Gotham Awards

Name

The name "Gotham," () a nickname for New York, was first popularized by native son Washington Irving in an 1807 issue of Salmagundi.

Scope

In 2004, the awards' scope expanded significantly from a regional to a national and international focus. The number of award categories increased from six to nine, and eligibility was broadened to include films from Los Angeles, California, and international locations.

Venue

Having outgrown previous venues in Manhattan, the 17th Annual Gotham Awards ceremony was held for the first time in the Brooklyn borough on November 27, 2007. The gala took place at Steiner Studios in the Brooklyn Navy Yard and was "promoted nationally via a partnership with The New York Times and locally via broadcast on WNYE."

Categories

Current categories

• Tribute Award: since 1991
• Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award: since 1991 (formerly the Open Palm Award until 2002, and the Breakthrough Director Award from 2003 to 2012)
• Breakthrough Performer: since 1998 (known as the Award for Breakthrough Actor until 2020; not awarded in 2023)
• Best Feature: since 2004
• Best Documentary: since 2004
• Spotlight on Women Filmmakers "Live the Dream" Grant: since 2011
• Appreciation Award: since 2015
• Made in NY Award: since 2016
• Best International Feature: since 2020
• Outstanding Lead Performance: since 2021
• Outstanding Supporting Performance: since 2021
• Best Director: since 2024
• Best Original Screenplay: since 2025
• Best Adapted Screenplay: since 2025

From 1991 to 2002, the Tribute Award (also called Career Tribute) was presented as a single Lifetime Achievement Award. Individual achievement awards (e.g., Filmmaker, Writer, Actor) were given separately. Beginning with the 2003 ceremony, the IFP consolidated these individual categories into the Career Tribute awards.

Discontinued categories

• Filmmaker Award: 1991–1997
• Below-the-Line Award: 1991–1998
• Writer Award: 1991–1998
• Producer/Industry Executive Award: 1991–1999
• Actor Award: 1991–2002
• Classical Film Tribute: 1999–2000
• Anthony Radziwell Documentary Achievement Award: 2000–2002
• Independent Vision Award: 2001 only
• Celebrate New York Award: 2004–2005
• Best Ensemble Cast: 2005–2012 (known as Best Ensemble Performance from 2008)
• Best Film Not Playing At Theater Near You: 2005–2012
• Special Jury Award for Ensemble Performance: 2014–2018
• Best Actor: 2013–2020
• Best Actress: 2013–2020
• Audience Award (Film): 2010–2020
• Breakthrough Series – Long Form: 2015–2023
• Breakthrough Series – Short Form: 2015–2023
• Outstanding Performance in a New Series: 2021–2023
• Breakthrough Nonfiction Series: 2021–2022 (reintroduced in 2024 as part of the Gotham TV Awards)
• Best Screenplay: 2015–2024}}

Ceremonies

Gotham TV Awards

In April 2024, the Gotham Film & Media Institute announced that television series and performances will be honored at a separate ceremony going forward with the first edition of the Gotham TV Awards taking place on June 4, 2024. In previous years, television categories had been part of the main awards ceremony, where two television awards for new series were presented for the first time in 2015. In 2021, two further awards, one for performance and one for non-fiction television, were introduced. Out of the eight categories to be presented at the inaugural Gotham TV Awards only the award for Breakthrough Nonfiction Series had been given out before (in 2021 and 2022); the three other awards for series, the three awards for outstanding performances and the audience award for television were newly created.

Current categories

• Breakthrough Comedy Series: since 2024
• Breakthrough Drama Series: since 2024
• Breakthrough Limited Series: since 2024
• Breakthrough Nonfiction Series: since 2021 (part of the film awards ceremony from 2021 to 2022; not awarded in 2023)
• Outstanding Original Film, Broadcast, or Streaming: since 2025
• Outstanding Lead Performance in a Comedy Series: since 2024
• Outstanding Lead Performance in a Drama Series: since 2024
• Outstanding Lead Performance in a Limited Series: since 2024
• Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Comedy Series: since 2025
• Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Drama Series: since 2025
• Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Limited Series: since 2025
• Outstanding Performance in an Original Film: since 2025
• Audience Award (TV): since 2024

Ceremonies

References

References

1. Press release. (July 22, 2007). "IFP Expands 17th Annual Gotham Awards With Move to Brooklyn's Steiner Studios". [[Independent Filmmaker Project]].
2. Sederstrom, Jotham. (November 16, 2007). "Indie Film's Best to Flock to Navy Yard for Gotham Awards". [[New York Daily News.
3. link. (February 8, 2019 . [[IMDb]]. Retrieved November 16, 2012.)
4. "Gotham Awards Recipients (1991-present) (as of June 17, 2011)". Gotham Independent Film Awards.
5. (April 11, 2024). "The Gotham Film & Media Institute Launches Inaugural Gotham TV Awards Recognizing Breakthrough Shows, Creators, & Performers with Tributes to Industry Icons". [[The Gotham Film & Media Institute]].
6. (April 11, 2024). "Gotham TV Awards To Launch Inaugural Edition In June".
7. (November 25, 2015). "Gotham Awards Go Beyond Film to Honor TV and Web Series". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
8. (August 5, 2021). "The Gotham Awards Introduce Gender Neutral Acting Categories for 2021". The Gotham Film & Media Institute.
9. (August 5, 2021). "Gotham Awards Eliminate Gendered Acting Categories, Add Supporting and TV Acting Races".