2024 Gotham Awards winners: Anora, Payal Kapadia, Pamela Anderson and more performances shine

The 34th annual Gotham Awards, hosted by the Gotham Film & Media Institute, took place on December 2, 2024, at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City. This prestigious event recognized exceptional filmmakers, actors, and creatives across various categories, marking an early highlight in the awards season.

The Best Feature award was presented to Anora, directed by Sean Baker, and produced by Sean Baker, Alex Coco, and Samantha Quan under NEON. The highly acclaimed Babygirl by Halina Reijn, which also received praise for its direction and production by Reijn, David Hinojosa, and Julia Oh, was another key contender. Challengers, directed by Luca Guadagnino and produced by Zendaya and others, and Nickel Boys directed by RaMell Ross, were also nominated.

In the Best International Feature category, Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine as Light took the top honor. Other notable international nominees included Agnieszka Holland’s Green Border and Thien An Pham’s Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell.

The Best Documentary Feature award went to Dahomey, directed by Mati Diop, while Sugarcane, directed by Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie, received acclaim for its portrayal of complex social issues.

Payal Kapadia won Best Director for All We Imagine as Light, while Sean Baker’s Anora claimed multiple nominations, including Best Director and Best Feature.

The Outstanding Lead Performance award was given to Pamela Anderson for her role in The Last Showgirl, while the Breakthrough Performer accolade was awarded to Lily Collias for her role in Good One.

The Gotham Awards continue to serve as a critical indicator of success in the film industry, with winners often going on to further recognition during the awards season.