Rose Byrne and Kate HudsonKevin Mazur/Getty Images
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 10 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.”