A Night of Triumph at the 2025 Gotham Awards
The 2025 Gotham Awards, often considered a crucial bellwether for the upcoming Oscar race, delivered an unforgettable evening of celebration and recognition. Among the standout performances was One Battle After Another, which claimed the prestigious Best Feature award. This film, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, has been a consistent favorite in Oscar predictions since its release in September. It entered the awards night with six nominations but faced the possibility of being overlooked until the final moments.
Another major highlight of the evening was It Was Just an Accident, directed by Jafar Panahi. The film took home three awards, including Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Feature. Notably, Panahi received these honors while facing a sentencing in absentia in his native Iran for “propaganda activities.” The movie, which earned the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, explores the consequences of a small mishap that spirals into larger problems.
Key Winners and Categories
In addition to the top honors, several other films and individuals were recognized for their contributions:
- Harry Lighton won Best Adapted Screenplay for Pillion.
- Akinola Davies Jr. was honored as Best Breakthrough Director for My Father’s Shadow.
- My Undesirable Friends: Part I – Last Air in Moscow took home the Best Documentary Feature award.
The Gotham Awards also celebrated excellence in performance. Sopé Dìrísù won Best Lead Performance for My Father’s Shadow, while Wunmi Mosaku claimed the Best Supporting Performance award for Sinners. Abou Sangaré was awarded Best Breakthrough Performer for Souleymane’s Story.
Evolution of the Gotham Awards
Since 2021, the Gotham Awards have restructured their acting categories, moving from four traditional categories (lead actor and actress, supporting actor and actress) to two gender-neutral awards: Best Lead Performance and Best Supporting Performance. This shift reflects a broader trend toward inclusivity and modernization within the film industry.
The awards ceremony also featured a series of tributes recognizing the achievements of notable figures in the industry. These included:
- The Gotham Musical Tribute to Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman for Song Sung Blue.
- The Director Tribute to Noah Baumbach for Jay Kelly.
- The Spotlight Tribute to Tessa Thompson for Hedda.
- The Ensemble Tribute to the cast of Sinners.
- The Vanguard Tribute to Guillermo del Toro for Frankenstein.
- The Cultural Icon Tribute to Jeremy Allen White and Scott Cooper for Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere.
- The Visionary Tribute to Luca Guadagnino and Julia Roberts for After the Hunt.
Expanding Eligibility and Future Prospects
The Gotham Awards have also made significant changes to their eligibility criteria. Two years ago, they removed the $35 million budget cap, allowing major studio productions to compete alongside independent films. This move is expected to increase the diversity and scope of submissions, making the awards more representative of the current film landscape.
Despite the success of the 2025 Gotham Awards, some highly anticipated films, such as Marty Supreme and Is This Thing On?, were not ready in time for consideration. However, both are expected to be eligible for future events like the Golden Globes, Critics Choice, Actor Awards, and Oscars.
Complete Winners List
Here is the full list of winners across all 10 categories:
Best Feature
- Bugonia
- East of Wall
- Familiar Touch
- Hamnet
- If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
- Lurker
- [winner] One Battle After Another
- Sorry, Baby
- The Testament of Ann Lee
- Train Dreams
Best Director
- Mary Bronstein, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
- [winner] Jafar Panahi, It Was Just an Accident
- Kelly Reichardt, The Mastermind
- Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another
- Oliver Laxe, Sirât
Best Documentary Feature
- 2000 Meters to Andriivka
- BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions
- [winner] My Undesirable Friends: Part I – Last Air in Moscow
- The Perfect Neighbor
- Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk
Best International Feature
- [winner] It Was Just an Accident
- No Other Choice
- Nouvelle Vague
- Resurrection
- Sound of Falling
Best Adapted Screenplay
- No Other Choice, Park Chan-wook, Lee Kyoung-mi, Jahye Lee, and Don McKellar
- One Battle After Another, Paul Thomas Anderson
- [winner] Pillion, Harry Lighton
- Preparation for the Next Life, Martyna Majok
- Train Dreams, Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar
Best Original Screenplay
- If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, Mary Bronstein
- [winner] It Was Just an Accident, Jafar Panahi
- The Secret Agent, Kleber Mendonça Filho
- Sorry, Baby, Eva Victor
- Sound of Falling, Mascha Schilinski and Louise Peter
Best Lead Performance
- Jessie Buckley, Hamnet
- Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
- Lee Byung Hun, No Other Choice
- [winner] Sopé Dìrísù, My Father’s Shadow
- Ethan Hawke, Blue Moon
- Jennifer Lawrence, Die My Love
- Wagner Moura, The Secret Agent
- Josh O’Connor, The Mastermind
- Amanda Seyfried, The Testament of Ann Lee
- Tessa Thompson, Hedda
Best Supporting Performance
- Benicio del Toro, One Battle After Another
- Jacob Elordi, Frankenstein
- Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Sentimental Value
- Indya Moore, Father Mother Sister Brother
- [winner] Wunmi Mosaku, Sinners
- Adam Sandler, Jay Kelly
- Andrew Scott, Blue Moon
- Alexander Skarsgård, Pillion
- Stellan Skarsgård, Sentimental Value
- Teyana Taylor, One Battle After Another
Best Breakthrough Performer
- A$AP Rocky, Highest 2 Lowest
- Sebiye Behtiyar, Preparation for the Next Life
- Chase Infiniti, One Battle After Another
- [winner] Abou Sangaré, Souleymane’s Story
- Tonatiuh, Kiss of the Spider Woman
Best Breakthrough Director
- Constance Tsang, Blue Sun Palace
- Carson Lund, Eephus
- Sarah Friedland, Familiar Touch
- [winner] Akinola Davies Jr., My Father’s Shadow
- Harris Dickinson, Urchin
