An Indie Scene! Inside the Star-Studded 2026 Film Independent Spirit Awards
The Film Independent Spirit Awards, which honors the best modest-budget movies and television shows of the year, took place on Sunday afternoon—in rather relaxed fashion, compared to Tinsel Town’s typical awards shows. Things looked a bit different this year too. Traditionally held in a tent near the Santa Monica Pier, the show relocated to the Hollywood Palladium for the first time since 1994, as its longtime beachside perch is undergoing renovations in preparation for the 2028 Summer Olympics. “In the spirit of independent filmmaking, we don’t have a permit. So stay alert, act casual, and move fast,” host Ego Nwodim joked to the audience.
Streamed live on YouTube, the two and half hour ceremony was (blissfully) commercial free, which sped things up but meant guests didn’t have the usual opportunity to mix and mingle. Instead, the crowd—which included Keke Palmer, Issa Rae, Amy Madigan, and Jesse Plemons—stayed seated and enjoyed a chill meal while watching the SNL star host do her thing.
Zoey Deutch, nominated for her very first Spirit Award in the Best Supporting Performance category for Nouvelle Vague, was thrilled to receive a nod, given that it’s one of her favorite ceremonies. “I’ve made a lot of independent films—maybe more than 16. I was trying to count this morning how many indie movies I have made! I can say with full confidence that I know what making an independent movie is like and I know how challenging it can be, but so rewarding,” the Valentino-clad actress told Vogue. “For there to be an event and a space that recognizes and honors the immense amount of work, effort, and care that goes into making an independent movie is awesome. I really love this event.”
To be eligible for the Spirit Awards, a production’s budget cannot exceed $30 million, ergo Oscar frontrunners such as One Battle After Another and Sinners are not in the mix. In the acting categories, the organization has gone gender-neutral since 2022. This year, the nominees in the Best Lead Performance (Movie) category included Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I d Kick You), Joel Edgerton (Train Dreams), Dylan O Brien (Twinless), Tessa Thompson (Hedda), Ben Whishaw (Peter Hujar s Day), Everett Blunck (The Plague), Chang Chen (Lucky Lu), Théodore Pellerin (Lurker), Kathleen Chalfant (Familiar Touch), and Keke Palmer (One of Them Days). “This is my first time here,” Palmer told Vogue on the arrivals carpet, dressed in an archival Dior by John Galliano frock. “It’s always incredible when people acknowledge you for what you’ve done. I do what I do because I enjoy it.”
Byrne was ultimately announced as the winner for her extraordinary portrayal of a mother in crisis. Accepting the trophy, she laughed, “This character really could only exist in an independent film— she’s fierce and she’s ferocious and she’s a middle-aged woman.”
On the TV side, Netflix’s groundbreaking limited series Adolescence swept the boards, winning all four categories it was nominated in, including Best New Scripted Series. Stephen Graham won for his haunting performance, as did Erin Doherty, and the Breakthrough prize went to teenager Owen Cooper. An elated Doherty flung her heels off her feet as she made her way to the stage. “I just had to get them off,” she exclaimed.
Another big winner was Netflix’s Train Dreams, which took prizes for Best Lead Performance, Best Feature, Best Director, and best Cinematography, while the Brazilian film The Secret Agent took home the Best International Film prize and The Perfect Neighbor won for Best Documentary.
Kaia Gerber, resplendent in Givenchy, made her Film Independent Spirit Awards debut to present the Best New Non-scripted or Documentary Series award. Alongside Heated Rivalry’s François Arnaud, she handed out the hardware to the doc Pee-wee as Himself.
The supermodel and actress, who will next appear in Jonah Hill’s dark comedy Outcome and Ryan Murphy’s limited series The Shards (based on Bret Easton Ellis’s prep school thriller novel) said the chance to join fellow actors was one she jumped at. “I love acting. It was my first love, so it’s very exciting for me to be in a room like this and be surrounded by people I admire so much. It means so much to me,” she told Vogue. “Acting is not effortless for me. I work hard at it. I think modeling is maybe easier because I have been doing it longer and have more experience. At this point I feel a little more comfortable with acting, but I like being out of my comfort zone, so I think that’s why acting is very important. I don’t like getting comfortable—I don’t want to get used to anything.”
By 4:30 p.m., the smoothly-run show came to an end, only to continue on at the W Hollywood Hotel for the official after-party, where pepperoni pizza and sushi were the stars of the show.
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin1/25Rose Byrne
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images2/25Kaia Gerber and Francois Arnaud
