36th Independent Spirit Awards

Last updated

36th Independent Spirit Awards
Awarded forBest in independent film and independent television
DateApril 22, 2021
Site Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica, California, U.S.
Hosted by Melissa Villaseñor
Highlights
Best Feature Nomadland
Most awardsNomadland (4)
Most nominations Never Rarely Sometimes Always (7)
Television coverage
Channel IFC

The 36th Film Independent Spirit Awards, honoring the best independent films and television series of 2020, were presented by Film Independent on April 22, 2021. [1] Though it was initially intended for the ceremony to air on April 24, 2021, it was later changed to April 22, 2021. [2] The nominations were announced on January 26, 2021 by Laverne Cox, Barry Jenkins, and Olivia Wilde. [3] [4] [5] The ceremony was televised in the United States on IFC and streamed exclusively by AMC+. [6] Melissa Villaseñor hosted the ceremony. [7] [8] [9]

Contents

Expansion

This year, the Film Independent expanded categories in order to honor television series for the first time, debuting five new categories: Best New Scripted Series, Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series, Best Male Performance in a New Scripted Series, Best Female Performance in a New Scripted Series, and Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series. [10] [11] [12]

Winners and nominees

Film

Chloe Zhao, Best Feature co-winner, and Best Director and Best Editing winner Chloe Zhao by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Chloé Zhao, Best Feature co-winner, and Best Director and Best Editing winner
Riz Ahmed, Best Male Lead winner Riz Ahmed at the Rogue One - A Star Wars Story - World Premeire Red Carpet - DSC 0437 (31547570706) (cropped).jpg
Riz Ahmed, Best Male Lead winner
Carey Mulligan, Best Female Lead winner Carey Mulligan - 2018 (45646489364) (cropped).jpg
Carey Mulligan, Best Female Lead winner
Youn Yuh-jung, Best Supporting Female winner Yoon Yeo-jeong (2016).jpg
Youn Yuh-jung, Best Supporting Female winner
Emerald Fennell, Best Screenplay winner Emerald Fennell25-03-2013 MarkJones (cropped).jpg
Emerald Fennell, Best Screenplay winner
Best Feature Best Director

Nomadland

Chloé Zhao Nomadland

Best Male Lead Best Female Lead

Riz Ahmed Sound of Metal as Ruben Stone

Carey Mulligan Promising Young Woman as Cassandra "Cassie" Thomas

Best Supporting Male Best Supporting Female

Paul Raci Sound of Metal as Joe

Youn Yuh-jung Minari as Soon-ja

Best Screenplay Best First Screenplay

Emerald Fennell Promising Young Woman

Andy Siara – Palm Springs

Best First Feature Best Documentary Feature

Darius Marder Sound of Metal

Crip Camp

Best Cinematography Best Editing

Joshua James Richards – Nomadland

Chloé Zhao Nomadland

Best International Film

Quo Vadis, Aida? (Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Films with multiple nominations and awards

Films that won multiple awards
AwardsFilm
4 Nomadland
3 Sound of Metal
2 Promising Young Woman

Television

Best New Scripted SeriesBest New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series

I May Destroy You (BBC One / HBO)

Immigration Nation (Netflix)

Best Male Performance in a New Scripted SeriesBest Female Performance in a New Scripted Series

Amit Rahav Unorthodox as Yakov "Yanky" Shapiro (Netflix)

Shira Haas Unorthodox as Esther "Esty" Shapiro (Netflix)

Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series

I May Destroy You Michaela Coel, Paapa Essiedu, Weruche Opia, and Stephen Wight

Series with multiple nominations and awards

Series that received multiple nominations
NominationsSeries
3 Little America
Unorthodox
2 I May Destroy You
Series that won multiple awards
AwardsSeries
2 I May Destroy You
Unorthodox

Special awards

John Cassavetes Award

(The award is given to the best feature made for under $500,000; recipients are the writer, director, and producer)

Residue

Robert Altman Award

(The award is given to its film director, casting director, and ensemble cast)

Emerging Filmmakers Awards

Producers Award

The award honors emerging producers, who despite highly limited resources demonstrate the creativity, tenacity, and vision required to create quality independent films. The winner receives a $25,000 unrestricted cash grant courtesy of Spirit Award Premier Sponsors Genesis Motor North America.

