The 2025 Gotham Film Awards, which took place on December 1, honored the boldest voices in independent cinema. Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, produced by Sara Murphy and Adam Somner under Warner Bros. Pictures, won Best Feature. This has been a bit of a shift for the usually low-budget-indie-friendly awards, as its $130 million budget shows how the industry is shifting. The top sweeper of the night went to Iranian director Jafar Panahi’s It Was Just an Accident for Neon, winning Best Director, Best International Feature, and Best Original Screenplay.
- Outstanding Lead Performance: Sopé Dìrísù prevailed for My Father’s Shadow (MUBI), beating out competition such as Jessie Buckley in Hamnet (Focus Features) and Rose Byrne in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (A24).
- Outstanding Supporting Performance: Wunmi Mosaku won for Sinners, with director Ryan Coogler accepting on her behalf amid strong nods to Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another) and Alexander Skarsgård (Pillion, A24).
- Breakthrough Performer: Abou Sangaré won for Souleymane’s Story (Kino Lorber), topping A$AP Rocky (Highest 2 Lowest, A24) and Chase Infiniti (One Battle After Another).
- Breakthrough Director: Akinola Davies Jr. won for My Father’s Shadow (MUBI), highlighting new indie talents such as Sarah Friedland (Familiar Touch).
Awards Season Momentum
My Father’s Shadow managed a quiet sweep, taking home wins for both lead performance and breakthrough director, cementing the embrace of Gotham voters for character-driven stories. Tributes celebrated filmmakers, including Noah Baumbach, who had Adam Sandler poke fun at the event’s indie roots evolving alongside bigger productions. These results signal early Oscar buzz, blending studio flair with dissident storytelling from global indies.
