‘One Battle After Another’ dominates Gotham Awards with record six nominations

Paul Thomas Anderson's ambitious war epic "One Battle After Another" has stormed the 38th Gotham Awards with a record-breaking six nominations — the most ever received by a single film in the event's history. The $130 million action-drama leads the field in major categories, including Best Feature, alongside acting nods for Benicio Del Toro, Teyana Taylor, and breakthrough performer Chase Infiniti.

The recognition marks a shift for the Gothams, once known for honouring low-budget independent cinema. For decades, eligibility required a production budget under $35 million — a rule scrapped three years ago. While that change had little impact in recent editions, this year's lineup firmly reflects the new era. "One Battle After Another," with its blockbuster scale and star-studded cast, stands in sharp contrast to its largely indie competition.

Joining Anderson's film in the Best Feature race are "Bugonia", "East of Wall", "Familiar Touch", "Hamnet", "If I Had Legs I'd Kick You", "Lurker", "Sorry, Baby", "The Testament of Ann Lee", and "Train Dreams". Winners will be announced on December 1 in New York City.

The Best Director category features a diverse international slate: Mary Bronstein ("If I Had Legs I'd Kick You"), Jafar Panahi ("It Was Just an Accident"), Kelly Reichardt ("The Mastermind"), Paul Thomas Anderson ("One Battle After Another"), and Oliver Laxe ("Sirât").

Now in its fourth year as a gender-neutral acting category, the lead performance lineup includes frontrunner Jessie Buckley for "Hamnet", alongside Lee Byung-hun ("No Other Choice"), Rose Byrne ("If I Had Legs I'd Kick You"), Ethan Hawke ("Blue Moon"), Jennifer Lawrence ("Die My Love"), Amanda Seyfried ("The Testament of Ann Lee"), and Tessa Thompson ("Hedda").

The supporting performance contenders include Jacob Elordi, lauded for his monstrous transformation in "Frankenstein", Wunmi Mosaku for "Sinners", and Adam Sandler, a previous Gotham winner, for his role in "Jay Kelly".

In the Breakthrough Performer category, the nominees are A$AP Rocky ("Highest 2 Lowest"), Sebiye Behtiyar ("Preparation for the Next Life"), Chase Infiniti ("One Battle After Another"), Abou Sangaré ("Souleymane's Story"), and Tonatiuh ("Kiss of the Spider Woman").

Notably absent from the lineup is "Sentimental Value", Norway's official Oscar submission for Best International Feature. Despite its critical acclaim, the film missed out on a Best Feature nomination, as did lead actress Renate Reinsve. However, its supporting cast — Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas and Stellan Skarsgård — both earned nods. Several high-profile projects, including "Marty Supreme" and "Is This Thing On?", were reportedly not ready in time for committee consideration.

Nominees were chosen by panels of critics, curators, and journalists, with winners to be selected by separate juries composed of filmmakers, producers, editors, and actors.

Jeffrey Sharp, executive director of the Gotham Film & Media Institute, praised the diversity of this year's lineup. "This year's nominees celebrate an extraordinary year of cinematic achievement — one defined by bold, original storytelling, festival breakouts, and filmmakers whose independent vision extends across studios and streamers," he said.

The Gotham Awards, long regarded as a key precursor to the Oscars, celebrate their 35th anniversary this year — with Anderson's "One Battle After Another" setting the tone for what could be one of the most competitive awards seasons in recent memory.

Full list of nominations for the 2025 Gotham Awards

Best Feature

"Bugonia" (Focus Features) — Produced by Ari Aster, Ed Guiney, Lars Knudsen, Yorgos Lanthimos, Emma Stone, and others

"East of Wall" (Sony Pictures Classics) — Kate Beecroft, Shannon Moss, Melanie Ramsayer, Lila Yacoub

"Familiar Touch" (Music Box Films) — Alexandra Byer, Sarah Friedland, Matthew Thurm

"Hamnet" (Focus Features) — Nicolas Gonda, Pippa Harris, Sam Mendes, Steven Spielberg

"If I Had Legs I'd Kick You" (A24) — Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie, Sara Murphy, and team

"Lurker" (Mubi) — Archie Madekwe, Charlie McDowell, Olmo Schnabel, et al.

