The Film Independent Spirit Awards concluded its 41st ceremony on , at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, marking a shift from its longtime beachside location. Hosted by SNL alum Ego Nwodim, the event celebrated the best in independent film and television of 2025, with Train Dreams and Adolescence emerging as the night’s biggest winners.
Train Dreams took home three awards, including Best Feature, Best Director for Clint Bentley, and Best Cinematography, awarded to Adolpho Veloso. The film’s success positions it as a strong contender heading into the Academy Awards, echoing the trajectory of last year’s Spirit Awards winner, Anora, which went on to win in the same categories at the Oscars.
However, it was Netflix’s television series Adolescence that dominated the evening, securing four statuettes. The series earned wins for Best New Scripted Series, as well as individual acting awards for Stephen Graham (Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series), Erin Doherty (Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series), and Owen Cooper (Best Breakthrough Performance in a New Scripted Series). The show also took home the award for Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series.
Beyond the top winners, several other projects and individuals were recognized for their contributions to independent storytelling. Eva Victor’s screenplay for Sorry, Baby was awarded Best Screenplay, while Naomi Ackie received the award for Best Supporting Performance for her work in the same film. Alex Russell’s Lurker earned two awards: Best First Feature and Best First Screenplay.
The documentary category saw The Perfect Neighbor take the top prize, directed by Geeta Gandbhir. On the international front, The Secret Agent from Brazil was honored as Best International Film, directed and written by Kleber Mendonça Filho. Rose Byrne was recognized for her performance in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, winning Best Lead Performance.
The Spirit Awards also spotlighted emerging talent with several dedicated awards. Kayo Martin received the award for Best Breakthrough Performance for The Plague, while Tatti Ribeiro was honored with the Someone to Watch Award for her direction of Valentina. Rajee Samarasinghe was recognized with the Truer Than Fiction Award for Your Touch Makes Others Invisible, and Tony Yang received the Producers Award.
The Robert Altman Award, recognizing ensemble casts, went to The Long Walk, and the John Cassavetes Award, honoring the best feature made for under $500,000, was presented to Esta Isla (This Island).
This year’s ceremony marked a significant evolution for the Spirit Awards, moving from its long-held location at the Santa Monica Pier to the Hollywood Palladium. The move, announced in , comes as Santa Monica undergoes renovations. The shift also reflects a broader trend of the Spirit Awards moving closer to the middle of awards season, rather than immediately preceding the Oscars.
The event was streamed live on the YouTube channels of both IMDb and Film Independent, expanding its reach to a wider audience. The nominations themselves were announced live via YouTube on .
The 41st Independent Spirit Awards continue to serve as a vital platform for celebrating and supporting independent filmmaking, offering a distinct counterpoint to the mainstream awards circuit. With Train Dreams poised for potential Oscar recognition, the Spirit Awards once again demonstrate their ability to identify and champion films and talent that resonate with both industry professionals and discerning audiences.
Films
BEST SCREENPLAY
Eva Victor, Sorry, Baby
BEST DOCUMENTARY
The Perfect Neighbor
Director: Geeta Gandbhir
Producers: Gandbhir, Sam Bisbee, Nikon Kwantu, Alisa Payne
BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM
The Secret Agent (Brazil)
Director/Writer: Kleber Mendonça Filho
BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
Alex Russell, Lurker
BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE
Naomi Ackie, Sorry, Baby
JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD
Esta Isla (This Island)
Directors/Writers/Producers: Cristian Carretero, Lorraine Jones Molina
Writer: Kisha Tikina Burgos
BEST EDITING
Sofía Subercaseaux, The Testament of Ann Lee
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Adolpho Veloso, Train Dreams
BEST BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE
Kayo Martin, The Plague
BEST FIRST FEATURE
Lurker
Director: Alex Russell
Producers: Galen Core, Archie Madekwe, Marc Marrie, Charlie McDowell, Francesco Melzi D’Eril, Duncan Montgomery, Alex Orlovsky, Olmo Schnabel, Jack Selby
BEST DIRECTOR
Clint Bentley, Train Dreams
BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE
Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
BEST FEATURE
Train Dreams
Producers: Michael Heimler, Will Janowitz, Marissa McMahon, Ashley Schlaifer, Teddy Schwarzman
ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD
The Long Walk
Director: Francis Lawrence
Casting Director: Rich Delia
Ensemble cast: Judy Greer, Mark Hamill, Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Tut Nyuot, Joshua Odjick, Charlie Plummer, Ben Wang, Garrett Wareing
SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD
Tatti Ribeiro, director of Valentina
TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD
Rajee Samarasinghe, director of Your Touch Makes Others Invisible
PRODUCERS AWARD
Tony Yang
Television
BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE IN A NEW SCRIPTED SERIES
Erin Doherty, Adolescence
BEST BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE IN A NEW SCRIPTED SERIES
Owen Cooper, Adolescence
BEST NEW SCRIPTED SERIES
Adolescence
Creators/Executive Producers: Jack Thorne, Stephen Graham
Executive Producers: Philip Barantini, Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Nina Wolarsky, Hannah Walters, Mark Herbert, Emily Feller
Co-Executive Producers: Carina Sposato, Niall Shamma, Peter Balm
BEST NEW NON-SCRIPTED OR DOCUMENTARY SERIES
Pee-wee as Himself
Executive Producers: Matt Wolf, Emma Tillinger Koskoff, Ronald Bronstein, Eli Bush, Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie, Paul Reubens, Candace Tomarken, Kyle Martin, Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, Sara Rodriguez
BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A NEW SCRIPTED SERIES
Stephen Graham, Adolescence
BEST ENSEMBLE CAST IN A NEW SCRIPTED SERIES
Chief of War
Ensemble Cast: Charlie Brumbly, Luciane Buchanan, Cliff Curtis, Brandon Finn, Moses Goods, Te Ao o Hinepehinga, Benjamin Hoetjes, Siua Ikale’o, Keala Kahuanui-Paleka, Mainei Kinimaka, Kaina Makua, Jason Momoa, Temuera Morrison, Te Kohe Tuhaka, James Udom