Someone to Watch Award

The award honors a talented filmmaker of singular vision who has not yet received appropriate recognition. The winner receives a $25,000 unrestricted cash grant courtesy of Spirit Award Premier Sponsors Genesis Motor North America.

Truer than Fiction Award

The award honors to an emerging director of non-fiction features who has not yet received appropriate recognition. The winner receives a $25,000 unrestricted cash grant courtesy of Spirit Award Premier Sponsors Genesis Motor North America.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay</span>

The Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay is one of the annual awards given out by Film Independent, a non-profit organization dedicated to independent film and independent filmmakers. It was first presented in 1985 with Horton Foote being the first winner of the awards for The Trip to Bountiful.

The Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead was an award presented annually at the Independent Spirit Awards to honor an actor who has delivered an outstanding lead performance in an independent film. It was first presented in 1985, with M. Emmet Walsh being the first recipient of the award for his role as Investigator Loren Visser in Blood Simple. It was last presented in 2022 with Simon Rex being the final recipient of the award for his role in Red Rocket.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Independent Spirit Award for Best Director</span>

The Film Independent's Spirit Award for Best Director is one of the annual Independent Spirit Awards.

The Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead was one of the annual Independent Spirit Awards to honor an actress who has delivered an outstanding lead performance in an independent film. It was first presented in 1985 with Geraldine Page being the first recipient of the award for her role as Carrie Watts in The Trip to Bountiful. It was last presented in 2022 with Taylour Paige being the final recipient of the award for her role in Zola.

The Independent Spirit Award for Best Film is one of the annual Independent Spirit Awards, presented to recognize the best in independent filmmaking, it was first awarded in 1985 with Martin Scorsese's film After Hours being the first recipient of the award.

The Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male was one of the annual Independent Spirit Awards. It was first presented in 1987, with Morgan Freeman being the first recipient, for his role as Fast Black in Street Smart. It was last presented in 2022 with Troy Kotsur being the final recipient of the award for his role in CODA.

The Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female was an award presented annually by Film Independent. It is given in honor of an actress who has delivered an absolutely outstanding performance in a supporting role while working in an independent film. It was first presented in 1985 with Anjelica Huston being the first recipient of the award for her role as Gretta Conroy in The Dead. It was last presented in 2022 with Ruth Negga being the final recipient of the award for her role in Passing.

The Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography is one of the annual awards given out by Film Independent, a non-profit organization dedicated to independent film and independent filmmakers. It was first given in 1985, with Japanese cinematographer Toyomichi Kurita being the first recipient of the award for his work in Trouble in Mind.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dorian Awards</span> Film and television accolades given by GALECA

The Dorian Awards are film and television accolades given by GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics, founded in 2009 as the Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association. GALECA is an association of professional journalists and critics who regularly report on movies and/or TV for print, online, and broadcast outlets in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. As of March 2023, GALECA listed approximately 420 members, including those on its advisory board. The awards recognize the best in film and television, with categories ranging from general to LGBTQ-centric.

The 30th Film Independent Spirit Awards, honoring the best independent films of 2014, were presented by Film Independent on February 21, 2015. The nominations were announced on November 25, 2014. The ceremony was hosted by Fred Armisen and Kristen Bell, and aired live for the first time on IFC.

The Independent Spirit Award for Best Editing is one of the annual awards given out by Film Independent, a non-profit organization dedicated to independent film and independent filmmakers. It was first presented in 2013, with American editor Nat Sanders being the first recipient of the award for his work in Short Term 12.

The Independent Spirit Robert Altman Award is presented to the ensemble cast, director and casting director of a film by the Film Independent, a non-profit organization dedicated to independent film and independent filmmakers. It is named after director, screenwriter, and producer Robert Altman, who is considered a "maverick" in naturalistic films.

