Since 1999, the Gotham Film & Media Institute, an organisation that sounds very invested in independent film credibility, runs the Gotham Awards, a ceremony with the annual duty to highlight a selection of film and television positioned as the year’s standouts. Until, of course, 2024 came with a little, and arguably cooler, sister. Enter the Gotham TV Awards, new enough to still be shaping its identity, but established enough to already have a red carpet to maintain. And in New York, red carpets are taken seriously, much like the screen actors constantly validated by your feed.
Good thing smaller red carpets tend to loosen the rules. Less dress code discipline, and definitely less of the unspoken panic that comes with being evaluated under full industry lighting. If anything, our favorite looks read like they belong to several different red carpets that never agreed to meet. Starting strong with the women who went for full gowns. Chase Infinity showed up in a Hubba Bubba-pink Louis Vuitton dress, topped with a matching tulle stole and a trail that ensured the necessary personal space. In contrast, Grace Gummer chose a sheer, avant-garde Issey Miyake look, finished with what appeared to be black branch-like detailing wrapping around the body.
Some of them opted for a bit of sparkle. Brittany Snow wore a strapless, drop-waist Reem Acra dress with a bow at the front and sequins all over, a detail Rachel Sennott also leaned into in her own way. But not everyone treats a floor-length dress as the obvious choice. Take it from Odessa A’zion, Sennott’s I Love LA co-star, who reliably shows up looking good on a carpet, even when she leans slightly off-script. This time, she arrived in a bright red knit paired with a striped jumpsuit. Then there’s Kate Mara, in a sculptural mini House of Gilles dress, styled with what tries to be a cape but stops just short of full drama.
Men hid a few surprises in their suit looks. Dan Levy, for instance, clearly wanted us to see his tie. Dallas Liu leaned into something more romantic, wearing a Bode suit we already loved on Ethan Hawke at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards, covered in the brand’s hand-crocheted floral appliqués. Liu added a satin bow at the neck, which felt like a distant cousin of this on his shoes. Owen Thiele, however, had no interest in tailoring. He showed up in Valentino instead. A belted mélange jacket and a striped collar underneath do the job just fine, if not the brief.
