The 2025 Gotham Film Awards celebrated an evening of cinematic achievements, emotional speeches and surprise wins, with Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another starring Leonardo DiCaprio taking home the top prize for Best Feature. The film led the night with six nominations, but walked away with the top honor as its only win.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s personal moment
Accepting the Best Feature award, Anderson admitted that he “didn’t expect this,” adding that he had begun to wonder what was going wrong as his film missed out in other categories. The ceremony’s December 1 date also holds personal significance: he wished longtime partner Maya Rudolph a happy anniversary, saying, “Twenty-four years ago I met a woman who made me a better filmmaker.”
Jafar Panahi dominates the night
Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi made headlines in Iran with his film It Was Just an Accident, winning all three of his nominations, Best International Feature, Best Original Screenplay and Best Director, just hours after being sentenced in absentia to a year in prison in Iran.
During his speech, Panahi dedicated his awards to “independent filmmakers in Iran and around the world… who risk everything with their belief in truth and humanity.” Reflecting on the early student film he destroyed, he said, “I’m still here tonight,” expressing his gratitude for continuing his work.
Other major winners
My Father’s Shadow won both awards for which it was nominated: Breakthrough Director (Akinola Davis Jr.) and Outstanding Lead Performance, with Sophie Dorissou winning over actors such as Jennifer Lawrence, Ethan Hawke, and Amanda Seyfried. Wunmi Mosaku won the award for Outstanding Supporting Performance for Sinners, with Ryan Coogler accepting on her behalf. Abu Sangare won the Breakthrough Performer award for Souleymane Story.
special tribute honor
• Director Tribute: Noah Baumbach – Jay Kelly
• Mass Tribute: Caste of Sinners
• Spotlight Tribute: Tessa Thompson – Hedda
• Vanguard Tribute: Guillermo del Toro, Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein
• Musical tribute: Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman – sang Blue
• Visionary Tribute: Julia Roberts and Luca Guadagnino – After the Hunt
• Cultural Icon Tribute: Jeremy Allen White and Scott Cooper – Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
absolute competitive winner
best feature: one on one fight (winner)
Best International Feature: It Was Just an Accident (WINNER)
Best Documentary Feature:My Unwanted Friends: Part I, Last Trip to Moscow (WINNER)
best director:Jafar Panahi – It Was Just an Accident (WINNER)
decisive director: Akinola Davis Jr. – My Father’s Shadow (Winner)
Best Original Screenplay:Jafar Panahi – It Was Just an Accident (WINNER)
Best Adapted Screenplay:Pillion – Harry Lighton (winner),
excellent leadership performance:Sope Derisu – Shadow of My Father (WINNER),
excellent supporting performance:Wunmi Mosaku – Sinner (Winner)
Breakthrough Artist: Abu Sangare – Souleymane’s Story (Winner)
Also Read: Leonardo DiCaprio starrer One Battle After Another takes soft start at box office, eyes $21 million weekend
questions to ask
1. Who won the Best Feature award at Gotham Awards 2025?
Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another wins Best Feature at the 2025 Gotham Film Awards.
2. Which film won international awards at the Gotham Awards?
Jafar Panahi’s It Was Just an Accident won Best Director, Best International Feature and Best Original Screenplay.
3. Who won the Breakthrough and Lead Performance Award?
Akinola Davis Jr. won Breakthrough Director and Sope Dorisu won Outstanding Lead Performance for My Father’s Shadow.