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The 32nd Film Independent Spirit Awards, honoring the best independent films of 2016, were presented by Film Independent on February 25, 2017. The nominations were announced on November 22, 2016. The ceremony was hosted by Nick Kroll and John Mulaney, and broadcast live on IFC. Online streaming service Sundance Now live-streamed the ceremony concurrently with the telecast with an on-demand version available on Sundance Now.

The 34th Film Independent Spirit Awards, honoring the best independent films of 2018, were presented by Film Independent on February 23, 2019. The nominations were announced on November 16, 2018 by actresses Molly Shannon and Gemma Chan. The ceremony was televised in the United States by IFC, taking place inside its usual tent setting on a beach in Santa Monica, California. It was hosted by Aubrey Plaza.

<i>Nomadland</i> 2020 American drama film by Chloé Zhao

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The 35th Film Independent Spirit Awards, honoring the best independent films of 2019, were presented by Film Independent on February 8, 2020. The nominations were announced on November 21, 2019 by actresses Zazie Beetz and Natasha Lyonne. The ceremony was televised in the United States by IFC, taking place inside its usual tent setting on a beach in Santa Monica, California. Aubrey Plaza returned to host the ceremony for the second time.

<i>Collective</i> (2019 film) 2019 film

Collective is a 2019 Romanian documentary film directed, written, produced and edited by Alexander Nanau. The film centers on the 2016 public health scandal following the Colectiv nightclub fire. The film follows dual stories of investigative journalists at the Romanian newspaper Gazeta Sporturilor uncovering public healthcare corruption and maladministration, and the government's response to the crisis at the Ministry of Health.

<i>Time</i> (2020 film) 2020 American film

Time is an Academy Award-nominated 2020 American documentary film produced and directed by Garrett Bradley. It follows Sibil Fox Richardson, fighting for the release of her husband, Rob, who was serving a 60-year prison sentence for engaging in an armed bank robbery.

The 37th Film Independent Spirit Awards, honoring the best independent films and television series of 2021, were presented by Film Independent on March 6, 2022. Traditionally held the Saturday before the Academy Awards, the 2022 date marks a shift in the season, placing the Spirit Awards squarely in the corridor leading into Oscar voting. The nominations were announced on December 14, 2021 by actresses Beanie Feldstein, Regina Hall, and Naomi Watts. Returning to an in-person ceremony this year, the event was televised in the United States on IFC and streamed exclusively for subscribers by AMC+. Married couple Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman hosted the ceremony.

References

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  4. "SPIRIT AWARDS NOMINATIONS (2021) | Presenters Olivia Wilde, Barry Jenkins & Laverne Cox". YouTube. January 26, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  5. Lewis, Hilary (January 26, 2021). "Film Independent Spirit Awards: 'Never Rarely Sometimes Always', 'Minari', 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom', 'Nomadland' Top Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  6. Hipes, Patrick (April 22, 2021). "How To Watch Tonight's Film Independent Spirit Awards Online & On TV". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  7. Warren, Matt (February 8, 2021). "SNL's Melissa Villaseñor to Host the 2021 Film Independent Spirit Awards, April 22". Film Independent . Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  8. Verhoeven, Beatrice (February 8, 2021). "'SNL' Star Melissa Villasenor to Host 2021 Film Independent Spirit Awards". TheWrap . Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  9. Perez, Lexy (April 22, 2021). "Spirit Awards: Melissa Villasenor Says Pandemic Marked "Tough Year" to "Watch Independent Movies"". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  10. Welk, Brian (September 29, 2020). "Independent Spirit Awards Adds 5 New TV Categories for 2021 Ceremony". TheWrap . Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  11. Hill, Libby (September 29, 2020). "2021 Film Independent Spirit Awards Expand to Honor Television". IndieWire . Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  12. Schneider, Michael (April 22, 2021). "Independent Spirit Awards Define What's 'Indie TV': 'I May Destroy You' and 'Unorthodox', for Starters". Variety . Retrieved April 22, 2021.