Last updated October 28, 2026.
The Gotham Film Awards return for their 36th edition on Monday, November 30, 2026, in New York City, once again kicking off awards season with a celebration of the year’s best independent film. Nominations were announced on October 27, 2026.
As one of the first major ceremonies on the awards calendar, the Gothams spotlight bold directorial debuts, standout performances, and singular storytelling, and they’re often an early indicator of the films and filmmakers that will carry momentum into the Independent Spirit Awards and the Oscars.
We’re proud to have supported seven projects nominated this year, with services from payroll to post accounting.
➡️ Best Feature Nominee
➡️ Best Adapted Screenplay Nominee
➡️ Outstanding Lead Performance Nominee - Sophie Okonedo
➡️ Breakthrough Performer Nominee - India Amarteifio
➡️ Best Feature Nominee
➡️ Breakthrough Director Nominee - Jordan Firstman
➡️ Breakthrough Director Nominee - John Early
➡️ Outstanding Lead Performance Nominee - John Early
➡️ Best Feature Nominee
➡️ Outstanding Supporting Performance Nominee - Adam Driver
➡️ Best Feature Nominee
➡️ Best Adapted Screenplay Nominee - Ajon Singh
➡️ Outstanding Supporting Performance Nominee - Skylar Gisondo
➡️ Best Documentary Feature Nominee
➡️ Gotham Audience Award Nominee
➡️ Gotham Audience Award Nominee
See the full list of 2026 Gotham Film Awards nominations.
Few awards celebrate the spirit of independent film quite like the Gotham Awards, and it’s been an honor to see so many of our client projects recognized on that stage.
From first-time directors to seasoned filmmakers, and from breakout performances to boundary-pushing series, the nominees and winners below reflect the risk-taking, singular voices that define independent storytelling. Many of these projects went on to find audiences and accolades well beyond awards season’s first stop.
Looking back at the client projects honored by the Gotham Awards since 2017 shows how far independent film has come, one bold story and one breakthrough talent at a time. We can’t wait to see who’s next.
➡️ Best Feature Nominee
➡️ Best Director Nominee - Mary Bronstein
➡️ Best Original Screenplay Nominee - Mary Bronstein
➡️ Outstanding Lead Performance Nominee - Rose Byrne
➡️ Best Feature Nominee
➡️ Best Original Screenplay Nominee - Eva Victor
➡️ Best Feature Nominee
➡️ Best Feature Nominee
🏆 Best Feature Winner
➡️ Outstanding Supporting Performance Nominee - Adam Pearson
➡️ Best Feature Nominee
➡️ Best Director Nominee - Sean Baker
➡️ Outstanding Lead Performance Nominee - Mikey Madison
➡️ Outstanding Supporting Performance Nominee - Yura Borisov
➡️ Outstanding Supporting Performance Nominee - Kieran Culkin
➡️ Best Feature Nominee
➡️ Outstanding Lead Performance Nominee - Nicole Kidman
➡️ Best Screenplay Nominee - Nathan Silver, C. Mason Wells
🏆 Best Screenplay Winner - Azazel Jacobs
➡️ Outstanding Supporting Performance Nominee - Natasha Lyonne
➡️ Best Screenplay Nominee - Annie Baker
➡️ Best Director Nominee - Jane Schoenbrun
➡️ Outstanding Lead Performance Nominee - Justice Smith
➡️ Outstanding Supporting Performance Nominee - Brigette Lundy-Paine
🏆 Outstanding Lead Performance Winner - Colman Domingo
🏆 Outstanding Supporting Performance Winner - Clarence Maclin
➡️ Outstanding Supporting Performance Nominee - Danielle Deadwyler
➡️ Breakthrough Director Nominee - Raven Jackson
➡️ Outstanding Lead Performance Nominee - Jeffrey Wright
🏆 Breakthrough Director Winner - A.V. Rockwell
➡️ Best Feature Nominee
➡️ Outstanding Lead Performance Nominee - Teyana Taylor
🏆 Breakthrough Series Winner - Short Format (Under 40 Minutes)
🏆 Outstanding Performance in a New Series Winner - Ali Wong
➡️ Outstanding Performance in a New Series Nominee - Steven Yeun
🏆 Outstanding Supporting Performance Winner - Charles Melton
➡️ Best Screenplay Nominee - Samy Burch
🏆 Best Feature Winner
➡️ Breakthrough Director Nominee - Celine Song
➡️ Outstanding Lead Performance Nominee - Greta Lee
➡️ Best Feature Nominee
➡️ Best Feature Nominee
➡️ Outstanding Lead Performance Nominee - Michelle Williams
➡️ Outstanding Supporting Performance Nominee - Da’Vine Joy Randolph
➡️ Best Documentary Feature Nominee
➡️ Outstanding Lead Performance Nominee - Taylor Russell
➡️ Outstanding Supporting Performance Nominee - Mark Rylance
➡️ Breakthrough Performer Nominee - Kali Reis
➡️ Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award Nominee - Owen Kline
➡️ Breakthrough Performer Nominee - Anna Diop
➡️ Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award Nominee - Elegance Bratton
➡️ Outstanding Supporting Performance Nominee - Gabrielle Union
➡️ Outstanding Supporting Performance Nominee - Raúl Castillo
