The Gotham Awards are American film awards that are presented annually to the makers of independent films at a ceremony in New York City. The awards were first presented in 1991 and are named after the citys nickname "Gotham". The Gotham Awards honor visionary talent in front of and behind the camera, expand the audience for groundbreaking film and television, and support the year-round work of the not-for-profit The Gotham Film & Media Institute. The awards provide early acknowledgement to groundbreaking indie films and series as they move through awards season, with statuettes handed out in New York City. The categories for the awards include Tribute Award, Best Feature, Best Documentary, Best Actor, Best Actress, Breakthrough Actor, Breakthrough Director, Breakthrough Series – Long Form, Breakthrough Series – Short Form, and the Audience Award. The awards also have specific criteria for some categories, such as the Performer Tribute, which is awarded to a performer making an indelible impact with limited screen time and who cannot be considered a lead or co-lead in the film.