"One Battle After Another" (Warner Bros. Pictures) — Paul Thomas Anderson, Sara Murphy, Adam Somner

"Sorry, Baby" (A24) — Barry Jenkins, Adele Romanski, Mark Ceryak

"The Testament of Ann Lee" (Searchlight Pictures) — Brady Corbet, Mona Fastvold, Gregory Jankilevitsch, and others

"Train Dreams" (Netflix) — Michael Heimler, Marissa McMahon, Teddy Schwarzman

Best International Feature

"It Was Just an Accident" (Neon) — Directed by Jafar Panahi

"No Other Choice" (Neon) — Directed by Park Chan-wook

"Nouvelle Vague" (Netflix) — Laurent and Michèle Pétin

"Resurrection" (Janus Films) — Charles Gillibert, Yang Lele

"Sound of Falling" (Mubi) — Lucas Schmidt, Maren Schmitt

Best Documentary Feature

"2000 Meters to Andriivka" (PBS) — Director Mstyslav Chernov

"BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions" (Rich Spirit) — Director Kahlil Joseph

"My Undesirable Friends: Part I – Last Air in Moscow" (Self-distributed) — Director Julia Loktev

"The Perfect Neighbor" (Netflix) — Director Geeta Gandbhir

"Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk" (Kino Lorber) — Director Sepideh Farsi

Best Director

Mary Bronstein — "If I Had Legs I'd Kick You"

Jafar Panahi — "It Was Just an Accident"

Kelly Reichardt — "The Mastermind"

Paul Thomas Anderson — "One Battle After Another"

Oliver Laxe — "Sirât"

Breakthrough Director

Constance Tsang — "Blue Sun Palace"

Carson Lund — "Eephus"

Sarah Friedland — "Familiar Touch"

Akinola Davies Jr. — "My Father's Shadow"

Harris Dickinson — "Urchin"

Best Original Screenplay

"If I Had Legs I'd Kick You" — Mary Bronstein

"It Was Just an Accident" — Jafar Panahi

"The Secret Agent" — Kleber Mendonça Filho

"Sorry, Baby" — Eva Victor

"Sound of Falling" — Louise Peter, Mascha Schilinski

Best Adapted Screenplay

"No Other Choice" — Park Chan-wook, Lee Kyoung-mi, Jahye Lee, Don McKellar

"One Battle After Another" — Paul Thomas Anderson

"Pillion" — Harry Lighton

"Preparation for the Next Life" — Martyna Majok

"Train Dreams" — Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar

Outstanding Lead Performance

Jessie Buckley — "Hamnet"

Lee Byung-hun — "No Other Choice"

Rose Byrne — "If I Had Legs I'd Kick You"

Sopé Dìrísù — "My Father's Shadow"

Ethan Hawke — "Blue Moon"

Jennifer Lawrence — "Die My Love"

Wagner Moura — "The Secret Agent"

Josh O'Connor — "The Mastermind"

Amanda Seyfried — "The Testament of Ann Lee"

Tessa Thompson — "Hedda"

Outstanding Supporting Performance

Benicio Del Toro — "One Battle After Another"

Jacob Elordi — "Frankenstein"

Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas — "Sentimental Value"

Indya Moore — "Father Mother Sister Brother"

Wunmi Mosaku — "Sinners"

Adam Sandler — "Jay Kelly"

Andrew Scott — "Blue Moon"

Alexander Skarsgård — "Pillion"

Stellan Skarsgård — "Sentimental Value"

Teyana Taylor — "One Battle After Another"

Breakthrough Performer

A$AP Rocky — "Highest 2 Lowest"

Sebiye Behtiyar — "Preparation for the Next Life"

Chase Infiniti — "One Battle After Another"

Abou Sangaré — "Souleymane's Story"

Tonatiuh — "Kiss of the Spider Woman"