➡️ Breakthrough Nonfiction Series Nominee
➡️ Outstanding Lead Performance Nominee - Brendan Fraser
➡️ Outstanding Supporting Performance Nominee - Hong Chau
🏆 Outstanding Supporting Performance Winner - Troy Kotsur
🏆 Breakthrough Performer Winner - Emilia Jones
➡️ Outstanding Supporting Performance Nominee - Marlee Matlin
➡️ Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award Nominee - Edson Oda
➡️ Best Feature Nominee
🏆 Best Feature Winner - Maggie Gyllenhaal, director; Osnat Handelsman Keren, Talia Kleinhendler, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Charles Dorfman, producers
🏆 Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award Winner - Maggie Gyllenhaal
🏆 Best Screenplay Winner - Maggie Gyllenhaal
🏆 Outstanding Lead Performance Winner - Olivia Colman
➡️ Outstanding Supporting Performance Nominee - Jessie Buckley
➡️ Best Screenplay Nominee - Paul Schrader
➡️ Outstanding Lead Performance Nominee - Oscar Isaac
➡️ Best Screenplay Nominee - Mike Makowsky
➡️ Best Feature Nominee
➡️ Best Screenplay Nominee - Jon Raymond, Kelly Reichardt
➡️ Best Actor Nominee - John Magaro
➡️ Breakthrough Actor Nominee - Orion Lee
➡️ Best Actor Nominee - Jesse Plemons
➡️ Best Actress Nominee - Jessie Buckley
➡️ Best Feature Nominee
➡️ Breakthrough Actor Nominee - Sidney Flanigan
🏆 Best Feature Winner
🏆 Gotham Audience Award Winner
➡️ Best Actress Nominee - Frances McDormand
🏆 Breakthrough Actor Winner - Kingsley Ben-Adir
🏆 Best Actor Winner - Riz Ahmed
➡️ Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award Nominee - Carlo Mirabella-Davis
🏆 Inaugural Ensemble Performance Tribute
➡️ Breakthrough Series – Short Format (under 40 minutes) Nominee
➡️ Best Actress Nominee - Elisabeth Moss
➡️ Breakthrough Actor Nominee - Noah Jupe
➡️ Breakthrough Series – Short Format (under 40 minutes) Nominee
🏆 Breakthrough Actor Winner - Elsie Fisher
🏆 Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Winner - Bo Burnham
🏆 Best Screenplay Winner - Paul Schrader
🏆 Best Actor Winner - Ethan Hawke
➡️ Best Feature Nominee
➡️ Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award Nominee - Boots Riley
➡️ Best Actor Nominee - Lakeith Stanfield
➡️ Best Screenplay Nominee - Cory Finley
➡️ Breakthrough Actor Nominee - Harris Dickinson
➡️ Best Feature Nominee
➡️ Best Actor Nominee - Robert Pattinson
➡️ Best Actress Nominee - Melanie Lynskey
➡️ Best Feature Nominee
➡️ Best Actress Nominee - Margot Robbie
➡️ Breakthrough Series – Long Form Nominee
➡️ Best Actor Nominee - Adam Sandler
In 1991, the Independent Feature Project (IFP, now The Gotham Film & Media Institute, or simply “The Gotham”) created The Gotham Awards to honor independent American films, particularly those from the Northeastern United States.
Today, these annual awards have evolved to recognize a broader range of independent film and media, and, as of 2024, have also moved television honors to a separate ceremony, the Gotham TV Awards. This celebration of independent films and filmmakers is one of the first major film awards ceremonies of the awards season, and is often viewed as a key indicator for independent films heading into the Oscars.
The Gotham Awards ceremony typically takes place in late November or early December in New York City on the Monday after Thanksgiving. In 2026, the Gotham Film Awards winners will be unveiled on November 30 at Cipriani Wall Street in Manhattan. Their early place in the awards calendar means The Gotham Film Awards build momentum for the awards season to come.
The Gotham Awards focus on independent films that are made by American filmmakers or feature strong American creative involvement. International feature and documentary categories also exist. Honorees include directors, writers, producers, and actors.
A win or nomination at the Gotham Awards can boost a film's visibility and attract further distribution, and is often seen as an important precursor for other awards such as the Independent Spirit Awards and sometimes even the Academy Awards. These awards often help emerging directors, writers, and actors gain industry recognition.
The Gotham Awards are specifically focused on independent film, as opposed to mainstream studio releases that dominate the Oscars and Golden Globes. They also often have fewer categories, and include unique awards like the “Breakthrough Performer.”
Check back here for the latest updates on awards season as Gotham Awards nominees and GreenSlate client projects continue to make headlines.
Ready to create your own award-winning feature? From prep to post, we’ve got production payroll covered. Speak with our Sales team to get started on your next film production.