Lyrical Muse

The 2025 Gotham Film Awards launched the winter awards stretch on Monday night with a brisk, politically charged ceremony that put independent filmmaking at the center of the national conversation. Held at New York’s Cipriani Wall Street, the event delivered one of its most unpredictable slates in recent memory and set an early tone for the season with a decisive sweep.

Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another ultimately claimed Best Feature, emerging from a crowded field after the Gothams expanded the category to 10 nominees. But the night’s momentum shifted toward Jafar Panahi, whose It Was Just an Accident dominated every race it entered and turned the filmmaker’s ongoing political turmoil into the ceremony’s emotional core.

Panahi — sentenced to a year in prison in Iran only hours before the show — appeared via translator to accept Best Original Screenplay. He dedicated the honor to “independent filmmakers… who keep the camera rolling in silence, without support, and at times by risking everything they have.” His film continued its sweep with wins for international feature and best director, drawing sustained applause from the room.

Anderson, whose film led all nominations, appeared genuinely taken aback when One Battle After Another was called for the top prize. He used part of his speech to mark a personal milestone, wishing longtime partner Maya Rudolph a happy anniversary. Despite six nominations, the film walked away with only that single win.

Breakthrough projects also made a strong showing. My Father’s Shadow swept both of its categories, with Sopé Dìrísù winning lead performance against a stacked field that included Jessie Buckley, Jennifer Lawrence and Ethan Hawke. Wunmi Mosaku earned best supporting performance for Sinners, with director Ryan Coogler accepting in her absence.

Alongside the competitive awards, the 2025 Gotham Film Awards delivered an unusually star-powered lineup of tributes honoring Noah Baumbach, Tessa Thompson, Julia Roberts, Guillermo del Toro, and several ensemble casts.

Here’s the complete list of the 2025 Gotham Film Awards winners:

Best Feature

• Bugonia
• East of Wall
• Familiar Touch
• Hamnet
• If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
• Lurker
• One Battle After Another (WINNER)
• Sorry, Baby
• The Testament of Ann Lee
• Train Dreams

Best International Feature

• It Was Just an Accident (WINNER)
• No Other Choice
• Nouvelle Vague
• Resurrection
• Sound of Falling

Best Documentary Feature

• 2000 Meters to Andriivka
• BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions
• My Undesirable Friends: Part I — Last Air in Moscow (WINNER)
• The Perfect Neighbor
• Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk

Best Director

• Mary Bronstein, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (A24)
• Jafar Panahi, It Was Just an Accident (Neon) (WINNER)
• Kelly Reichardt, The Mastermind (Mubi)
• Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another (Warner Bros. Pictures)
• Oliver Laxe, Sirât (Neon)

Breakthrough Director

• Constance Tsang, Blue Sun Palace (Dekanalog)
• Carson Lund, Eephus (Music Box Films)
• Sarah Friedland, Familiar Touch (Music Box Films)
• Akinola Davies Jr., My Father’s Shadow (Mubi) (WINNER)
• Harris Dickinson, Urchin (1-2 Special)

Best Original Screenplay

• If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, Mary Bronstein (A24)
• It Was Just an Accident, Jafar Panahi (Neon) (WINNER)
• The Secret Agent, Kleber Mendonça Filho (Neon)
• Sorry, Baby, Eva Victor (A24)
• Sound of Falling, Louise Peter, Mascha Schilinski (Mubi)

Best Adapted Screenplay

• No Other Choice (Neon)
• One Battle After Another (Warner Bros. Pictures)
• Pillion (A24) (WINNER)
• Preparation for the Next Life (Orion Pictures/Amazon MGM Studios)
• Train Dreams (Netflix)

Outstanding Lead Performance

• Jessie Buckley, Hamnet (Focus Features)
• Lee Byung-hun, No Other Choice (Neon)
• Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (A24)
• Sopé Dìrísù, My Father’s Shadow (Mubi) (WINNER)
• Ethan Hawke, Blue Moon (Sony Pictures Classics)
• Jennifer Lawrence, Die My Love (Mubi)
• Wagner Moura, The Secret Agent (Neon)
• Josh O’Connor, The Mastermind (Mubi)
• Amanda Seyfried, The Testament of Ann Lee (Searchlight Pictures)
• Tessa Thompson, Hedda (Orion Pictures/Amazon/MGM Studios)

Outstanding Supporting Performance

• Benicio Del Toro, One Battle After Another (Warner Bros. Pictures)
• Jacob Elordi, Frankenstein (Netflix)
• Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Sentimental Value (Neon)
• Indya Moore, Father Mother Sister Brother (Mubi)
• Wunmi Mosaku, Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures) (WINNER)
• Adam Sandler, Jay Kelly (Netflix)
• Andrew Scott, Blue Moon (Sony Pictures Classics)
• Alexander Skarsgard, Pillion (A24)
• Stellan Skarsgard, Sentimental Value (Neon)
• Teyana Taylor, One Battle After Another (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Breakthrough Performer

• A$AP Rocky, Highest 2 Lowest (A24)
• Sebiye Behtiyar, Preparation for the Next Life (Orion Pictures/Amazon MGM Studios)
• Chase Infiniti, One Battle After Another (Warner Bros. Pictures)
• Abou Sangaré, Souleymane’s Story (Kino Lorber) (WINNER)
• Tonatiuh, Kiss of the Spider Woman (Roadside Attractions, Lionsgate, LD Entertainment)

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