The Gotham Film & Media Institute is preparing to host its 35th annual Gotham Film Awards on December 1 in New York City, where independent film and standout performances across the year will be recognized.
According to Deadline, the ceremony, which has become a key marker in awards season, highlights not only celebrated films but also honors artists with special tributes.
Among this year’s announced tributes, Guillermo del Toro’s upcoming Frankenstein will be presented with the Vanguard Tribute, while the cast of Sinners will receive the Ensemble Tribute. More honorees are expected to be revealed, adding to the anticipation ahead of the nominees’ announcement on October 28.
One of the evening’s highest honors will go to Tessa Thompson, who has been selected to receive the Spotlight Award. Thompson, who stars in Amazon MGM Studios’ upcoming film Hedda, is being recognized for a performance that Gotham’s executive director Jeffrey Sharp described as “both fearless and revelatory.”
Sharp added, “We are thrilled to honor Tessa with the Spotlight Tribute and celebrate her extraordinary work in bringing Hedda to life with such depth and nuance. Throughout her remarkable career, she has remained committed to bold, transformative storytelling.”
Hedda, directed and written by Nia DaCosta, reimagines Henrik Ibsen’s classic stage play in a 1950s England setting.
The film centers on Hedda, played by Thompson, a newlywed whose dissatisfaction surfaces during a lavish party she and her husband, George (Tom Bateman), cannot afford to host.
The evening spirals as Hedda manipulates those around her, including an acclaimed author (Nina Hoss) who is competing with George for an academic post. The cast also features Imogen Poots and Nicholas Pinnock, with Thompson serving not only as lead actor but also as a producer.
The project made its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last month and will open theatrically this week before arriving on Prime Video on October 29.
Thompson joins a notable lineage of Spotlight Award recipients, with last year’s honor going to Zendaya for her role in Challengers.