For the ninth year, Hollywood Suite will be the exclusive Canadian home of the Film Independent Spirit Awards! The Awards, honouring the best in independent Film, now it their 37th year, will be hosted by both Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally!
Best Feature nominees this year are: CHIARA, CâMON CâMON, THE LOST DAUGHTER, THE NOVICE and ZOLA.
âIn a crowded awards season that can often see the same big-budget films lauded over and over again, the Film Independent Spirit Awards are a breath of fresh air,â commented David Kines, President Hollywood Suite. âThe awards are bold, smart, and hilarious. As an independent ourselves, we are proud to showcase the cream of the indie crop as the exclusive Canadian broadcaster of the awards for the 9th year.â
The Awards return again to an in-person format after going virtual last year.
The 2022 Film Independent Spirit Awards air Sunday, March 6 at 5pm ET on Hollywood Suite.
Do not forget to catch past Best Feature winners on Hollywood Suite. Schedule below:
The Grifters â Friday, March 4 at 9pm on HS90
Fargo â Saturday, March, 5 at 9pm on HS90
Rambling Rose â Saturday, March 5 at 10:40pm on HS90
Silver Linings Playbook â Sunday, March 6 at 7:35pm on HS00
Brokeback Mountain â Sunday, March 6 at 11:25pm on HS00
We’ve been so lucky to attend in past years in-person. See some of our coverage here.
After going virtual last year, the Film Independent Spirit Awards are back in-person on Santa Monica Pier! Nominees were announced this morning and leading the way in nominations with five nominations is IFC Films Thriller THE NOVICE, followed by THE LOST DAUGHTER, the directorial debut of Maggie Gyllenhaal. While the Awards traditionally are held the weekend of the Oscars, an earlier date this year allow the ceremony to be more of a precursor to Awards Season. Some of the presenters this year include Regina Hall, Naomi Watts and Beanie Feldstein.
Full list of nominees:
Best Feature
âA Chiaraâ
âCâmon Câmonâ
âThe Lost Daughterâ
âThe Noviceâ
âZolaâ
Best Director
Janicza Bravo, âZolaâ
Maggie Gyllenhaal, âThe Lost Daughterâ
Lauren Hadaway, âThe Noviceâ
Mike Mills, âCâmon Câmonâ
Ninja Thyberg, âPleasureâ
Best Male Lead
Clifton Collins Jr., âJockeyâ
Frankie Faison, âKilling of Kenneth Chamberlainâ
Michael Greyeyes, âWild Indianâ
Udo Kier, âSwan Songâ
Simon Rex, âRed Rocketâ
Best Female Lead
Isabelle Fuhrman, âThe Noviceâ
Brittany S. Hall, âTest Patternâ
Patti Harrison, âTogether Togetherâ
Taylour Paige, âZolaâ
Kali Reis, âCatch the Fair Oneâ
Best Supporting Female
Jessie Buckley, âThe Lost Daughterâ
Amy Forsyth, âThe Noviceâ
Ruth Negga, âPassingâ
Revika Reustle, âPleasureâ
Suzanna Son, âRed Rocketâ
Best Supporting Male
Colman Domingo, âZolaâ
Meeko Gattuso, âQueen of Gloryâ
Troy Kotsur, âCODAâ
Will Patton, âSweet Thingâ
Chaske Spencer, âWild Indianâ
Best Screenplay
Nikole Beckwith, âTogether Togetherâ
Janicza Bravo, Jeremy O. Harris, âZolaâ
Maggie Gyllenhaal, âThe Lost Daughterâ
Mike Mills, âCâmon Câmonâ
Todd Stephens, âSwan Songâ
Best First Screenplay
Lyle Mitchell Corbine, Jr., âWild Indian â
Matt Fifer; Story by Sheldon D. Brown, âCicadaâ
Shatara Michelle Ford, âTest Pattern â
Fran Kranz, âMassâ
Michael Sarnoski; Story by Vanessa Block, Michael Sarnoski, âPigâ
Best First Feature
â7 Daysâ
âHollerâ
âQueen of Gloryâ
âTest Patternâ
âWild Indianâ
John Cassavettes Award (Given to the best feature made for under $500,000)
âCryptozooâ
âJockeyâ
âShiva Babyâ
âSweet Thingâ
âThis is Not a War Storyâ
Best Cinematography
âA Chiaraâ
âBlue Bayouâ
âThe Humansâ
âPassingâ
âZolaâ
Best Documentary
âAscensionâ
âFleeâ
âIn The Same Breathâ
âProcessionâ
âSummer of Soulâ
Best Editing
âA Chiaraâ
âThe Nowhere Innâ
âThe Noviceâ
âZolaâ
âThe Killing of Kenneth Chamberlainâ
Robert Altman Award (Given to one filmâs director, casting director and ensemble cast)
âMassâ
Best International Film
âCompartment No. 6â
âDrive My Carâ
âParallel Mothersâ
âPebblesâ
âPetite Mamanâ
âPrayers for the Stolenâ
Producers Award (Honors emerging producers who, despite highly limited resources, demonstrate the creativity, tenacity and vision required to produce quality independent films.)
