Amidst a star-studded ceremony, the 35th annual Gotham Awards in New York celebrated independent film on Monday night, but the evening was marked by both triumph and a stark reminder of political realities. Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi emerged as a dominant force, securing three major awards for his latest film, It Was Just an Accident. However, this victory coincided with the news that Panahi had been sentenced in absentia by the Iranian government to a year in prison and a two-year travel ban.
It Was Just an Accident, which had previously won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, garnered Panahi the awards for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Feature. The film has also been selected as France's official nomination for the 2026 Academy Awards.
Panahi, who is currently outside of Iran, dedicated his awards to independent filmmakers around the world, especially those who are deprived of the right to create and share their work freely. "I hope that this dedication will be considered a small tribute to all filmmakers who have been deprived of the right to see and to be seen but continue to create and to exist," he stated.
According to Panahi, he intends to return to Tehran after the awards season to face his sentence. The director's lawyer revealed shortly before the Gotham Awards that Panahi had been sentenced in absentia to a year in prison and a two-year travel ban for engaging in "propaganda activities" against the state. Panahi has been a target of the Iranian government for a long time. In 2010, he received a six-year prison sentence and a 20-year ban on filmmaking after being found guilty of "propaganda against the system," but he was freed on bail after only serving two months of his sentence.
Despite the restrictions imposed on him in his home country, Panahi has continued to create films that have garnered international acclaim. His 2011 documentary, This Is Not a Film, was famously smuggled into the Cannes Film Festival on a flash drive hidden inside a cake. His latest film, It Was Just An Accident, tells the story of five inmates kidnapping their former prison torturer.
The Gotham Awards also recognized other notable films and performances. Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, won Best Feature. Akinola Davies Jr.'s My Father's Shadow earned awards for Sopé Dìrísù's lead performance and Davies' breakthrough directing. Wunmi Mosaku received the Outstanding Supporting Performance award for Sinners. Abou Sangaré won Breakthrough Actor for Souleymane's Story, and Harry Lighton won Best Adapted Screenplay for Pillion. The Best Documentary Feature award went to Julia Loktev's My Undesirable Friends: Part I – Last Air in Moscow.
The Gotham Awards also presented special honors, including Cultural Icon Tributes to Jeremy Allen White and Scott Cooper, a Director Tribute to Noah Baumbach, and an Ensemble Tribute to the cast of Sinners. Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson received the Musical Tribute, and Tessa Thompson earned another special honor.
The recognition of international titles at the Gotham Awards reflects a growing appreciation for diverse voices in the film industry. While Panahi's triumph was celebrated, the news of his sentencing served as a sobering reminder of the challenges faced by filmmakers who speak truth to power.
