One Battle After Another" Wins Top Prize as Jafar Panahi Sweeps at 2025 Gotham Awards
The 35th annual Gotham Awards ceremony kicked off the film awards season with a night of surprises and emotional victories on Monday, December 1, 2025, in New York City. While Paul Thomas Anderson's action epic
One Battle After Another took home the night's most coveted prize, Best Feature, the evening truly belonged to Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, whose film It Was Just an Accident secured three major awards.
The Gothams, known for celebrating independent cinema while also recognizing major studio films in recent years, set the stage for the highly competitive awards race to come.
The Big Winners: Panahi Dominates, PTA Takes Best Feature
Going into the ceremony,
One Battle After Another led with a record-setting six nominations, but it was Panahi's film that achieved a perfect 3-for-3 win rate.
It Was Just an Accident secured awards for:
Best International Feature
Best Director for Jafar Panahi
Best Original Screenplay for Jafar Panahi
Panahi, who was reportedly sentenced to one year in prison by Iranian authorities shortly before the ceremony, dedicated his director award to filmmakers "deprived of the right to see and be seen" in a powerful acceptance speech.
Outstanding Lead Performance: Sopé Dìrísù took home the award for his powerful role as Folarin in My Father's Shadow
.
Outstanding Supporting Performance: Wunmi Mosaku won for her compelling portrayal as Annie in the film
Sinners
.
Breakthrough Performer: Abou Sangaré received the honor for his work in
Souleymane's Story
.
Breakthrough Director: Akinola Davies Jr. was recognized for his directorial efforts on
My Father's Shadow
, a film that secured two major wins in total.
Best Adapted Screenplay: Harry Lighton won for his screenplay for
Pillion
.
Best Documentary Feature: The award went to
My Undesirable Friends: Part I — Last Air in Moscow, directed by Julia Loktev.
Major Tribute Honorees
The ceremony also celebrated several major stars and filmmakers with non-competitive tribute awards:
Vanguard Tribute: Presented to Guillermo del Toro, Oscar Isaac, and Jacob Elordi for their work on Frankenstein
.
Visionary Tribute: Honored Luca Guadagnino and Julia Roberts for their collaboration on After the Hunt
.
Musical Tribute: Awarded to Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson for their performances in Song Sung Blue.
Ensemble Tribute: Presented to the cast of Sinners , including Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, and Wunmi Mosaku.
Spotlight Tribute: Honored Hedda star Tessa Thompson.
Cultural Icon Tribute: Received by Jeremy Allen White and Scott Cooper for their work on Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere
Full list of Gotham Awards winners go to https://awards.thegotham.org/
.