Noah Baumbach to Receive Director Tribute at 2025 Gotham Film Awards (Exclusive)

Noah Baumbach is set to receive the director tribute at the 2025 Gotham Film Awards, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

The three-time Gotham Award winner will be recognized for his overall career and latest film, Jay Kelly, starring George Clooney and Adam Sandler.

“As a three-time Gotham Award winner and five-time nominee, Noah Baumbach is one of our most beloved filmmakers,” said Jeffrey Sharp, executive director of The Gotham Film & Media Institute, which preseents the Gotham Film Awards. “With Jay Kelly — marked by Noah’s unmistakable writing and extraordinary performances from George Clooney, Adam Sandler and cast — he once again shows why his storytelling continues to inspire audiences everywhere. We’re honored to celebrate him and this beautiful film with the Gotham director tribute.”

Jay Kelly, which Baumbach directed and co-wrote with Emily Mortimer, follows its titular movie star, played by Clooney, as he embarks on a journey of self-discovery including trying to reconnect with his children after spending years focused on his career. Sandler plays Kelly’s devoted manager Ron. The cast also includes Laura Dern, Billy Crudup, Riley Keough, Grace Edwards, Stacy Keach, Jim Broadbent, Patrick Wilson, Eve Hewson, Greta Gerwig, Alba Rohrwacher, Josh Hamilton, Lenny Henry, Emily Mortimer, Nicôle Lecky, Thaddea Graham, Isla Fisher, Louis Partridge and Charlie Rowe.

Jay Kelly hits theaters on Nov. 14 before it begins streaming on Netflix on Dec. 5.

Baumbach’s Marriage Story dominated the Gotham Awards in 2019, winning best feature, best screenplay, the audience award and best actor for star Adam Driver ahead of earning six Oscar nominations and Dern winning best supporting actress at the 2020 Oscars for her performance.

His other films include White Noise, The Meyerowitz Stories, Mistress America, Frances Ha, Greenberg, Margot at the Wedding and The Squid and the Whale. He also co-wrote the Barbie screenplay with his partner and frequent collaborator Gerwig.

Last year the director tribute was presented to Denis Villeneuve for Dune: Part Two. Other, previously announced, honorees for the 2025 Gotham Film Awards include Tessa Thompson (the Spotlight Tribute for Hedda) and the films Frankenstein (getting the Gotham Vanguard Tribute) and Sinners (the cast of which will receive the Ensemble Tribute).

The 2025 Gotham Film Awards is set to take place on Monday, Dec. 1 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York. Nominations will be announced on Tuesday, Oct. 28.