Brad Becker-Parton
Pin-Chun Liu
Lizzie Shapiro
Someone to Watch Award
Alex Camilleri, âLuzzuâ
Michael Sarnoski, âPigâ
Gillian Wallace Horvat, âI Blame Societyâ
âThe Truer Than Fiction Awardâ (Presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features who has not yet received significant recognition.)
Angelo Madsen Minax, âNorth By Currentâ
Jessica Beshir, âFaya Dayiâ
Debbie Lum, âTry Harder!â
TELEVISION CATEGORIES
Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series
âBlack and Missingâ
âThe Choe Showâ
âThe Lady and The Daleâ
âNuclear Familyâ
âPhilly D.A.â
Best New Scripted Series
âBlindspottingâ
âItâs a Sinâ
âReservation Dogsâ
âThe Underground Railroadâ
âWe Are Lady Partsâ
Best Female Performance in a New Scripted Series
Thuso Mbedu, âThe Underground Railroadâ
Anjana Vasan, âWe Are Lady Partsâ
Jana Schmieding, âRutherford Fallsâ
Jasmine Cephas Jones, âBlindspottingâ
Deborah Ayorinde, âTHEM: Covenantâ
Best Male Performance in a New Scripted Series
Lee Jung-jae, âSquid Gameâ
Olly Alexander, âItâs a Sinâ
Michael Greyeyes, âRutherford Fallsâ
Murray Bartlett, âThe White Lotusâ
Ashley Thomas, âTHEM: Covenantâ
Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series
âReservation Dogsâ
The 37th annual FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS take place Sunday, March 6, 2022.
(Photo credit: IFC Films )
The 36th Film Independent Spirit Awards take place Thursday, April 22, 2021 and nominations were announced today. NEVER RARELY SOMETIMES ALWAYS takes the lead with a total seven nominations, with MINARI, MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM and NOMADLAND tying in second with six nods apiece. ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI, the Feature directorial debut of Oscar winner Regina King will be awarded the Robert Altman Award this year.
Interestingly, we see Chadwick Boseman, whom posthumously has been a frontrunner in the Support Actor category this Awards Season, is in the Lead Actor category here for his work in MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM.
The Spirit Awards’ commitment and diversity can be felt this year across several categories and in the Director race we have two Asian-American Filmmakers nominated in Lee Isaac Chung (Minari) and Chloe Zhao (Nomadland). Three out of five nominees in the category are female.
The Cast of HBO‘s I MAY DESTROY YOU starring, written, directed, produced by Michaela Coel also will be honoured for Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series.
