This Sunday, the winners from the 37th AnnualIndependent Spirit Awardswere announced in a ceremony in Santa Monica. The event, which was hosted by comedy power coupleNick Offerman(Parks & Recreation) andMegan Mullally(Will & Grace), celebrates independent television and filmmaking, as well as stories that prioritize diversity in all forms. The Spirit Awards also highlight the work of entertainment industry newbies, such as first-time directors and breakout performances.
Of the indie films that were singled out at this year’s ceremony, Netflix’sThe Lost Daughterraked in the most wins, earning a total of three trophies out of its four nominations. The philosophical drama about maternity took home the night’s biggest prize, Best Feature, along with Best Screenplay and Best Director forMaggie Gyllenhaal, who made her feature film directing debut.
Zola, the indie hit film that went completely ignored by the Oscars, won only two of its seven nominations. TheJanicza Bravofilm won Best Female Lead (Taylour Paige) and Best Editing.Joaquin Phoenix-led dramaC’mon C’mon, on the other hand, went home empty-handed. The black and white film was nominated in three main categories: Best Feature, Best Director, and Best Screenplay.
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Multiple award winner and Academy Award contenderDrive My Carscored yet another win in the Best International Film category. The Japanese film byRyusuke Yamaguchihas received dozens of nominations across several awards, including at Cannes and BAFTAs, and was featured in several best-of-2021 lists.
On the TV side of the Spirit Awards, Indigenous teen comedy/dramaReservation Dogswas the winner in the Best New Scripted Series category and was also singled out as the Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series. Hulu has alreadyrenewed the show for Season 2. Also scoring their first wins ever at the Spirit Awards wereThuso MbeduandLee Jung-jae, who won as Best Female and Male Performance in a Scripted Series, respectively. Mbedu stars in Prime Video’sThe Underground Railroadand Lee in the Netflix Korean hitSquid Game.
You can check out the full list of nominees and winners below:
Best Feature
C’mon C’mon
***The Lost Daughter(Winner)
The Novice
Best Male Lead
Clifton Collins, Jr., “Jockey”
Frankie Faison, “The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain”
Michael Greyeyes, “Wild Indian”
Udo Kier, “Swan Song”
***Simon Rex, “Red Rocket” (Winner)
Best International Film
Compartment No. 6
***Drive My Car(Winner)
Parallel Mothers
Petite Maman
Prayers for the Stolen
Best Female Lead
Isabelle Fuhrman, “The Novice”
Brittany S. Hall, “Test Pattern”
Patti Harrison, “Together Together”
***Taylour Paige, “Zola” (Winner)
Kali Reis, “Catch the Fair One”
Best Director
Janicza Bravo, “Zola”
***Maggie Gyllenhaal, “The Lost Daughter” (Winner)
Lauren Hadaway, “The Novice”
Mike Mills, “C’mon, C’mon”
Ninja Thyberg, “Pleasure”
Best Female Performance in a Scripted Series
***Thuso Mbedu, “The Underground Railroad” (Winner)
Anjana Vasan, “We Are Lady Parts”
Jana Schmieding, “Rutherford Falls”
Jasmine Cephas Jones, “Blindspotting”
Deborah Ayorinde, “THEM: Covenant”
Best Male Performance in a Scripted Series
Ollie Alexander, “It’s a Sin”
Murray Bartlett, “The White Lotus”
Michael Greyeyes, “Rutherford Falls”
Ashley Thomas, “THEM: Covenant”
***Lee Jung-jae, “Squid Game” (Winner)
Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series
***Black and Missing(Winner)
The Choe Show
The Lady and the Dale
Nuclear Family
Philly D.A.
Best New Scripted Series
Blindspotting
It’s a Sin
***Reservation Dogs(Winner)
The Underground Railroad
We Are Lady Parts
Best Supporting Female
Jessie Buckley, “The Lost Daughter”
Amy Forsyth, “The Novice”
***Ruth Negga, “Passing” (Winner)
Revika Anne Reustle, “Pleasure”
Suzanna Son, “Red Rocket”
Best Screenplay
C’mon, C’mon
Together Together
Best First Feature
***7 Days(Winner)
Queen of Glory
Test Pattern
Wild Indian
Best First Screenplay
***Pig(Winner)
Best Documentary
In the Same Breath
Procession
***Summer of Soul(Winner)
John Cassavetes Award
***Shiva Baby(Winner)
Sweet Thing
This Is Not a War Story
Best Supporting Male
Colman Domingo, “Zola”
Meeko Gattuso, “Queen of Glory”
***Troy Kotsur, “CODA” (Winner)
Will Patton, “Sweet Thing”
Chaske Spencer, “Wild Indian”
Best Cinematography
Blue Bayou
The Humans
***Passing(Winner)
Best Editing
The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain
The Nowhere Inn
***Zola(Winner)
Robert Altman Award
The Director, Cast, and Casting Director of “Mass”
