Stars descended upon Cipriani Wall Street for the 35th annual Gotham Awards on December 1 to honor the best in film for 2025. But it was Black cinema that dominated the evening, with big wins for Black actors and filmmakers, setting the tone for a potentially more diverse award season ahead.
With wins for Black-helmed films like Sinners and Hedda, one thing was certain: the power of Black stories. But Black artists using their own experiences and creating their own lane is nothing new.
“I was recently speaking to a Black woman who recently graduated from Yale Drama School and she was telling me how you play all these incredible parts when you’re in school and then you get into the work force, and you learn that [those parts] aren’t as abundant or available as they seemed to be in school, and that was definitely my experience too,” Tessa Thompson, who won Spotlight Tribute award for her work in Hedda, explained to EBONY shortly after receiving her honor.
“The truth is, it’s no surprise to me that the person who gave me the opportunity to play Hedda Gabler was a Black woman. So I think if we don’t see it, we have to create it. I feel like that’s always been the way and a guiding principle in my career, so you gotta find the people who want to make it with you.”
Sinners Shines
Sinners shone bright as Ryan Coogler’s Southern vampire horror film received the evening’s Ensemble Tribute honor, with Michael B. Jordan and the cast of the film accepting the award. Wunmi Mosaku won another honor for Outstanding Supporting Performance for her portrayal of Annie, the hoodoo practitioner.
On the red carpet, Sinners stars Jayme Lawson and Miles Canton discussed the film’s cultural significance and the overwhelming reception of the history-making blockbuster, which has become an award season frontrunner.
“This film does a lot,” Lawson told EBONY. “The way we get to see Black life and all the different other fully lived experiences living together. This doesn’t just feel like ‘Oh, he’s trying to hit a quota, or some kind of DEI, diversity hire situation.’ It actually authenticates life into communities and expands it…That kind of stuff needs to be celebrated and remembered.”
Canton, who learned how to play the guitar for the film and is now a GRAMMY nominee for his musical role as Sammie, touched on Lawson’s sentiment.
“It’s a little overwhelming to see the response that we’ve gotten, but it’s honestly amazing that people are connected with [the film] and love it as much as we do.”
Of working alongside Jordan, he added, “I was 13 when I saw Black Panther, so to think that I am now having that same impact on other people and younger kids of that generation is just mind-blowing.”
Taking a moment to reflect on the iconic legacy of Black Panther, Coogler shared thoughts on what the late Chadwick Boseman, who was posthumously honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame last month, would think of his latest film.
“Chad is from South Carolina, so he’s a very southern man. I hope he woulda dug it,” he said, after praising Jordan for his dual character portrayal of twins Smoke and Stack in the film, as well as Canton for his natural music ability.
Love for Hedda
Nia DaCosta’s Hedda was another favorite of the night. On the carpet, Thompson shed light on adapting the classic period play version of Hedda into a role for a Black woman.
“Nia had decided that she wanted me to be her Hedda Gabler, and suddenly we had a Black woman on the screen, so what do we do with that? We have to be honest about what that means in the context of 1950s England, and it becomes about race and class and a multitude of things,” she told EBONY.
“To get to play this woman who is complicated, sure, but [she] is glamorous and taking up space; it felt really special to me as a Black woman. And I don’t know if we always have the chance to do that, especially in period films.”
One Battle Soars
Like Thompson, One Battle After Another star Chase Infiniti has also taken Hollywood by storm this year, celebrating her first Gotham Awards nomination for Breakthrough Performance. And while she didn’t take home the award, her cast, including Teyana Taylor and Regina Hall, still had reason to celebrate. The young star reunited with her leading ladies inside the event and cheered when Paul Thomas Anderson accepted the award for Best Feature.
Of working alongside Taylor and Hall, Infiniti said, “I had incredible conversations with Teyana and Regina…I was surrounded by so much love and was uplifted in a way that I didn’t know I was missing.”
Ahead of the ceremony, Infiniti and Taylor elaborated on what it means to be a Black female character with an empowering narrative on screen.
“I love that Perfidia is 1000% who she is, unapologetically,” Taylor said of her character. “Even if we don’t agree with it, she stands ten toes down on who she is. It felt dope to be able to play a role like that, where we get to be selfish and show up for ourselves because we show up for everyone else. Seeing a Black woman show up for herself—it was dope to see that for once.”
Black Cinematic Excellence Reigned
It’s no surprise that the Gothams honored a group of A-list names at this year’s ceremony, which even included first-time nominee A$AP Rocky, for his role in Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest. But it was Sopé Dìrísù and director Akinola Davies Jr., who emerged as the ones to watch this award season after winning back-to-back awards for Davies Jr.’s My Father’s Shadow.
The British-Nigerian filmmaker took home the Breakout Director award, while Dìrísù, known for roles in Black Rabbit and Slow Horses, won Outstanding Lead Performance. Davies accepted the award on behalf of Dìrísù, who was not at this year’s ceremony. In addition to Dìrísù, Souleymane’s Story star Abou Sangaré also took home the award for Breakthrough Performer.
Following both wins (and two turns on the Gotham stage), Davies told EBONY backstage that he didn’t expect to go home with not one, but two awards.
“It’s crazy, man, but I’m just so happy,” he started, “I’m so happy for Sopé. I think he really deserves it…We were all somewhat astounded because I think his performance is completely masterful in the film. To be honest, he’s the main reason why people came to see the film. He really believed in the project and came on as an executive producer — I couldn’t be happier for him.”