Anora Wins Big at the Film Independent Spirit Awards

Mikey Madison of Anora at the
Film Independent Spirit Awards

Anora continues to dominate the last-minute rush of awards season, winning big at the 40th annual Film Independent Spirit Awards presented on Feb. 22. The comedy about a Brooklyn exotic dancer marrying the son of a Russian oligarch had similar big wins at the Critics Choice, PGA, DGA, WGA and BAFTA awards. At the Indies, Anora was voted Best Feature, Best Director and Lead Performance by Mike Madison in the title role. The Indies performance categories are gender-neutral. Kieran Culkin continued his preeminence in the supporting category for A Real Pain. His director and co-star Jesse Eisenberg won for Best Screenplay. The SAG Awards presented tonight will be the last major film awards ceremony before the Oscars on next week on March 2. Aidy Bryant hosted the event.

A complete list of winners follows:

Best Feature: Anora

Best First Feature: Didi

John Cassavetes Award (for best feature made under $1,000,000): Girls Will Be Girls

Best Director: Sean Baker, Anora

Best Screenplay: Jesse Eisenberg, A Real Pain

Best First Screenplay: Sean Wang, Dìdi

Best Lead Performance: Mikey Madison, Anora

Best Supporting Performance: Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain

Best Breakthrough Performance: Maisy Stella, My Old Ass

Best Cinematography: Jomo Fray, Nickel Boys

Best Editing: Hansjörg Weissbrich, September 5

Robert Altman Award (given to film’s director, casting director, and ensemble cast): His Three Daughters (director: Azazel Jacobs; casting director: Nicole Arbusto; ensemble cast: Jovan Adepo, Jasmine Bracey, Carrie Coon, Jose Febus, Rudy Galvan, Natasha Lyonne, Elizabeth Olsen, Randy Ramos Jr., Jay O. Sanders)

Best Documentary: No Other Land

Best International Film: Flow (Latvia, France, Belgium)

Producers Award: Sarah Winshall, I Saw the TV Glow

Someone to Watch Award:  Sarah Friedland, director of Familiar Touch

Truer Than Fiction Award: Rachel Elizabeth Seed, director of A Photographic Memory

TELEVISION CATEGORIES

Best New Scripted Series: Shōgun 

Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series: Hollywood Black 

Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series: Richard Gadd, Baby Reindeer

Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series: Nava Mau, Baby Reindeer

Best Breakthrough Performance in a New Scripted Series: Jessica Gunning, Baby Reindeer

Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series: How to Die Alone (ensemble cast: Melissa DuPrey, Jaylee Hamidi, KeiLyn Durrel Jones, Arkie Kandola, Elle Lorraine, Michelle McLeod, Chris “CP” Powell, Conrad Ricamora, Natasha Rothwell, Jocko Sims)