The Gotham Film & Media Institute announced today that Director Hwang Dong-hyuk will receive the Creator Tribute for Netflix’s global juggernaut “Squid Game” at the Second Annual Gotham Television Awards, taking place live and in person on Monday, June 2nd at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City and live streaming on Variety’s YouTube channel.
The Gotham Television Awards Creator Tribute was created in 2024 to recognize the iconic artists and creators who have enriched the landscape and pushed the boundaries of TV, making an indelible impact on the medium. With this tribute, The Gothams will honor Director Hwang for combining high-stakes storytelling with sharp cultural commentary to create the global phenomenon that is “Squid Game.” The Gothams previously celebrated the series with the competitive category award for Best Long Form Breakthrough Series at The Gothams in 2021.
“Since “Squid Game’s” breakout win at The Gotham Awards four years ago, its ascent has been nothing short of extraordinary—earning global acclaim, sweeping honors, and cementing its place as a landmark in modern television,” said Jeffrey Sharp, Executive Director of The Gotham Film & Media Institute. “With his genre-defying series, Director Hwang has reshaped the possibilities of episodic storytelling, captivating audiences worldwide with a series that is both thrilling and culturally defining. We are proud to recognize “Squid Game” and Director Hwang in this final chapter, in what promises to be an unforgettable moment at this year’s Gotham Television Awards.”
“Squid Game“ – created and directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk – has become Netflix’s most popular show of all time and a defining moment in global television. Known for its gripping narrative exploring economic desperation and corruption through twisted versions of childhood games, the series has sparked worldwide conversation and left a lasting cultural mark. Upon release, it amassed 1.65 billion viewing hours in just 28 days. It also made Emmy history with 14 nominations and six wins, including Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series – a first for a non-English language show. The honor also made Dong-hyuk the first Asian recipient in the category and the first native Korean winner. Season 2, which premiered in December 2024, broke streaming records with the most views for a show in its premiere week and entered Netflix’s Most Popular Non-English TV list within three days.
The third and final season of “Squid Game“ will premiere globally on Netflix on June 27th, 2025, with seasons 1 and 2 currently available to stream on the platform. The franchise has continued to grow with the Emmy-nominated and BAFTA-winning “Squid Game: The Challenge,“ along with “Squid Game: The Experience,“ a touring fan activation, and “Squid Game: Unleashed,“ a multiplayer video game that is on track to become Netflix’s most downloaded title.
The Gotham Television Awards’ inaugural Creator Tribute was presented last year to Peter Morgan for his remarkable creation of “The Crown.“ It was previously announced that Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino will also receive the Creator Tribute at the Second Annual Gotham Television Awards. At the inaugural Gotham Television Awards ceremony, “Baby Reindeer,“ a unique exploration of stalking and buried traumas created by and starring Richard Gadd, won Breakthrough Limited Series while “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,“ created by Francesca Sloane and Donald Glover and inspired by the 2005 spy movie, won Breakthrough Drama Series. “Colin from Accounts,“ the rom-com in which two singles are brought together by a car accident involving a dog, took home the Breakthrough Series Comedy award.
The winners of the Second Annual Gotham Television Awards will be honored at the ceremony at Cipriani Wall Street on Monday, June 2nd. The event will be live-streamed on Variety’s YouTube channel. Vanity Fair is the premier sponsor of the 2025 Gotham Television Awards.
What do you think of this news for the 2nd annual Gotham Television Awards? Nominations will be announced on Tuesday, April 29th. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments section below or on our X account.
