AWARD CRITERIA

There will be nine competitive awards for feature films in 2024 – Best Feature, Best Documentary Feature, Best International Feature, Best Director, Breakthrough Director, Best Screenplay, Outstanding Lead Performance, Outstanding Supporting Performance, and Breakthrough Performer. All eligible submissions must meet the following criteria for competitive awards:

• Filmmaking with a point of view. Each Gotham Award™ will be given to individual films or performers in films where the vision of an individual director, producer, writer or writer/director is abundantly evident.
• Best Feature must be directed, and/or produced (credited “producer” or “produced by”), and/or written by individuals who are U.S. citizens or permanently U.S.-based. A minimum of two different individuals across these roles are required. If the film’s director is American as defined and fulfills at least two of these roles, this is sufficient for eligibility.
• Feature-length film (defined as over 70 minutes).
• Screening availability by the Nominating Committees.
• The film submission form must be submitted by the deadline, and the film must be made accessible by password protected viewing link or hosted “virtual screening room” for screening by the nominating committees no later than the close of the submission period.
• Theatrical Release. The release can be through a theatrical releasing entity or by direct or self-distribution by the filmmakers.

ELIGIBILITY PERIOD: Feature films must be scheduled for a theatrical release during the period (January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024, 11:59 p.m.). Films will only be considered in the eligibility year in which they first meet the release criteria. By the submission deadline, films must have a confirmed release date for this period.

THEATRICAL RELEASE: The planned release can be through a theatrical releasing entity or by direct or self-distribution by the filmmakers. The film must be screened for paid admission in a commercial motion picture theater in New York City [five boroughs], Los Angeles County, the Bay Area [counties of San Francisco, Marin, Alameda, San Mateo, and Contra Costa], Chicago [Cook County, Illinois], Dallas-Fort Worth [Dallas County, Tarrant County, Texas], Atlanta [Fulton County, Georgia] and must run for a minimum of seven consecutive days. The film must be advertised, marketed, and available for press review during the qualified city runs in a manner considered normal and customary to the industry for the official theatrical release of films and not as an “under the radar” release for awards consideration only. The film can be publicly exhibited in film or digital formats, delivered to the screen by an image and sound file format suitable for exhibition in existing commercial cinema sites.

• BEST FEATURE – an exceptionally realized U.S. fiction feature-length film that raises the possibilities of filmmaking and that will withstand the test of time. Filmmaking with a point of view, where the creative vision is abundantly evident. This is a producers’ award. The Gotham Award will be presented to the film’s credited producer(s).

• BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE – an exceptionally realized nonfiction feature-length film (U.S. or international) that deals creatively with cultural, artistic, historical, social, scientific, economic or other subject matter. This is a director and producers’ award. The objective is to recognize the significant artistic and/or social impact of the director’s vision. It may be photographed in actual occurrence, or may employ partial re-enactment, stock footage, stills, animation, stop-motion or other hybrid techniques, as long as the overall emphasis is on fact and not fiction. The Gotham Award will be presented to the film’s credited director(s) and producer(s).

• BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE – an exceptionally realized fiction feature-length film that raises the possibilities of filmmaking and that will withstand the test of time. Filmmaking with a point of view, where the vision of the director(s)/producer(s) is abundantly evident. Only features that do not meet the criteria to qualify as a U.S. film in the Best Feature category will be considered. The film must have been released in the country of origin from January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024, with a theatrical run of at least seven consecutive days. The film need not have been released in the U.S. The key roles of director, producer (“produced by”), and screenwriter should be based outside the U.S. and are not U.S. citizens. This is a producers’ award. The Gotham Award will be presented to the film’s credited producer(s).

• BEST DIRECTOR – to a filmmaker whose fiction film (U.S. or international) pushes the boundaries of creativity and demonstrates a unique vision. The Gotham Award will be presented to the film’s credited director(s).

• BREAKTHROUGH DIRECTOR – to a filmmaker whose first fiction film (U.S. or international) pushes the boundaries of creativity and demonstrates a unique vision. If a feature has more than one director, each director must meet the criteria of it being their first feature. In instances in which a director(s) could be considered for both “Breakthrough” and the Best Director award, the category placement will be at the discretion of the nominating committees. The Gotham Award will be presented to the film’s credited director(s).

• BEST SCREENPLAY – an outstanding screenplay for a fiction feature (U.S. or international). The screenplay may be an original work, or one adapted from previously published or existing work in any medium. The Gotham Award will be presented to the film’s credited writer(s).

• OUTSTANDING LEAD PERFORMANCE – an outstanding single performance in an eligible feature film (U.S. or international). The role should be considered a leading role or co-leading role in the film, with the understanding that a film can have several leading roles. Up to ten performances may be nominated by the nominating committee. The Gotham Award will be presented to the performer. The possibility of awarding more than one award is at the discretion of the final jury.

• OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE – an outstanding single supporting performance in an eligible feature film (U.S. or international). The award is to honor a performer making an indelible impact with limited screen time and who cannot be considered a lead or co-lead in the film. Determination as to whether a role meets the criteria of the category is at the discretion of the committee. Billing and screen time will be taken into consideration when determining eligibility and nominations. Up to ten performances may be nominated by the nominating committee. The Gotham Award will be presented to the performer. The possibility of awarding more than one award is at the discretion of the final jury.

• BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMER – an outstanding debut or “breakthrough” performance in an eligible feature film (U.S. or international). The performance is not necessarily the performer’s first screen role but is considered the first role to display the expanse of their talent or suggests significant future accomplishment. The role must be a lead or a strong supporting character in a specific film. Performers who have won or been nominated for significant film or TV awards (Academy Award®, Golden Globe, Spirit Award, Emmy, etc.) for work released prior to 2024 or who have been previously nominated in any Gotham Award acting category are ineligible. In instances in which a performance could be considered for both “Breakthrough” and another acting award, the category placement will be at the discretion of the nominating committees. The Gotham Award will be presented to the performer.

Submission Fees: Commercial distribution entities

$300 PER CATEGORY
Best Feature
Best Documentary Feature
Best International Feature

$150 PER CATEGORY
Best Director
Breakthrough Director
Best Screenplay
Outstanding Lead Performance
Outstanding Supporting Performance
Breakthrough Performer

Submission Fees: Individual filmmakers self-distributing

$100 IN TOTAL

For queries on eligibility and submissions, please contact:
Steven Pfeiffer at [email protected]

Our Selection Process

Executive Criteria Committee
An internal committee comprised of Gotham Awards staff and the Gotham Board ensure that submitted films meet the award criteria.

Nominating Committees
Committees are comprised of film and TV critics, journalists, film curators, festival programmers and others not directly engaged in the production and distribution of films and television will review submitted films and programs that meet the criteria and determine the final nominees in the competitive categories.

Final Selection Juries and Award Voting
A final jury of distinguished filmmakers will determine the winners in each category. Final juries are frequently comprised of directors, writers, producers, editors, actors, directors of photography and others directly associated with making films and television. Executives of companies which release or sell films do not participate in these selections at any stage.