The 41st annual Film Independent Spirit Awards were to those most outstanding independent films and television series of the past year. This year’s ceremony took place on the 15th of February and brought together some of the biggest names in indie E.
Because of renovations to its traditional location at its Santa Monica Pier, the event took place in the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles. The show was hosted by Saturday Night Live alum Ego Nwodim who presided over the evening’s festivities.
On the movie side Netflix’s Train Dreams was the night’s biggest winner. In television, Adolescence dominated its categories winning in a sweeping case.
Film Categories
Best Feature
Winner: Train Dreams
Other nominees included:
- Peter Hujar’s Day
- The Plague
- Sorry, Baby
- Twinless
Train Dreams not only secured the top prize but also collected multiple major awards during the night.
Best Director
Winner: Clint Bentley for Train Dreams
Other nominees:
- Mary Bronstein (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You)
- Lloyd Lee Choi (Lucky Lu)
- Ira Sachs (Peter Hujar’s Day)
- Eva Victor (Sorry, Baby)
Acting Awards (Film)
Best Lead Performance
Winner: Rose Byrne for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
Other nominees included Joel Edgerton, Tessa Thompson, Dylan O’Brien, Keke Palmer, Ben Whishaw, and more.
Best Supporting Performance
Winner: Naomi Ackie for Sorry, Baby
Best Breakthrough Performance
Winner: Kayo Martin for The Plague
Writing & Technical Awards
- Best Screenplay: Sorry, Baby
- Best First Screenplay: Lurker
- Best Cinematography: Train Dreams
- Best Editing: The Testament of Ann Lee
- Best Documentary: The Perfect Neighbor
- Best International Film: The Secret Agent
Special Recognition Awards
- Robert Altman Award: The Long Walk, honoring director Francis Lawrence along with its ensemble cast.
- John Cassavetes Award: Esta Isla
- Producers Award: Tony Yang
- Someone to Watch Award: Tatti Ribeiro
- Truer Than Fiction Award: Rajee Samarasinghe
In television, Adolescence swept every category it was nominated in, making it the undisputed TV champion of the evening.
Best New Scripted Series
Winner: Adolescence
Other nominees included Common Side Effects, Forever, Mr. Loverman, and North of North.
Acting Awards (Television)
Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series
Winner: Stephen Graham for Adolescence
Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series
Winner: Erin Doherty for Adolescence
Best Breakthrough Performance in a New Scripted Series
Winner: Owen Cooper for Adolescence
Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series
Winner: Chief of War
The ensemble recognition celebrated the cast of the Jason Momoa-led historical drama series.
The Film Independent Spirit Awards continue to expose the power and inventiveness of independent storytelling. With Train Dreams marking the lead film and Adolescence taking a sweeping win in television this year’s winnings featured an authoritative blend of new voices and old talents.
From breakout performers to veteran filmmakers, The night exemplified the way indie cinema and television continue to mold the rest of the entertainment landscape.
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