'Michael' to Receive Gotham Musical Tribute — SkimNews
Get the Culture newsletter
Daily culture — film, music, books, the trends and ideas worth your attention. Free.
- "Michael" — director Antoine Fuqua, actors Colman Domingo, Jaafar Jackson, and Nia Long, and producer Graham King — will receive the Gotham Musical Tribute at the 36th Annual Gotham Film Awards on Nov. 30 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.
- The biographical film "Michael" has grossed more than $1 billion globally, making it the highest-grossing biographical film of all time, with a sequel currently in development.
- "Michael" was written by John Logan, produced by Graham King, John Branca, and John McClain, and also stars Laura Harrier, Juliano Krue Valdi, and Miles Teller; the film traces Jackson's journey from The Jackson Five through his solo career.
- The Gotham Musical Tribute was inaugurated last year by Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson for "Song Sung Blue," making this only the second edition of the category.
- Jeffrey Sharp, executive director of the Gotham Film and Media Institute, said the tribute honors the team for "bringing Michael Jackson's life, legend and music to the screen" and capturing "the humanity behind one of the world's most celebrated artists."
- Additional 2025 Gotham honorees include Danny Boyle with the Director Tribute for "Ink," "La Bola Negra" with the Vanguard Tribute, and Laika Studios with the Anniversary Tribute; full nominees will be announced Oct. 27.
Why it matters: The Gotham Musical Tribute, inaugurated only last year, is being awarded to a film that has already crossed $1 billion globally — an unusually commercial capstone for an awards-body honor typically reserved for prestige fare. With a sequel in active development, the tribute doubles as a coronation of a franchise-launching hit rather than a discovery of emerging work.
Ask SkimNews
