#SPOTTED: “UNCUT GEMS” + “THE FAREWELL” TAKE TOP HONOURS AT 2020 FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS

While the 2020 FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS didn’t see a clean sweep for any particular Film, what made it most unique was the split of awards among deserving titles which may have been overseen on other circuits. Taking home top honours at this year’s Awards, held once again at Santa Monica Pier, was Lulu Wang‘s THE FAREWELL. The Film won Best Feature and Best Supporting Actress with Zhao Shuzhen, who sadly was unable to celebrate due to the Coronavirus situation in China. Wang‘s partner Barry Jenkins was with her to support her, showing his pride backstage.

UNCUT GEMS which surprisingly for many failed to garner an Academy Award nomination, performed very well at the Spirit Awards, rewarding Best Director to Co-Directors The Safdie Brothers and also Best Male Lead (Adam Sandler). Sandler gave a spirited speech delivered completely as a different character, before thanking his family, while the Safdie Brothers both delivered a comical speech which saw them talking over one another.

Much like the rest of Awards Season, Renée Zellweger took home Best Female Lead for her work in JUDY, marking her first Spirit Award win after three nominations. Returning Host Aubrey Plaza delivered an opening number, a version of Judy Garland‘s Get Happy with hilarious lyrics, delivering the chuckles once again.

 

Watch it here:

 

MARRIAGE STORY also saw recognition with the Film’s team being awarded the Robert Altman Award, along with its Director/Writer Noah Baumbach who was also awarded Best Screenplay. Baumbach gave thanks to his partner Greta Gerwig, telling the audience “Even though she made a Movie (Little Women) too expensive to be here, she is just as independent as any of us.”. This was Baumbach‘s first Spirit Award.

 

Watch Film Independent’s YouTube Channel for more clips and speeches here.

We were thrilled once again to partner with Hollywood Suite, exclusive Canadian Broadcaster of the Awards!

 

See some of our star-studded Snaps. Navigate Albums by selecting the right arrow.

 

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#SpiritAwards: Volume 1. #LuluWang #ReneeZellweger #AdamSandler #SafdieBrothers #RachelBrosnahan #NaomiWatts #JoeyKing #HunterKing #KaitlynDever #BeanieFeldstein #LauraDern #GretaGerwig

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Feb 8, 2020 at 5:23pm PST

 

 

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#SpiritAwards Volume 2: #BongJoonHo #NoahBaumbach #Booksmart #IdinaMenzel #ElisabethMoss #JenniferLopez #JLO #WillemDafoe #MargaretQualley #LaurenSpencer #HunterSchafer

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Feb 8, 2020 at 5:25pm PST

 

 

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#SpiritAwards Selfies: #AdamSandler #LauraDern #RachelBrosnahan #MargaretQualley #HunterSchafer #MindyKaling #AmericaFerrara #BoBurnham #SafdieBrothers #JulieHagerty

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Feb 8, 2020 at 5:49pm PST

 

Team Hollywood Suite: Cam Maitland x Alicia Fletcher

So happy to be here with the Team from @hollywoodsuite: @camfess and Alicia Fletcher! The Blue Carpet starts soon and broadcast 5 PM ET. #SpiritAwards pic.twitter.com/1ovx6iUoSu

— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) February 8, 2020

 

While Awards Season is about to conclude with the Academy Awards taking place tomorrow, we’ll look back at this year’s Spirit Awards as an unforgettable one!

 

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Film Independent)