Tue Dec 02 10:00:00 UTC 2025: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“One Battle After Another” Takes Top Prize at Gotham Awards, Iranian Drama “It Was Just an Accident” Sweeps Director, Screenplay, and International Feature Categories

NEW YORK, NY – The Gotham Awards, kicking off the movie awards season, saw “One Battle After Another,” a story of a former revolutionary, his daughter and the soldier hunting them, named Best Feature. However, the evening belonged to “It Was Just an Accident,” a covertly filmed Iranian drama about former prisoners seeking revenge on their alleged torturer. The film earned Jafar Panahi Best Director and Best Original Screenplay, along with Best International Feature.

The awards for Panahi, who has faced imprisonment and filmmaking bans in Iran, come shortly after reports of a new in absentia prison sentence. Despite restrictions, Panahi’s film, also a Palme d’Or winner, was secretly produced to avoid government censorship.

“One Battle After Another,” though heavily nominated, received only the Best Feature award. Other winners included Sope Dirisu for Outstanding Lead Performance in “My Father’s Shadow,” Wunmi Mosaku for Outstanding Supporting Performance in “Sinners,” and Akinola Davies Jr. for Breakthrough Director, also for “My Father’s Shadow.” The awards celebrate films where the unique vision of the filmmakers is evident, with tributes also given to other notable films and artists.

Complete List of Winners:

  • Best Feature: “One Battle After Another”
  • Best Director: Jafar Panahi, “It Was Just an Accident”
  • Outstanding Lead Performance: Sope Dirisu, “My Father’s Shadow”
  • Outstanding Supporting Performance: Wunmi Mosaku, “Sinners”
  • Best Original Screenplay: “It Was Just an Accident” (Jafar Panahi)
  • Best Adapted Screenplay: “Pillion” (Harry Lighton)
  • Breakthrough Director: Akinola Davies Jr., “My Father’s Shadow”
  • Breakthrough Performer: Abou Sangaré, “Souleymane’s Story”
  • Best International Feature: “It Was Just an Accident”
  • Best Documentary Feature: “My Undesirable Friends: Part I — Last Air in Moscow”

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