The 39th Film Independent Spirit Awards took place in Santa Monica, honoring outstanding achievements in independent filmmaking. Hosted by the talented Aidy Bryant, the ceremony recognized exceptional performances, innovative storytelling, and artistic vision.
The ceremony streamed live on Sunday, Feb. 25, on Film Independent’s YouTube channel and X (formerly Twitter) feed. Past Lives, The Holdovers, and Beef were the big winners of the night, with The Holdovers taking home 3 awards, while both Past Lives and Beef taking home 2 each.
While Oscar frontrunner Paul Giamatti wasn’t nominated for his performance in The Holdovers, his costars Da’Vine Joy Randolph won Best Supporting Performance and Dominic Sessa won Best Breakthrough Performance. The film itself was also left out of the Best Feature race, which ultimately went to Past Lives, along with Best Director for Celine Song. Meanwhile, Beef, the Netflix limited series, won both Best New Scripted Series and star Ali Wong picked up an award for Best Lead Performance in New Scripted Series
The big winner at last year’s Film Independent Spirit Awards, Everything Everywhere All at Once, went on to replicate its wins for Michelle Yeoh, Key Huh Quan, Best Feature, Best Director, and Best Screenplay at the Academy Awards.
Here are all the winners.
MOVIES
Best Feature of Film Independent Spirit Awards 2024
- All of Us Strangers
- American Fiction
- May December
- Passages
- WINNER: Past Lives
- We Grown Now
Best Director of Film Independent Spirit Awards 2024
- Andrew Haigh, All of Us Strangers
- Todd Haynes, May December
- William Oldroyd, Eileen
- Ira Sachs, Passages
- WINNER: Celine Song, Past Lives
Best First Feature of Film Independent Spirit Awards 2024
- All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt
- Chronicles of a Wandering Saint
- Earth Mama
- WINNER: A Thousand and One
- Upon Entry
Best Lead Performance of Film Independent Spirit Awards 2024
- Jessica Chastain, Memory
- Greta Lee, Past Lives
- Trace Lysette, Monica
- Natalie Portman, May December
- Judy Reyes, Birth/Rebirth
- Franz Rogowski, Passages
- Andrew Scott, All of Us Strangers
- Teyana Taylor, A Thousand and One
- WINNER: Jeffrey Wright, American Fiction
- Teo Yoo, Past Lives
Best Supporting Performance of Film Independent Spirit Awards 2024
- Erika Alexander, American Fiction
- Sterling K. Brown, American Fiction
- Noah Galvin, Theater Camp
- Anne Hathaway, Eileen
- Glenn Howerton, BlackBerry
- Marin Ireland, Eileen
- Charles Melton, May December
- WINNER: Da’Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers
- Catalina Saavedra, Rotting in the Sun
- Ben Whishaw, Passages
Best Breakthrough Performance of Film Independent Spirit Awards 2024
- Marshawn Lynch, Bottoms
- Atibon Nazaire, Mountains
- Tia Nomore, Earth Mama
- WINNER: Dominic Sessa, The Holdovers
- Anaita Wali Zada, Fremont
Best Screenplay of Film Independent Spirit Awards 2024
- David Hemingson, The Holdovers
- WINNER: Cord Jefferson, American Fiction
- Laura Moss, Brendan J. O’Brien, Birth/Rebirth
- Emma Seligman, Rachel Sennott, Bottoms
- Celine Song, Past Lives
Best First Screenplay of Film Independent Spirit Awards 2024
- WINNER: Samy Burch; Story by Samy Burch, Alex Mechanik, May December
- Noah Galvin, Molly Gordon, Nick Lieberman, Ben Platt, Theater Camp
- Tomás Gómez Bustillo, Chronicles of a Wandering Saint
- Laurel Parmet, The Starling Girl
- Alejandro Rojas, Juan Sebastián Vásquez, Upon Entry
Best Cinematography of Film Independent Spirit Awards 2024
- Katelin Arizmendi, Monica
- WINNER: Eigil Bryld, The Holdovers
- Jomo Fray, All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt
- Pablo Lozano, Chronicles of a Wandering Saint
- Pat Scola, We Grown Now
Best Editing of Film Independent Spirit Awards 2024
- Santiago Cendejas, Gabriel Díaz, Sofía Subercaseaux, Rotting in the Sun
- Stephanie Filo, We Grown Now
- WINNER: Daniel Garber, How to Blow Up a Pipeline
- Jon Philpot, Theater Camp
- Emanuele Tiziani, Upon Entry
