There’s something beautiful about the determination of Film Independent, the nonprofit organization, and their absolute determination to help foster storytellers. They have been about diversity and inclusion for 30 years – and that was before a person could be canceled by the power of a hashtag. It’s because of that vision and grit that I remain a firm supporter of the organization.
This year, Indie Spirit Awards was hosted by acclaimed comedian Hasan Minhaj, and from my view inside the tent, located on the Santa Monica pier, he bombed. Sorry, my brown brother, I am taking this statement from the groans of the assembled and then the cricket silence when joke after joke failed to land.
But Minhaj’s is one of the brightest minds working in the industry today and he did bring up a few issues that did deserve contemplation. For example, the fact that the Indie Spirit Awards was broadcasted live on IMDb’s YouTube channel, as well as Film Independent’s YouTube and Twitter accounts.
This year’s ceremony, the 38th in Film Independent’s history, was marked by a number of firsts. Most notable was a switch to gender neutral acting categories, as well as the introduction of a Best Breakthrough Performance award.
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Leading the way among the award winners was “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” which ended the ceremony with seven wins. These included Best Feature, Best Director and Best Screenplay for Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, Best Lead Performance for Michelle Yeoh, Best Supporting Performance for Ke Huy Quan, Best Breakthrough Performance for Stephanie Hsu and Best Editing for Paul Rogers. Among the other films and artists honored, “Aftersun” won Best First Feature, John Patton Ford won Best First Screenplay for “Emily the Criminal,” Florian Hoffmeister of “TÁR” won Best Cinematography; “Joyland” won Best International Film; and “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed” won Best Documentary.
For the third time in its history, this year’s Spirit Awards also honored exceptional content in television. This year’s major winners in the TV categories were “The Bear,” which won Best New Scripted Series and Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series for Ayo Edebiri; “The Rehearsal,” which won Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series; Quinta Brunson of “Abbott Elementary,” who won Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series; and “Pachinko,” which won Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series.
The 15th annual Robert Altman Award, which was created in 2008 in honor of legendary film director Robert Altman, who was known for creating extraordinary ensemble casts, was awarded to “Women Talking” director Sarah Polley, alongside casting directors John Buchan and Jason Knight, as well as ensemble cast members Shayla Brown, Jessie Buckley, Claire Foy, Kira Guloien, Kate Hallett, Judith Ivey, Rooney Mara, Sheila McCarthy, Frances McDormand, Michelle McLeod, Liv McNeil, August Winter and Ben Whishaw.
Also celebrated were “The Cathedral” with the John Cassavetes Award, given to the best feature made for under $1,000,000 (raised from $500,000 in previous years); Nikyatu Jusu of “Nanny” with the Someone to Watch Award, recognizing a filmmaker of singular vision who has not yet received appropriate recognition; Reid Davenport of “I Didn’t See You There” with the Truer Than Fiction Award, presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features who has yet to receive significant recognition; and Tory Lenosky with the Producers Award, honoring emerging producers who demonstrate the creativity, tenacity and vision required to produce quality independent films with limited resources.
The winners of the Film Independent Spirit Awards are voted on by Film Independent Members. Membership is open to the public.
Inside the winners room, Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series winner, Quinta Brunson, “Abbott Elementary” (ABC) was asked what has kept her grounded as her career continues to rise. “Family, friends, tragedy,” the Indie Spirit winner replied. “I’ve had a lot of death in my life as all this has been going on and that will keep you grounded big time and having to literally work and having to think about the next season of ‘Abbott [Elementary]’.”
The following is a complete list of the winners:
FILM CATEGORIES
Best Feature
“Everything Everywhere All At Once” (A24)
Producers: Daniel Kwan, Mike Larocca, Anthony Russo, Joe Russo, Daniel Scheinert, Jonathan Wang
Best Director
Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert, “Everything Everywhere All At Once” (A24)
Best Screenplay
Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert, “Everything Everywhere All At Once” (A24)
Best First Feature
“Aftersun” (A24)
Director: Charlotte Wells
Producers: Mark Ceryak, Amy Jackson, Barry Jenkins, Adele Romanski
Best First Screenplay
John Patton Ford, “Emily the Criminal” (Roadside Attractions and Vertical Entertainment)
John Cassavetes Award
(for best feature made under $1,000,000)
“The Cathedral” (MUBI)
Writer/Director: Ricky D’Ambrose
Producer: Graham Swon
Best Breakthrough Performance
Stephanie Hsu, “Everything Everywhere All At Once” (A24)
Best Supporting Performance
Ke Huy Quan, “Everything Everywhere All At Once” (A24)
Best Lead Performance
Michelle Yeoh, “Everything Everywhere All At Once” (A24)
Robert Altman Award
“Women Talking” (Orion Releasing/United Artists Releasing)
Director: Sarah Polley
Casting Directors: John Buchan, Jason Knight
Ensemble Cast: Shayla Brown, Jessie Buckley, Claire Foy, Kira Guloien, Kate Hallett, Judith Ivey, Rooney Mara, Sheila McCarthy, Frances McDormand, Michelle McLeod, Liv McNeil, August Winter, Ben Whishaw
Best Cinematography
Florian Hoffmeister, “TÁR” (Focus Features)
Best Editing
Paul Rogers, “Everything Everywhere All At Once” (A24)
Best International Film
“Joyland” (Oscilloscope)
Director: Saim Sadiq
Best Documentary
“All the Beauty and the Bloodshed” (NEON)
Director/Producer: Laura Poitras
Producers: Howard Gertler, Nan Goldin, Yoni Golijov, John Lyons
Someone to Watch
Nikyatu Jusu, “Nanny” (Amazon Studios)
Truer Than Fiction
Reid Davenport, “I Didn’t See You There” (POV)
Producers Award
Tory Lenosky
TELEVISION CATEGORIES
Best New Scripted Series
“The Bear” (FX)
Creator/Executive Producer: Christopher Storer
Executive Producers: Joanna Calo, Josh Senior, Hiro Murai
Co-Executive Producer: Rene Gube
Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series
“The Rehearsal” (HBO/HBO Max)
Creator/Executive Producer: Nathan Fielder
Executive Producers: Dave Paige, Dan McManus, Christie Smith
Co-Executive Producers: Carrie Kemper, Eric Notarnicola
Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series
Ayo Edebiri, “The Bear” (FX)
Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series
Quinta Brunson, “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series
“Pachinko” (Apple+)
Ensemble Cast: Jin Ha, Lee Minho, Minha Kim, Soji Arai, Inji Jeong, Kaho Minami, Steve Sanghyun Noh, Anna Sawai, Jimmi Simpson, Yuh-jung Youn
