The spirit of indie filmmaking is alive and well, judging by the winners of Film Independent’s 35th annual Spirit Awards. Hosted again by a hilarious Aubrey Plaza on the beach in Santa Monica, California, the Feb. 8 ceremony recognized artist-driven and original filmmaking, as chosen by Film Independent members the day before the Academy Awards, amid what will be remembered as a particularly competitive season.
Lulu Wang’s “The Farewell,” the semi-autobiographical story of a Chinese family from indie champ A24, took home the top prize for best feature, triumphing over Terrence Malick’s “A Hidden Life” (from Fox Searchlight Pictures), Chinonye Chukwu’s “Clemency” (Neon), Benny and Josh Safdie’s “Uncut Gems” (A24), and Noah Baumbach’s “Marriage Story” (Netflix), the latter of which is the only contender of the bunch nominated for best picture at this year’s Oscars.
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“There’s been a lot of conversation this year about how to encourage more women to be in film or get more women into the conversation,” said Wang in her speech. “Really, what women need is just the job—just give them the frickin’ job.” Earlier in the ceremony, the filmmaker also accepted the supporting female Spirit Award on behalf of her star, an absent Zhao Shuzhen. That category made history as the first time in the awards’ 35-year history that every nominated actor was a woman of color. Meanwhile, the supporting actor prize went to Willem Dafoe for his audacious work in Robert Eggers’ “The Lighthouse,” which also earned the cinematography prize for Jarin Blaschke.
The Safdie brothers took home the directing prize for “Uncut Gems,” and their star, Adam Sandler, proved his bona fides as an indie darling with a win for best male lead. “A few weeks back when I was ‘snubbed’ by the Academy,” Sandler said in his exuberant speech, “it reminded me of when I briefly attended high school and was overlooked for the coveted yearbook superlative category ‘best-looking.’ That accolade was given to a jean-jacket-wearing, feather-haired douchebag by the name of Skipper Jenkins. But my classmates did honor me with the allegedly less-prestigious designation of ‘best personality.’ And tonight, as I look around this room, I realize the Independent Spirit Awards are the best personality awards of Hollywood.”
In the female lead category, “Judy” star Renée Zellweger continued her dominance of this awards season; the only Oscar nominee in her category and the only Spirit-winning actor this year who could repeat a win at tomorrow’s ceremony has also notched victories at the Golden Globes, Critics’ Choice Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards, and BAFTA Film Awards. Her performance as Judy Garland was spoofed by Plaza in the ceremony’s opening bit.
“Marriage Story,” in addition to winning Baumbach the original screenplay prize, accepted the 2020 Robert Altman Award, given each year to one film’s helmers and ensemble. Baumbach, his casting directors Douglas Aibel and Francine Maisler, and cast members Alan Alda, Laura Dern, Adam Driver, Julie Hagerty, Scarlett Johansson, Ray Liotta, Azhy Robertson, and Merritt Wever collectively accepted the honor. Dern was also called out by Film Independent President Josh Welsh for being one of the acting nominees at the first-ever Spirit Awards in 1984.
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Olivia Wilde’s “Booksmart” from Annapurna Pictures won the best first feature honor, and Korean writer-director Bong Joon-ho continued his awards sweep with another international film win for “Parasite.” The third annual Bonnie Award, recognizing and providing a grant to mid-career female directors, was presented to Kelly Reichardt, nominated alongside Marielle Heller and Wang. The 23rd Producers Award, awarding another grant to emerging indie producers, went to Mollye Asher, nominated with Krista Parris and Ryan Zacarias. Rashaad Ernesto Green, the director of “Premature,” won the Spirits’ Someone to Watch Award, and Kirill Mikhanovsky’s “Give Me Liberty” earned the John Cassavetes Award, given to a feature made for under $500,000.
Last year’s Spirits ceremony gave the top feature prize to Barry Jenkins and his “If Beale Street Could Talk,” echoed at the subsequent Oscars ceremony only with a supporting actress win for Regina King. “The Farewell,” “Uncut Gems,” and “Booksmart” were shut out of the 2020 Academy Award nominations, but “Marriage Story,” “Judy,” and “Parasite” are in the mix—we have only to wait one day to see which films and filmmakers will earn Oscar gold.
For a full list of winners and more on Film Independent, visit their official site.
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