A24’s ‘Past Lives’ Takes Home Top Prize at 39th Annual Film Independent Spirit Awards
The 39th Annual Film Independent Spirit Awards took place on Sunday night, honoring the best in independent cinema. Among the winners was A24’s “Past Lives,” which won the prestigious award for Best Feature. The film, directed by Celine Song, also saw Song herself take home the award for Best Director, marking her feature film debut.
The star-studded event saw a range of talented individuals recognized for their outstanding contributions to independent film. Jeffrey Wright, known for his role in the Amazon MGM Studios comedy “American Fiction,” won the award for Best Lead Performance. Wright, who received the award from fellow Oscar nominee Colman Domingo, expressed his surprise and joy, stating, “It changes the vibe a little bit.”
Cord Jefferson, the writer-director of “American Fiction,” was honored with the award for Best Screenplay for his directorial debut. Reflecting on the independent nature of the film, Jefferson shared an anecdote about waking up in his hotel to discover a triple stabbing had occurred in the lobby. He humorously remarked, “Our film is so independent that one morning I woke up at our hotel to find out that there had been a triple stabbing the night before in the lobby. They were cleaning up the blood. And I would not have it any other way.”
Da’Vine Joy Randolph, who starred in “The Holdovers,” received the first award of the evening for Best Supporting Performance. Randolph, fresh off her SAG Award win on Saturday night, expressed her gratitude for independent films, stating, “Independent films are the beating heart of this industry, and they are worth fighting for.” Dominic Sessa, Randolph’s co-star in “The Holdovers,” won Best Breakthrough Performance for his debut role in the film.
The John Cassavetes Award, which recognizes films made for less than $1 million, went to Music Box Films’ “Fremont,” co-written and directed by Babak Jalali. Jalali acknowledged the protesters outside the tent in Santa Monica, emphasizing the importance of their message. He stated, “There are people speaking outside, and whatever they’re saying, I think it’s far more important than what I’m about to say.”
Kelly Reichardt, the filmmaker behind A24’s “Showing Up,” accepted the Robert Altman Award. Reichardt shared a poignant anecdote about her last encounter with Altman in 2003 during a time of political turmoil. She said, “America was dropping bombs on Iraq at that time, and he was pissed. And I think he’d have a lot to say — just this weirdness of us being here and celebrating each other and our work. Life goes on outside the tent.”
Other winners included Kino Lorber’s “Four Daughters” for Best Documentary, “Anatomy of a Fall” for Best International Film, and “May December” for Best First Screenplay. “How to Blow Up a Pipeline” took home the award for Best Editing, while “The Holdovers” won Best Cinematography. A.V. Rockwell received the award for Best First Feature for Focus Features’ “A Thousand and One.”
In the TV categories, Netflix’s “Beef” won Best New Scripted Series, while Ali Wong was recognized for her lead role in the limited series. FX’s “Dear Mama: The Saga of Afeni and Tupac Shakur” won Best New Non-Scripted/Documentary Series.
Nick Offerman won Best Supporting Performance for his role in HBO’s “The Last of Us.” In his acceptance speech, Offerman addressed the importance of independent storytelling and challenged homophobic criticism of the series. He stated, “When homophobic hate comes my way, and [someone] says, ‘Why did you have to make it a gay story?’ We say, because you ask questions like that. It’s not a gay story — it’s a love story, you asshole.” Keivonn Montreal Woodard also won an award for breakthrough performance in “The Last of Us.”
The award for Best Ensemble Cast went to Freevee’s “Jury Duty,” with Alan Barinholtz and James Marsden accepting the award on behalf of their co-stars.
The ceremony was hosted by Aidy Bryant, who kicked off the event with a mix of celebration and lighthearted roasting. Bryant expressed her admiration for independent filmmakers and acknowledged the challenges they face in the industry. She concluded her opening remarks by emphasizing the collective power of labor and the spirit of independence that defines the event.
The 39th Annual Film Independent Spirit Awards showcased the resilience and creativity of independent filmmakers, celebrating their unique contributions to the world of cinema. With a diverse range of winners and powerful acceptance speeches, the event highlighted the importance of independent storytelling and the impact it has on audiences worldwide.