READ MORE: 7 Surprises from the 2015 Gotham Awards Nominations This week, the Gotham Awards won't only further the awards race with the first big ceremony of the season. The IFP-run New York event also celebrates its 25th year, a major landmark for the non-profit that stretches back to a dramatically different period in the history of American independent film. For current IFP executive director Joana Vicente, the Gothams continue to embody much of their original ethos even as the scope has widened from its initial focus on New York film personalities.