The 41st Film Independent Spirit Awards took place Sunday in Los Angeles, honoring the best in independent film and television. Hosted by comedian and Saturday Night Live alum Ego Nwodim, the ceremony was livestreamed on YouTube from the Hollywood Palladium, marking the first time the event was held at the venue while its longtime Santa Monica location undergoes renovations.
Celebrating Independent Voices
The Spirit Awards are known for spotlighting productions with budgets under $30 million, ensuring that smaller films and series receive recognition outside of the mainstream awards circuit. This year’s top nominees included Ira Sachs’ Peter Hujar’s Day, Clint Bentley’s Train Dreams, and Eva Victor’s Sorry, Baby.
Star-Studded Nominees
Actors Ethan Hawke, Rose Byrne, and Keke Palmer were among the high-profile nominees. Byrne earned nods for both a Spirit Award and an Oscar for her role in Mary Bronstein’s If I Had Legs I’d Kick You. She competed in the lead performance category against Joel Edgerton (Train Dreams), Dylan O’Brien (Twinless), Palmer (One of Them Days), Tessa Thompson (Hedda), and Ben Whishaw (Peter Hujar’s Day). Supporting performance nominees included Naomi Ackie (Sorry, Baby), Zoey Deutch (Nouvelle Vague), Kirsten Dunst (Roofman), Nina Hoss (Hedda), and Archie Madekwe (Lurker).
International and Documentary Categories
Films competing in the international category included Sirāt, The Secret Agent, and On Becoming a Guinea Fowl. Documentary contenders featured Come See Me in the Good Light, My Undesirable Friends: Part I — Last Air in Moscow, and The Perfect Neighbor.
Television Honors
The Spirit Awards also celebrated achievements in television. Hawke was nominated for his role in The Lowdown, alongside Seth Rogen (The Studio), Stephen Graham (Adolescence), and Noah Wyle (The Pitt).
A Fundraiser for Film Independent
Beyond honoring artists, the Spirit Awards serve as a fundraiser for Film Independent’s year-round programs, which support emerging filmmakers and diverse voices in the industry. While the winners often overlap with Oscar contenders, the Spirit Awards maintain a distinct identity by championing bold, risk-taking projects that might otherwise be overlooked.
