Inside the Gotham Awards—the Biggest Night of the Year for Independent Film

One-to-watch Akinola Davies Jr. was also spotlighted, receiving the Breakthrough Director nod for My Father’s Shadow. Sporting a New York Yankees x MoMA cap with his suit, the British-Nigerian creative thanked his brother and co-writer Wale for joining him on the night. “Ten years ago, I had to keep calling him for money….hopefully I won’t need it tonight,” he said. Later on, he would return to the stage to accept the award for Outstanding Lead Performance on behalf of the film’s star, Sopé Dìrísù.

As guests dined on Cipriani’s famed cheesy Tagliolini and succulent cuts of steak, Adam Sandler told the room: “I remember when this used to be for the low budget movies; this new Gotham sh*t is good!” The Jay Kelly actor joined the film’s co-writer Emily Mortimer on the podium to deliver a double act tale regaling their friendship with Noah Baumbach as they presented him with the prestigious Director Tribute.

Scott Cooper and Jeremy Allen White, who have set out to “strip away the iconography” in order to tell the real story of the “man behind the myth” in the Bruce Springsteen biopic Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere received the Cultural Icon Tribute. (Stevie Van Zandt, the Boss’ longtime friend, band-member, and fellow New Jerseyan was called upon to welcome them to the stage.) “Bruce let us meet him at his most human. That trust is a gift, and that’s why this film exists,” Allen White praised. “The most iconic thing a person can do is tell the truth about who they are,”

An effervescent Tessa Thompson was back to accept the Spotlight Tribute. In the decade since she received the Breakthrough Performer Award, the actor’s profile has gone stratospheric. Coincidentally, Michael B. Jordan, another past Breakthrough Performer Award recipient whose chemistry with Thompson in Ryan Coogler’s Creed helped propel both of their careers, took to the stage soon after with Coogler as the cast of Sinners were honored with the Ensemble Tribute. (Manchester-native Wunmi Mosaku, who plays Annie, also beat out stiff competition to win the evening’s award for Outstanding Supporting Performance.)

Dressed in an elegant Ralph Lauren silk halter neck gown, Kate Hudson arrived on stage singing along to the tune of Sweet Caroline with Hugh Jackman by her side. The duo received the inaugural Musical Tribute for their roles in Song Sung Blue. “Music has always been the great narrator of my life,” Hudson said.

Jackman had been joined on the night by his girlfriend Sutton Foster. Upon arrival to the grand Financial District venue, their rare red carpet appearance had sent flashbulbs into a frenzy, as did A$AP Rocky and Rihanna. The singer, in Balenciaga, had stepped out to support her partner amid his Outstanding Supporting Performance nod for If I Had Legs I d Kick You. Naturally, following his announcement as a newly-minted Chanel ambassador, the Harlem-born rapper was kitted out in designs by Matthieu Blazy ahead of his runway show in the city this week. Also in Chanel were nominated actresses Teyana Taylor and Jessie Buckley, giving a sense of what’s to come this awards season. Meanwhile, Tessa Thompson wore sculptural Schiaparelli, Jennifer Lawrence opted for elegant Dior, Eva Victor kept warm in runway-fresh Loewe leather, and Zoey Deutch turned heads in canary yellow Prada feathers. In a modern interpretation of Grecian glamour, Elle Fanning took to the stage in a pristine white dress by Ralph Lauren alongside a Chanel-clad Kristen Stewart. “I’m finally cool enough to hang out with [my big sister’s best friend,]” a giddy Fanning said.

Rounding out the roll call of talent honored on the evening, After the Hunt’s Julia Roberts and Luca Guadagnino graciously accepted the Visionary Tribute, after being introduced by Paul Rudd. “I’ll be Luca’s interpreter,” Roberts—suited up in Tom Ford by Haider Ackermann—remarked, before launching into some impressive Italian phrases. “Independent film is the tape and the glue that keeps things together, in a world that seems to be crumbling,” she concluded (in English!)

The top prize—Best Feature—was given to One Battle After Another, with director Paul Thomas Anderson quite literally hopping up on to the stage with joy (who needs to take the stairs?). “Well, you need a good cast to make a good movie—and I got a good one here,” he said, while cradling the award in his arms like a baby. Looking down at his wife Maya Rudolph adoringly he added, “On December 1st, 24 years ago, I met a lady who made me a better filmmaker. Happy anniversary, Maya.”