepted the award on his behalf.
Wunmi Mosaku was honored with the Outstanding Supporting Performance award for her role in Sinners, a horror film directed by Ryan Coogler. However, she was not present to accept the award, so Coogler stepped in to collect it on her behalf.
Harry Pillion, the writer-director of Pillion, won Best Adapted Screenplay for the gay biker drama. The film, acquired by A24 before its Cannes premiere, also won Best Film at the British Independent Film Awards. Another highlight of the evening was the Best Documentary Feature award, which went to My Undesirable Friends: Part I – Last Air in Moscow. This documentary about independent journalists declared “foreign agents” by Vladimir Putin’s regime previously won the Indie Film Site Network Advocate Award.
Abou Sangaré received the Breakthrough Performer prize for his role in Souleymane’s Story, a film that won the Jury Prize at the Un Certain Regard sidebar of Cannes. The movie, starring Sangaré as a Guinean immigrant struggling to stay afloat in Paris, showcases the challenges faced by immigrants in a foreign land.
Tribute Awards and Expanding Horizons
Tribute awards were also presented during the event, honoring industry leaders and influential figures. Luca Guadagnino and Julia Roberts received the Visionary Tribute for After The Hunt, while Noah Baumbach was recognized with the Director Tribute for Jay Kelly. The cast of Sinners received the Ensemble Tribute, and Guillermo del Toro, Oscar Isaac, and Jacob Elordi were honored with the Vanguard Tribute for Frankenstein.
The Gotham Awards expanded their Best Feature category this year, increasing the number of nominees from five to ten. With over 40 features and 25 performances nominated across 10 categories, the event continues to celebrate diverse voices in cinema. While traditionally focused on independent films, the organization removed budget caps in 2023, allowing larger studio films to participate as well.
Full Winners List
Here are the winners at the 2025 Gotham Awards:
- Best Feature: One Battle After Another – Paul Thomas Anderson, Sara Murphy, Adam Somner (Warner Bros. Pictures)
- Best Director: Jafar Panahi – It Was Just An Accident (Neon)
- Outstanding Lead Performance: Sopé Dìrísù – My Father’s Shadow (Mubi)
- Outstanding Supporting Performance: Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures)
- Breakthrough Performer: Abou Sangaré – Souleymane’s Story (Kino Lorber)
- Best Documentary Feature: My Undesirable Friends: Part I – Last Air in Moscow – Julia Loktev, director; Julia Loktev, producer (self-distributed)
- Breakthrough Director: Akinola Davies Jr. – My Father’s Shadow (Mubi)
- Best International Feature: It Was Just An Accident – Philippe Martin, Jafar Panahi, producers (Neon)
- Best Adapted Screenplay: Pillion – Harry Lighton (A24)
- Best Original Screenplay: It Was Just An Accident – Jafar Panahi (Neon)
Additional Highlights
The Gotham Awards Red Carpet featured numerous celebrities and industry professionals, offering a glimpse into the excitement surrounding the event. Guillermo del Toro made headlines when he criticized AI while accepting the Vanguard Tribute for Frankenstein, praising the film as “willfully made by humans, for humans.” The ceremony once again set the tone for the upcoming awards season, highlighting the importance of storytelling and artistic excellence in cinema.