Nominees are as follows:
Best Feature
âFirst Cowâ
âMa Raineyâs Black Bottomâ
âMinariâ
âNever Rarely Sometimes Alwaysâ
âNomadlandâ
Best Director
Lee Isaac Chung, âMinariâ
Emerald Fennell, âPromising Young Womanâ
Eliza Hittman,â Never Rarely Sometimes Alwaysâ
Kelly Reichardt, âFirst Cowâ
Chloe Zhao, âNomadlandâ
Best First Feature
âI Carry You With Meâ
âThe 40 Year Old Versionâ
âThe Sound of Metalâ
âMiss Juneteenthâ
âNine Daysâ
Best Female Lead
Nicole Beharie, âMiss Juneteenthâ
Viola Davis, âMa Raineyâs Black Bottomâ
Sidney Flanigan, âNever Rarely Sometimes Alwaysâ
Julia Garner, âThe Assistantâ
Frances McDormand, âNomadlandâ
Carey Mulligan, âPromising Young Womanâ
Best Male Lead
Riz Ahmed, âThe Sound of Metalâ
Chadwick Boseman, âMa Raineyâs Black Bottomâ
Rob Morgan, âBullâ
Steven Yeun, âMinariâ
Adarsh Gourav, âThe White Tigerâ
Best Supporting Female
Alexis Chikaeze, âMiss Juneteenthâ
Yeri Han, âMinariâ
Valerie Mahaffey, French Exitâ
Talia Ryder, âNever Rarely Sometimes Alwaysâ
Yuh-jung Youn, âMinariâ
Best Supporting Male
Coleman Domingo, âMa Raineyâs Black Bottomâ
Orion Lee, âFirst Cowâ
Paul Raci, âSound of Metalâ
Glynn Turmann, âMa Raineyâs Black Bottomâ
Benedict Wong, âNine Daysâ
Best Screenplay
âBad Educationâ
âMinariâ
âThe Half of Itâ
âNever Rarely Sometimes Alwaysâ
âPromising Young Womanâ
Best First Screenplay
Kitty Green, âThe Assistantâ
Noah Hutton, âLapsisâ
Channing Godfrey Peoples, âMiss Juneteenthâ
Andy Siara, âPalm Springsâ
James Sweeney, âStraight Upâ
Best Cinematography
Jay Keitel, âShe Dies Tomorrowâ
Shabier Kirchner, âBullâ
Michael Latham, âThe Assistantâ
HĂ©lĂšne Louvart, âNever Rarely Sometimes Alwaysâ
Joshua James Richards, âNomadlandâ
Best Editing
âI Carry You With Meâ
âThe Invisible Manâ
âResidueâ
âNever Rarely Sometimes Alwaysâ
âNomadlandâ
Robert Altman Award
âOne Night in Miamiâ
Best Documentary
âCollectiveâ
âCrip Campâ
âDick Johnson Is Deadâ
âTimeâ
âThe Mole Agentâ
Best International Film
âBacurauâ
âThe Discipleâ
âNight of the Kingsâ
âPreparations to be Together for an Unknown Period of Timeâ
âQuo Vadis, Aida?â
Piaget Producers Award
Kara Durrett
Lucas Joaquin
Gerry Kim
Someone to Watch Award
David Midell, âThe Killing of Kenneth Chamberlainâ
Ekwa Msangi, âFarewell Amorâ
Annie Silverstein, âBullâ
Truer Than Fiction Award
Cecilia Aldarondo, âLandfallâ
Elegance Bratton, âPier Kidsâ
Elizabeth Lo, âStrayâ
Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series
âAtlantaâs Missing and Murdered: The Lost Childrenâ
âCity So Realâ
âImmigration Nationâ
âLove Fraudâ
âWeâre Hereâ
Best Scripted Series
âI May Destroy Youâ
âLittle Americaâ
âSmall Axeâ
âA Teacherâ
âUnorthodoxâ
Best Female Performance in a Scripted Series
Elle Fanning, âThe Greatâ
Shira Haas, âUnorthodoxâ
Abby McEnany, âWork in Progress
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, âNever Have I Everâ
Jordan Kristine SeamĂłn, âWe Are Who We Areâ
Best Male Performance in a Scripted Series
Conphidance, âLittle Americaâ
Adam Ali, âLittle Americaâ
Nicco Annan, âP-Valleyâ
Amit Rahav, âUnorthodoxâ
Harold Torres, âZero, Zero, Zeroâ
Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series
âI May Destroy Youâ
Ensemble Cast: Michaela Coel, Paapa Essiedu, Wruche Opia,
Stephen Wight
Complete Nominee List and more here.
