At the 35th annual Gotham Awards, held on December 1, 2025, at Cipriani Wall Street, “One Battle After Another” took home the coveted Best Feature award. This event marked the start of what promises to be an exciting awards season. Director Paul Thomas Anderson expressed his gratitude to his wife, Maya Rudolph, during his acceptance speech, noting how she has enriched his filmmaking journey.
Notable Moments from the Gotham Awards
The ceremony featured numerous high-profile appearances. While some of the Oscar contenders like “Hamnet” and “Bugonia” left without awards, international films such as “My Father’s Shadow” and “Souleymane’s Story” distinguished themselves with significant wins.
Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds’ Fun Rivalry
One of the highlights of the night was the musical tribute by Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson. The duo performed Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline,” which playfully ignited jealousy in Jackman’s “Deadpool” co-star, Ryan Reynolds. Jackman humorously remarked that this performance would leave Reynolds “insanely jealous.” He also praised Hudson’s talent, predicting she would earn an Oscar nomination for her role.
Cinema and Social Commentary
Guillermo del Toro received the Vanguard Tribute for his film “Frankenstein,” where he passionately rejected the influence of AI in filmmaking. He emphasized the significance of human creativity in cinema, thanking his diverse cast, which included Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi. Isaac highlighted the importance of immigrant contributions to the industry, quoting a famous line from “Hamilton.”
A Tribute to Perseverance
The most awarded film of the night was “It Was Just an Accident,” which won three prizes, including Best Director for Jafar Panahi. Panahi’s win was especially poignant as he was sentenced to prison in absentia in Iran for his dissenting views. While accepting the award, he dedicated it to independent filmmakers worldwide, stressing the importance of their work in the face of adversity.
2025 Gotham Awards Winners
| Award Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best Feature | One Battle After Another |
| Best Director | Jafar Panahi, It Was Just an Accident |
| Outstanding Lead Performance | Sope Dirisu, My Father’s Shadow |
| Outstanding Supporting Performance | Wunmi Mosaku, Sinners |
| Best Original Screenplay | It Was Just an Accident |
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Pillion |
| Best International Feature | It Was Just an Accident |
| Best Documentary Feature | My Undesirable Friends: Part I – Last Air in Moscow |
| Breakthrough Director | Akinola Davies Jr., My Father’s Shadow |
| Breakthrough Performer | Abou Sangaré, Souleymane’s Story |
| Cultural Icon Tribute | Jeremy Allen White and Scott Cooper, Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere |
| Director Tribute | Noah Baumbach, Jay Kelly |
| Ensemble Tribute | The cast of Sinners |
| Musical Tribute | Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson, Song Sung Blue |
| Spotlight Tribute | Tessa Thompson, Hedda |
| Vanguard Tribute | Guillermo del Toro, Oscar Isaac, and Jacob Elordi, Frankenstein |
| Visionary Tribute | Luca Guadagnino and Julia Roberts, After the Hunt |
