Film Independent, the nonprofit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards and the LA Film Festival, handed out honors to Moonlight, The Witch, Other People, Manchester by the Sea, Elle and Hell or High Water at this afternoon’s 32nd Film Independent Spirit Awards. Spa Night, O.J.: Made in America and Toni Erdman also received awards at the ceremony, which was held in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica. In addition to being the celebration that honors artist-driven films made with an economy of means by filmmakers whose films embody diversity, innovation, and uniqueness of vision, the Spirit Awards is the primary fundraiser for Film Independent’s year-round programs.
The ceremony aired live today on IFC and a rebroadcast will air later this evening; please check your local listings for times. An on-demand version of the Spirit Awards will also be made available for Sundance Now members shortly after the telecast concludes. Clips from the ceremony will be available on Film Independent’s YouTube channel after the show.
SANTA MONICA, CA – FEBRUARY 25: Actor Taraji P. Henson speaks onstage during the 2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards at the Santa Monica Pier on February 25, 2017 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Randall Michelson/Getty Images for Film Independent) Images Courtesy of WireImage and Film Independent
SANTA MONICA, CA – FEBRUARY 25: (L-R) Fillmamakers Kelly Thomas, Giulia Caruso, Andrew Ahn and David Ariniello accept the John Cassavetes Award for ‘Spa Night’ onstage during the 2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards at the Santa Monica Pier on February 25, 2017 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Randall Michelson/Getty Images for Film Independent) Images Courtesy of WireImage and Film Independent
SANTA MONICA, CA – FEBRUARY 25: Actor Ben Foster accepts the Best Supporting Male award for ‘Hell or High Water’ onstage during the 2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards at the Santa Monica Pier on February 25, 2017 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images for Film Independent) Images Courtesy of WireImage and Film Independent
SANTA MONICA, CA – FEBRUARY 25: Actors Jaden Piner (L) and Alex R. Hibbert accept the Robert Altman Award for ‘Moonlight’ onstage during the 2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards at the Santa Monica Pier on February 25, 2017 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Randall Michelson/Getty Images for Film Independent) Images Courtesy of WireImage and Film Independent
SANTA MONICA, CA – FEBRUARY 25: Filmmaker Ezra Edelman accepts the Best Documentary Feature award for ‘O.J.: Made in America’ onstage during the 2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards at the Santa Monica Pier on February 25, 2017 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images for Film Independent) Images Courtesy of WireImage and Film Independent
SANTA MONICA, CA – FEBRUARY 25: Actor Samuel L. Jackson speaks onstage during the 2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards at the Santa Monica Pier on February 25, 2017 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images for Film Independent) Images Courtesy of WireImage and Film Independent
SANTA MONICA, CA – FEBRUARY 25: Actors Joseph Gordon-Levitt (L) and Jhené Aiko speak onstage during the 2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards at the Santa Monica Pier on February 25, 2017 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Randall Michelson/Getty Images for Film Independent) Images Courtesy of WireImage and Film Independent
SANTA MONICA, CA – FEBRUARY 25: Cast and crew of ‘Moonlight’ accept the Robert Altman Award onstage during the 2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards at the Santa Monica Pier on February 25, 2017 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images for Film Independent) Images Courtesy of WireImage and Film Independent
SANTA MONICA, CA – FEBRUARY 25: (L-R) Actors David Oyelowo, Warren Beatty, and Annette Bening attend the 2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards at the Santa Monica Pier on February 25, 2017 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Film Independent) Images Courtesy of WireImage and Film Independent
SANTA MONICA, CA – FEBRUARY 25: (L-R) Actors Naomie Harris, Jharrel Jerome, Trevante Rhodes, director Ava DuVernay and actor Mahershala Ali during the 2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards at the Santa Monica Pier on February 25, 2017 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Araya Diaz/Getty Images) Images Courtesy of WireImage and Film Independent
SANTA MONICA, CA – FEBRUARY 25: Actor Samuel L. Jackson speaks onstage during the 2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards at the Santa Monica Pier on February 25, 2017 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Film Independent) Images Courtesy of WireImage and Film Independent
SANTA MONICA, CA – FEBRUARY 25: (L-R) Actors Alex R. Hibbert, Mahershala Ali and Jaden Piner pose during the 2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards at the Santa Monica Pier on February 25, 2017 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Randall Michelson/Getty Images for Film Independent) Images Courtesy of WireImage and Film Independent
