And whether you watched this year’s show on IFC, streamed it on AMC+ or followed along online, thank you! Your support (and online engagement) empowers Film Independent to continue to support visual storytelling year-round. But right now, we want mostly want to say Congratulations! again to all of this year’s nominees and winners—including our sophomore class of TV/streaming honorees. And the Spirit Award goes to…  

BEST FEATURE

(Award given to the producer)

Producers: Charles Dorfman, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Osnat Handelsman Keren, Talia Kleinhendler  

BEST FIRST FEATURE

(Award given to director and producer)

Director: Roshan Sethi Producers: Liz Cardenas, Mel Eslyn  

BEST DIRECTOR

Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Lost Daughter  

BEST SCREENPLAY

Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Lost Daughter  

BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY

Michael Sarnoski, Vanessa Block, Pig  

JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD

(Given to the best feature made for under $500,000; Award given to the writer, director and producer)

Writer/Director/Producer: Emma Seligman Producers: Kieran Altmann, Katie Schiller, Lizzie Shapiro  

BEST MALE LEAD

Simon Rex, Red Rocket  

BEST FEMALE LEAD

Taylour Paige, Zola  

BEST SUPPORTING MALE

Troy Kotsur, CODA  

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE

Ruth Negga, Passing  

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Edu Grau, Passing  

BEST EDITING

Joi McMillon, Zola  

BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM

(Award given to the director)

Director: Ryusuke Hamaguchi  

BEST DOCUMENTARY

(Award given to the director and producer)

Director: Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson Producers: David Dinerstein, Robert Fyvolent, Joseph Patel  

ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD

(Given to one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast)

Director: Fran Kranz Casting Directors: Henry Russell Bergstein, Allison Estrin Ensemble Cast: Kagen Albright, Reed Birney, Michelle N. Carter, Ann Dowd, Jason Isaacs, Martha Plimpton, Breeda Wool  

PRODUCERS AWARD

(The Producers Award honors emerging producers who, despite highly limited resources, demonstrate the creativity, tenacity and vision required to produce quality independent films) Lizzie Shapiro  

SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD

(The Someone to Watch Award recognizes a talented filmmaker of singular vision who has not yet received appropriate recognition) Director of Luzzu  

TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD

(The 27th Truer Than Fiction Award is presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features who has not yet received significant recognition) Director of Faya Dayi  

BEST NEW NON-SCRIPTED OR DOCUMENTARY SERIES

(Award given to the Creator, Executive Producer, Co-Executive Producer)

Series By/Executive Producers: Soledad O’Brien, Geeta Gandbhir Executive Producers: Jo Honig, Patrick Conway, Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, Sara Rodriguez  

BEST NEW SCRIPTED SERIES

(Award given to the Creator, Executive Producer, Co-Executive Producer)

Creators/Executive Producers: Sterlin Harjo, Taika Waititi Executive Producer: Garrett Basch  

BEST FEMALE PERFORMANCE IN A SCRIPTED SERIES

Thuso Mbedu, The Underground Railroad  

BEST MALE PERFORMANCE IN A NEW SCRIPTED SERIES

Lee Jung-jae, Squid Game  

BEST ENSEMBLE CAST IN A NEW SCRIPTED SERIES

Ensemble Cast: Devery Jacobs, D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Lane Factor, Paulina Alexis, Sarah Podemski, Zahn McClarnon, Lil Mike, FunnyBone   Relive or catch up with our favorite #SpiritAwards moments on YouTube and stay tuned to the blog for additional Spirit Awards recaps and exclusive content throughout the next week. The Film Independent Spirit Awards are supported by Premier Sponsor IFC and FIJI Water, the Official Water. To join Film Independent and vote on the Spirit Awards, please visit filmindependent.org/join Film Independent promotes unique independent voices by helping filmmakers create and advance new work. To support our work with a donation, please click here.

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