The romantic comedy Oscar front-runner “Anora” continued its winning ways, earning awards for its director, its star and for the feature itself at Saturday’s presentation of the 40th Film Independent Spirit Awards, which honor the best independent film productions from the past year.
“A Real Pain” took home two awards. One was for Jesse Eisenberg’s screenplay, the other for Kieran Culkin’s supporting performance.
“Shogun” won for Best New Scripted Series, but it was “Baby Reindeer” that received the most hardware for the new scripted series categories, winning all three performance categories. Richard Gadd won for best lead, Nava Mau for best supporting, and Jessica Gunning for best breakthrough performance.
The Film Independent Spirit Awards was presented during an afternoon ceremony in a tent at the beach in Santa Monica. The ceremony was hosted for the second year in a row by “Saturday Night Live” alum Aidy Bryant.
Actress and “Saturday Night Live” alum Molly Shannon was the “honorary chair,” a position given each year “to an individual who exemplifies outstanding artistic achievement and embodies Film Independent’s mission.”
Among those who served as presenters during the ceremony were Tadanobu Asano, Carrie Coon, Danielle Deadwyler, Mark and Jay Duplass, Walton Goggins, Kathryn Hahn, Alana Haim, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Patti LuPone, Melanie Lynskey, Natasha Lyonne, Sonequa Martin-Green, Natalie Morales, Ruth Negga, Karen Pittman, Questlove, Edgar Ramirez, Hunter Schafer, Randy & Jason Sklar, Julio Torres, Jessica Williams and Michelle Yeoh.
Here is a complete list of winners:
BEST FEATURE (Award given to the producer)
“Anora,” Producers: Sean Baker, Alex Coco, Samantha Quan
BEST FIRST FEATURE (Award given to director and producer)
“Didi,” Director/Producer: Sean Wang Producers: Valerie Bush, Carlos López Estrada, Josh Peters
JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD — Given to the best feature made for under $1,000,000. (Award given to the writer, director, and producer)
“Girls Will Be Girls,” Writer/Director/Producer: Shuchi Talati Producers: Richa Chadha, Claire Chassagne
BEST DIRECTOR
Sean Baker, “Anora”
BEST SCREENPLAY
Jesse Eisenberg, “A Real Pain”
BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
Sean Wang “Didi”
BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE
Mikey Madison, “Anora”
BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE
Kieran Culkin, “A Real Pain”
BEST BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE
Maisy Stella, “My Old Ass”
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Jomo Fray, “Nickel Boys”
BEST EDITING
Hansj’rg Weissbrich, “September 5”
ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD — Given to one film’s director, casting director, and ensemble cast
“His Three Daughters,” Director: Azazel Jacobs Casting Director: Nicole Arbusto Ensemble Cast: Jovan Adepo, Jasmine Bracey, Carrie Coon, Jose Febus, Rudy Galvan, Natasha Lyonne, Elizabeth Olsen, Randy Ramos Jr., Jay O. Sanders
BEST DOCUMENTARY (Award given to the director and producer)
“No Other Land,” Directors/Producers: Yuval Abraham, Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Rachel Szor Producers: Fabien Greenberg, Bard Kjoge Ronning
BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM (Award given to the director)
“Flow,” Latvia, France, Belgium, Director: Gints Zilbalodis
PRODUCERS AWARD presented by Bulleit Frontier Whiskey — The Producers Award, now in its 28th year, honors emerging producers who, despite highly limited resources, demonstrate the creativity, tenacity, and vision required to produce quality independent films.
Sarah Winshall
SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD — The Someone to Watch Award, now in its 31st year, recognizes a talented filmmaker of singular vision who has not yet received appropriate recognition.
Sarah Friedland, Director of “Familiar Touch”
TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD? — The Truer Than Fiction Award, now in its 30th year, is presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features who has not yet received significant recognition.
Rachel Elizabeth Seed Director of A Photographic Memory
BEST NEW NON-SCRIPTED OR DOCUMENTARY SERIES (Award given to the Creator, Executive Producer, Co-Executive Producer)
“Hollywood Black,” Executive Producers: Shayla Harris, Dave Sirulnick, Stacey Reiss, Jon Kamen, Justin Simien, Kyle Laursen, Forest Whitaker, Nina Yang Bongiovi, Jeffrey Schwarz, Amy Goodman Kass, Michael Wright, Jill Burkhart, Co-Executive Producers: David C. Brown, Laurens Grant
BEST NEW SCRIPTED SERIES (Award given to the Creator, Executive Producer, Co-Executive Producer)
“Shogun,” Creators/Executive Producers: Rachel Kondo, Justin Marks, Executive Producers: Edward L. McDonnell, Michael De Luca, Michaela Clavell, Co-Executive Producers: Shannon Goss, Andrew Macdonald, Allon Reich
BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A NEW SCRIPTED SERIES
Richard Gadd, “Baby Reindeer”
BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE IN A NEW SCRIPTED SERIES
Nava Mau, “Baby Reindeer”
BEST BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE IN A NEW SCRIPTED SERIES
Jessica Gunning, “Baby Reindeer”
BEST ENSEMBLE CAST IN A NEW SCRIPTED SERIES
“How to Die Alone,” Ensemble Cast: Melissa DuPrey, Jaylee Hamidi, KeiLyn Durrel Jones, Arkie Kandola, Elle Lorraine, Michelle McLeod, Chris “CP” Powell, Conrad Ricamora, Natasha Rothwell, Jocko Sims