SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) — Maggie Gyllenhaal’s “Lost Daughter”, “Drive My Car” and “Summer of the Soul” were among the big winners at the 37th Film Independent Spirit Awards on Sunday.
Hosted by Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally, the ceremony took place in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica, California and was broadcast on AMC and IFC. It’s the cool, laid-back counterpart to some of the more traditional movie awards.
“If you don’t win, you can just go straight into the ocean,” Offerman said.
Gyllenhaal won Best Feature Film, Best Director and Best Screenplay for her adaptation of Elena Ferrante’s The Lost Daughter.
Through tears, Gyllenhaal said that more than anything she believes in love. She did not skimp on the praise of her team.
“You were the first to tell me that I was a director,” she said. Thank you Netflix – I can’t even believe it – for your support. … Nobody ever makes their first film and loves their financiers.”
“I love independent cinema,” Gyllenhaal added. “I grew up making independent films.”
The Japanese film Drive My Car, which was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture, won Best International Film.
Taylor Page won Best Actress for Cinder, based on a Twitter thread about a wild trip to Florida.
“Wow, I’m shocked. I wrote something because I’m not eloquent and drunk,” Paige said.
She thanked her grandmother, who passed away the day she learned of her nomination, and Zola for “knowing your story was worth telling”.
Simon Rex won Best Actor for his portrayal of a former porn star in Sean Baker’s Rocket Red. Rex said his career was in the doldrums before Baker called him in for a budget film.
“I’m out of my mind with this whole experience,” Rex said. “Basically, this is a glorified student film… I am grateful and humbled.”
Mullally and Offerman put on a lively show, both in three-piece suits and shirtless vests underneath. Sarah Silverman appeared in a pre-recorded segment offering her services as a backup host because Mullally and Offerman joined Twitter “before 2015”.
The married co-hosts said they hoped to be the biggest Hollywood couple in the room and were dismayed that Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard were there to upstage them.
“A-listers and indie stars? Take the lane, you greedy bastards,” Offerman said.
They recognized the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Offerman said he hoped “Putin (expletive) will leave and go home” and pleaded with the audience to see him off with a “Spirit Awards cheer”. Many raised their hands with a middle finger.
Honorary chairman of the show Kristen Stewart also spoke about the war.
“We have to support the people of Ukraine,” Stewart said. “We support hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing this war.”
Historically, the Spirit Awards are held on the Saturday afternoon before the Oscars, but this year it has been moved a few weeks earlier.
The best documentary was “Summer of the Soul”. The film brings back to life the almost forgotten 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival.
“I’m not going to cry right now, I’m not crying, I’m not crying,” Summer of Soul director Questlove said.
Troy Kotzur got another boost ahead of the Oscars by winning Best Supporting Actor for CODA. He also received a Screen Actors Guild Award.
“I feel the spirit of art and we can celebrate together,” said Kotzur.
Squid Game’s Lee Jong Jae also sealed his victory in SAG with the Spirit Award.
Marley Matlin, who presented the first screenwriting award to Michael Sarnoski for Pig, implored screenwriters to think of deaf actors when writing scripts.
Andrew Garfield showed up to present the Robert Altman Award to his girlfriend Fran Krantz, with whom he starred in a Mike Nichols play. Kranz’s debut “Mass” is a small ensemble about mediation after a school shooting between the parents of the victim and the parents of the perpetrator.
Ruth Negga won Best Supporting Woman for her performance in Rebecca Hall’s Passage. Due to a technical glitch, the first part of her virtual speech was disabled. The Netflix black-and-white film also won Edu Grau for Best Cinematography.
The show can sometimes serve as a preview of what’s going to happen on Oscar night. Last year, Chloe Zhao’s Nomadland won the Spirit Awards for Best Film and Director, and then took home the top prizes at the Oscars. Moonlight, Spotlight, Birdman and 12 Years a Slave also won the Spirits award before winning the Best Picture Oscar.
Due to production budgets, many contenders for this year’s top awards were ineligible, including Belfast, King Richard and The Power of the Dog. Films must cost less than $22.5 million to be considered.