Oscar nominees such as Mikey Madison, Demi Moore, and Sebastian Stan are set to gather at the beach this Saturday for the Film Independent Spirit Awards. This annual event serves as the more unconventional and laid-back counterpart to the Academy Awards, celebrating outstanding contributions in independent film and television.
So, what exactly are the Independent Spirit Awards? The Film Independent Spirit Awards, often informally referred to as the Indie Spirits, have been honoring the crème de la crème of independent cinema for four decades. Traditionally held the day before the Oscars, the ceremony has recently transitioned to a different timeframe to avoid clashing with the busy Oscars weekend.
The awards are determined by votes from members of Film Independent, a collective comprising filmmakers, industry professionals, and fervent fans. There is a notable budget cap for eligibility, restricting it to productions costing $30 million or less, which means that more lavish productions such as “Wicked” and “Dune: Part Two” are not eligible. Television categories were newly introduced in 2021.
When and where will the Spirit Awards take place? The ceremony is scheduled for Saturday in Santa Monica, California, specifically in a tent situated next to the beach, with the festivities commencing at 5 p.m. ET.
For those wondering how to catch the Spirit Awards, the event will be streamed live via IMDb and Film Independent’s YouTube platforms.
Hosting the event will be Aidy Bryant, a former cast member of “Saturday Night Live,” who returns for her second year as host. Last year, she playfully referred to the occasion as the “bisexual Oscars.”
As for the top nominees, the film “Anora,” which is currently a favorite for the Oscars, stands out with numerous nominations, alongside Jane Schoenbrun’s psychological horror film “I Saw the TV Glow.” Both films received six nominations each, including categories for best feature and best director.
Also in the running for best feature film are RaMell Ross’ adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s “Nickel Boys,” Greg Kwedar’s drama “Sing Sing,” and Coralie Fargeat’s “The Substance.” The acting categories at this event are gender-neutral, featuring ten nominees each.
In the lead actor category, nominees include Amy Adams for “Nightbitch,” Colman Domingo in “Sing Sing,” Mikey Madison for “Anora,” Demi Moore in “The Substance,” Sebastian Stan for “The Apprentice,” June Squibb for “Thelma,” Hunter Schafer in “Cuckoo,” Keith Kupferer for “Ghostlight,” Ryan Destiny in “The Fire Inside,” and Justice Smith for “I Saw the TV Glow.”
In the supporting actor category, nominees include Kieran Culkin for “A Real Pain,” Carol Kane in “Between the Temples,” Clarence Maclin for “Sing Sing,” Adam Pearson in “A Different Man,” Joan Chen in “Dìdi,” Danielle Deadwyler for “The Piano Lesson,” Jack Haven in “I Saw the TV Glow,” Kani Kusruti for “Girls Will Be Girls,” Yura Borisov in “Anora,” and Karren Karagulian for “Anora.”
The Spirit Awards also celebrate new fiction and nonfiction television series, with nominees including the popular Netflix show “Baby Reindeer,” “Sh?gun,” and “Ren Fair.”
As for how the Spirit Awards might influence the Oscars, it’s worth noting that the winners won’t have any bearing on the Academy Awards, as voting has already concluded. While there are years when the two award events align closely, such as with “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” there have been instances of divergence as well. Last year’s dominant Oscar contender, “Oppenheimer,” was ineligible due to its high budget, while top Spirit Award winners included “Past Lives” and “American Fiction.”