(Photo credit: Film Independent)
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, RenĂ©e 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.
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
â 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)
Now in their 34th year, the FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS took place in Santa Monica this past weekend, celebrating the achievement in Independent Film over the past year. Taking top honours was Barry Jenkins’ IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK, winning Best Feature. The Adaptation of the Novel by James Baldwin also was awarded Best Director and Supporting Actress, Regina King who the next day, would win an Oscar for the same performance.
As is consistent with most of this Awards Season, we’ve seen a split in the recognition of Films and the Spirit Awards were on-trend. CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME? and SUSPIRIA received two awards each, the former winning for Best Supporting Actor, Richard E. Grant and Best Screenplay, Jeff Whitty and Nicole Holofcener. Grant shared some inspiring words about his experience playing Jack Hock, himself having seen several of his friends die victims of HIV. He dedicated his award in memory of those who passed away as a result of the disease.
The Cast of SUSPIRIA received the prestigious Robert Altman Award, honouring its Female Ensemble including Chloë Grace-Moretz, Tilda Swinton, Mia Goth, Dakota Johnson and more. Its Cinematographer Sayombhu Mukdeeprom also was awarded for her work.
Hosted by Aubrey Plaza, the audience were treated to her expletive-filled dead-pan humour where several including Netflix nor even THE FAVOURITE Director Yorgos Lanthimos (equating the sound of his name to a Harry Potter spell, “You just shout Yorgos Lanthimos and someone gets fingered in a corset!”) were safe from her jokes. Kidding aside, she points out that 60% of Director nominees at the Spirit Awards this year were women, stating “Don’t get too excited, in this case 60% just means three women, but calling it 60% makes it sound way scarier to your uncles.”. On the growing phenomenon of Films getting digital releases over theatrical, she says, “I truly believe people should see movies how they’re meant to seen in the theatres.”.
Plaza‘s amazing Opening Monologue
Not only did Best Actress winner Glenn Close rule at the Awards, she and her adorable Havanese dog Pip charmed on the Blue Carpet, she dressed in a shimmery pink lamé suit, before getting her own private dinner hosted by Chanel at STK. Pip also attended.
The Cast of Suspiria also ruled the Blue Carpet with Mother Suspiriorum herself, Dakota Johnson, leading the charge and giving her time generously to fans who queued on the sand for a chance to see the stars.
See some of our Snaps:
Glenn Close x Pip
Aubrey Plaza
Barry Jenkins and “If Beale Street Could Talk” Team
Joaquin Phoenix
Josh Hamilton, Elsie Fisher x Bo Burnham
Jon Hamm
Dakota Johnson, Tilda Swinton, Mia Goth and the ladies of Suspiria
Chloë Grace Moretz x Riley Keough
John Waters
Ray Romano x Mark Duplass
Yalitza Aparicio x Javier Bardem
Taraji P. Henson x Shangela
You also cannot miss Shangela’s daring performance
Finn Wolfhard
Carey Mulligan x Zoe Kazan
Kiki Layne
Jeff Witty x Nicole Holofcener
Debra Granik
Toni Collette
Regina Hall
Regina King
Morgan Neville
Boots Riley
Richard E. Grant
Viggo Mortensen
Alfonso CuarĂłn
Alfonso CuarĂłn with Thomasin McKenzie
Complete list of winners here.
We attended together with our friends at Hollywood Suite, the exclusive broadcaster of the Spirit Awards and will never forget this amazing journey. Their Cam Maitland did an awesome job interviewing talent on the Blue Carpet which will air at later points. You can subscribe via your television provider at $6 per month, plus basic cable. Hollywoodsuite.com.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Photos taken on the Nikon D3400.
For advertising opportunites please contact mrwill@mrwillwong.com