Best Documentary of Film Independent Spirit Awards 2024
- Bye Bye Tiberias
- WINNER: Four DaughtersGoing to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project
- Kokomo City
- The Mother of All Lies
Best International Film of Film Independent Spirit Awards 2024
- WINNER: Anatomy of a Fall
- Godland
- Mami Wata
- Tótem
- The Zone of Interest
Also Read: Complete 2024 SAG Awards Winner List
Robert Altman Award of Film Independent Spirit Awards 2024
WINNER: Showing Up
Director: Kelly Reichardt
Casting Director: Gayle Keller
Ensemble Cast: André Benjamin, Hong Chau, Judd Hirsch, Heather Lawless, James Le Gros, John Magaro, Matt Malloy, Amanda Plummer, Maryann Plunkett, Denzel Rodriguez, Michelle Williams
Someone to Watch Award
Joanna Arnow, Director of The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed
Laura Moss, Director of Birth/Rebirth
WINNER: Monica Sorelle, Director of Mountains
Truer Than Fiction Award
WINNER: Set Hernandez, Director of unseen
Jesse Short Bull, Laura Tomaselli, Director of Lakota Nation vs. United States
Sierra Urich, Director of Joonam
John Cassavetes Award
- The Artifice Girl
- Cadejo Blanco
- WINNER: Fremont
- Rotting in the Sun
- The Unknown Country
Producers Award
- Rachael Fung
- Graham Swon
- WINNER: Monique Walton
TELEVISION
Best New Scripted Series
- WINNER: Beef
- Dreaming Whilst Black
- I’m a Virgo
- Jury Duty
- Slip
Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series
- Deadlocked: How America Shaped the Supreme Court
- WINNER: Dear Mama
- Murder in Big Horn
- Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence
- Wrestlers
Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series
- Emma Corrin, A Murder at the End of the World
- Dominique Fishback, Swarm
- Betty Gilpin, Mrs. Davis
- Jharrel Jerome, I’m a Virgo
- Zoe Lister-Jones, Slip
- Bel Powley, A Small Light
- Bella Ramsey, The Last of Us
- Ramón Rodríguez, Will Trent
- WINNER: Ali Wong, Beef
- Steven Yeun, Beef
Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series
- Murray Bartlett, The Last of Us
- Billie Eilish, Swarm
- Jack Farthing, Rain Dogs
- WINNER: Nick Offerman, The Last of Us
- Adina Porter, The Changeling
- Lewis Pullman, Lessons in Chemistry
- Benny Safdie, The Curse
- Luke Tennie, Shrinking
- Olivia Washington, I’m a Virgo
- Jessica Williams, Shrinking
Best Breakthrough Performance in a New Scripted Series
- Clark Backo, The Changeling
- Aria Mia Loberti, All the Light We Cannot See
- Adjani Salmon, Dreaming Whilst Black
- WINNER: Keivonn Montreal Woodard, The Last of Us
- Kara Young, I’m a Virgo
Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series
Jury Duty
Ensemble Cast: Alan Barinholtz, Susan Berger, Cassandra Blair, David Brown, Kirk Fox, Ross Kimball, Pramode Kumar, Trisha LaFache, Mekki Leeper, James Marsden, Edy Modica, Kerry O’Neill, Rashida Olayiwola, Whitney Rice, Maria Russell, Ishmel Sahid, Ben Seaward, Ron Song, Evan Williams
Also Read: Producers Guild Award 2024: Complete Winner List.
The Spirit of Independence
The Spirit Awards celebrate the spirit of independence, recognizing filmmakers who push boundaries, challenge conventions, and tell stories that resonate with authenticity. From gritty dramas to quirky comedies, independent cinema continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
A Platform for Emerging Talent
The Spirit Awards also honor breakthrough performances and debut features. It’s a platform where emerging filmmakers and actors shine, proving that creativity knows no bounds.
Looking Ahead
As we reflect on the 2024 Spirit Awards, we eagerly anticipate the next wave of independent films. These cinematic gems, often fueled by passion and resourcefulness, remind us why independent cinema remains a vital force in the industry.
Stay tuned for more inspiring stories, captivating performances, and thought-provoking narratives. And remember, the spirit of independence lives on, both on and off the silver screen.
Catch up with the awards ceremony on Film Independent’s YouTube channel.
