The 35th annual Gotham Awards officially launched the film awards season, hosted at Cipriani Wall Street and presented by the Gotham Film & Media Institute. This year, the ceremony notably continued its three-year practice of removing budget caps for awards consideration, allowing a broader range of films to be eligible. The evening was marked by significant victories and powerful statements, setting an influential tone for the cinematic year ahead.

Paul Thomas Anderson’s action epic “One Battle After Another” secured the prestigious award for Best Feature, despite it being its sole win from a record-breaking six nominations. Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi emerged as one of the evening's most decorated figures, achieving a hat trick by winning International Feature, Original Screenplay, and Director for his film “It Was Just an Accident.” These triumphs highlighted the diverse and international talent celebrated at the Gothams.

A particularly memorable moment of the ceremony involved Guillermo del Toro, who accepted the Vanguard Tribute for his film “Frankenstein.” Accompanied by stars Jacob Elordi and Oscar Isaac, del Toro began his acceptance speech by sharing a personal connection to Mary Shelley’s iconic horror story. He recounted how, at age 11, reading the book solidified his understanding that he belonged in a world inhabited by