Gotham Awards: 'One Battle After Another' Wins Best Feature; Jafar Panahi Takes Three Awards – Complete List

Paul Thomas Andersons One Battle After Another took home the Best Feature award at the 35th annual Gotham Awards, held tonight in Manhattan. This marked Andersons first Gotham win after four nominations. The film, which stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, and Benicio Del Toro, has already surpassed $200 million globally. Anderson was also nominated for Best Director for this story about ex-revolutionaries confronting an old adversary after 16 years.

Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi achieved significant recognition, winning Best International Feature for his Palme dOr-winning film It Was Just An Accident. Panahi also earned Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. His acceptance came shortly after he was convicted in absentia in Iran, receiving a one-year prison sentence and two years of probation. Speaking through an interpreter, Panahi dedicated his awards to independent filmmakers worldwide who face obstacles yet continue to create.

The UKs official Oscar entry, My Fathers Shadow by Akinola Davies Jr., was another double winner. Sop Drs received Outstanding Lead Performance, while Davies won Breakthrough Director. The semi-autobiographical film follows two brothers exploring Lagos with their estranged father during Nigerias 1993 election crisis.

Other acting honors included Wunmi Mosaku, who won for her role in Sinners; her award was accepted by filmmaker Ryan Coogler. Abou Sangar earned the Breakthrough Performance prize for Souleymanes Story, a film about a Guinean immigrant in Paris. Harry Pillion won the inaugural Best Adapted Screenplay award for his gay biker drama Pillion, which also won Best Film at the British Independent Film Awards.

The Best Documentary Feature went to My Undesirable Friends: Part I Last Air in Moscow, covering independent journalists labeled as foreign agents in Russia. Tribute awards celebrated notable contributions, honoring filmmakers like Luca Guadagnino, Julia Roberts, Noah Baumbach, Guillermo del Toro, Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Tessa Thompson, Kate Hudson, Hugh Jackman, Jeremy Allen White, and Scott Cooper.

This year, the Best Feature category expanded to 10 nominees, while the Gothams featured 40 films and 25 performances across 10 categories. The awards, primarily focusing on independent cinema, now allow larger studio productions to compete after budget cap adjustments in 2023.

2025 Gotham Awards Winners

• Best Feature: One Battle After Another Paul Thomas Anderson, Sara Murphy, Adam Somner (Warner Bros. Pictures)
• Best International Feature: It Was Just An Accident Jafar Panahi, Philippe Martin (Neon)
• Best Actress: Wunmi Mosaku, Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures)
• Breakthrough Performance: Abou Sangar, Souleymanes Story (Kino Lorber)
• Best Documentary Feature: My Undesirable Friends: Part I Last Air in Moscow Julia Loktev
• Breakthrough Director: Akinola Davies Jr., My Fathers Shadow (Mubi)
• Best Adapted Screenplay: Harry Pillion, Pillion (A24)

Author: Sophia Brooks