SANTA MONICA, CA – FEBRUARY 25: Issa Rae and Fred Arisen speak onstage during the 2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards at the Santa Monica Pier on February 25, 2017 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Randall Michelson/Getty Images for Film Independent) Images Courtesy of WireImage and Film Independent
SANTA MONICA, CA – FEBRUARY 25: (L-R) Actor Casey Affleck accepts the Best Male Lead award for ‘Manchester by the Sea’, from actors Kate Beckinsale and David Oyelowo, onstage during the 2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards at the Santa Monica Pier on February 25, 2017 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Randall Michelson/Getty Images for Film Independent) Images Courtesy of WireImage and Film Independent
SANTA MONICA, CA – FEBRUARY 25: Actor Matt Damon (R) and Luciana Barroso are seen during the 2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards at the Santa Monica Pier on February 25, 2017 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Randall Michelson/Getty Images for Film Independent) Images Courtesy of WireImage and Film Independent
SANTA MONICA, CA – FEBRUARY 25: Actor Molly Shannon accepts the Best Supporting Female award for ‘Other People’ onstage during the 2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards at the Santa Monica Pier on February 25, 2017 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Randall Michelson/Getty Images for Film Independent) Images Courtesy of WireImage and Film Independent
Over the past 32 years, the Film Independent Spirit Awards has made a name for itself as the premiere awards show for the independent film community. Artists who have received industry recognition first at the Spirit Awards include Ava DuVernay, Justin Simien, Ryan Coogler, Joel and Ethan Coen, Spike Lee, Oliver Stone, Ashley Judd, Robert Rodriguez, David O. Russell, Edward Burns, Aaron Eckhart, Neil LaBute, Darren Aronofsky, Spike Jonze, Charlie Kaufman, Hilary Swank, Marc Forster, Todd Field, Christopher Nolan, Zach Braff, Amy Adams, Lena Dunham and many more.
This year’s major winners were Moonlight, which won Best Feature, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Editing and the Robert Altman Award; The Witch, which won Best First Feature and Best First Screenplay; Manchester by the Sea, which won Best Male Lead; Elle, which won Best Female Lead; Hell or High Water, which won Best Supporting Male; Other People, which won Best Supporting Female; Spa Night, which won the John Cassavetes Award; O.J.: Made in America, which won Best Documentary and Toni Erdmann, which won Best International Film.
The 10th annual Robert Altman Award was given to one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast. Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight received this award, along with casting director Yesi Ramirez and ensemble cast members Mahershala Ali, Patrick Decile, Naomie Harris, Alex Hibbert, André Holland, Jharrel Jerome, Janelle Monáe, Jaden Piner, Trevante Rhodes and Ashton Sanders.
The 2017 Roger and Chaz Ebert Foundation Fellowship, which includes a cash grant of $10,000, was awarded to Project Involve Fellow, Jomo Fray. This annual award is given to a filmmaker currently participating in a Film Independent Artist Development program with the mission of diversity in mind. Film Independent also awarded the inaugural Turner Fellowship, which includes a $10,000 cash grant, to Project Involve Fellow Kady Kamakate. This generous three-year commitment from Turner Broadcasting, Project Involve Lead Sponsor, will enable Film Independent to provide an even deeper level of support to talented filmmakers from under-represented communities.
The following is a complete list of the winners:
Best Feature:
Moonlight (A24)
Producers: Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Adele Romanski
Best Director:
Barry Jenkins, Moonlight (A24)
Best Screenplay:
Barry Jenkins, Tarell Alvin McCraney (Story By), Moonlight (A24)
Best First Feature:
The Witch (A24)
Director: Robert Eggers
Producers: Daniel Bekerman, Jay Van Hoy, Lars Knudsen, Jodi Redmond, Rodrigo Teixeira
Best First Screenplay:
Robert Eggers, The Witch (A24)
John Cassavetes Award (For best feature made under $500,000):
Spa Night (Strand Releasing)
Writer/Director: Andrew Ahn
Producers: David Ariniello, Giulia Caruso, Ki Jin Kim, Kelly Thomas
Best Supporting Female:
Molly Shannon, Other People (Vertical Entertainment)
Best Supporting Male:
Ben Foster, Hell or High Water (CBS Films/Lionsgate)
Best Female Lead:
Isabelle Huppert, Elle (Sony Pictures Classics)
Best Male Lead:
Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea (Amazon Studios)
Robert Altman Award:
Moonlight (A24)
Director: Barry Jenkins
Casting Director: Yesi Ramirez
Ensemble Cast: Mahershala Ali, Patrick Decile, Naomie Harris, Alex Hibbert, André Holland, Jharrel Jerome, Janelle Monáe, Jaden Piner, Trevante Rhodes, Ashton Sanders
Best Cinematography:
James Laxton, Moonlight (A24)
Best Editing:
Joi McMillon, Nat Sanders, Moonlight (A24)
Best International Film:
Toni Erdmann (Germany and Romania– Sony Pictures Classics)
Director: Maren Ade
Best Documentary:
O.J.: Made in America (ESPN Films)
Director/Producer: Ezra Edelman
Producers: Deirdre Fenton, Libby Geist, Nina Krstic, Erin Leyden, Tamara Rosenberg, Connor Schell, Caroline Waterlow
