Rose Byrne, 'train Dreams' Take Top Honors At 2026 Film Independent Spirit Awards

In a smoothly tally show peppered pinch crisp joke but, for nan astir part, a dearth of pointed governmental commentary — prevention for 1 unscripted look of anti-ICE sentiment from “The White Lotus” prima Natasha Rothwell — nan 2026 Film Independent Spirit Awards celebrated its 41st version connected Sunday successful Hollywood.

The ceremonial has agelong served arsenic a counterpoint to nan Oscars: looser, much unpredictable, typically mounted successful a formation shelter by nan Santa Monica Pier. For complete 3 decades, it was held nan Saturday day correct earlier nan Academy Awards.

But this year, owed to coastal readying for nan 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, nan Spirit Awards relocated to nan Hollywood Palladium (where they were past held successful 1994), a venue decked retired successful nan show’s signature bluish and pinkish signage and decor — a pivot that proved effective.

“We don’t person a permit,” cracked big Ego Nwodim, riffing connected scrappy independent strategies successful her monologue. Her diversion hosting duties had her doing everything from cornering attending celebs specified arsenic Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons via a “sexual hostility cam” to picking up her falafel bid astatine nan main entranceway connected Sunset Boulevard.

Last year’s arena played much for illustration a coronation for a wide favored front-runner, Sean Baker‘s “Anora.” That movie would spell connected to expanse astatine nan Oscars a small complete a week later. The temper coming was much tenuous, nan manufacture crowd mulling successful nan lobby pinch cocktails, discussing nan tail extremity of awards play and nan contention coming retired of nan Berlin Film Festival concerning politically cautious juror statements.

The movies that would beryllium honored here, by contrast, were bolder than nan Spirits usually go, resulting successful a genuinely independent raft of winners. Rose Byrne won nan lead character prize (the Spirits person gone gender-neutral since 2022) for her commanding, ruinous move successful “If I Legs I’d Kick You.” Accepting nan award, Byrne half-joked, “This characteristic of Linda really could only beryllium successful an independent movie — she’s fierce and she’s gracious and she’s a middle-aged woman.”

Other awardees included nan subtly wrought academia play “Sorry, Baby,” honored for head Eva Victor‘s screenplay and its supporting character Naomi Ackie; nan star-stalking thriller “Lurker,” which took some nan first characteristic and first screenplay awards; and Brazil’s “The Secret Agent,” claiming nan prize for world film.

The afternoon’s large victor was “Train Dreams,” nan small movie that could, 1 that emerged 13 months agone astatine Sundance 2025 and is now proving itself to beryllium 1 of Netflix’s sturdiest Oscar contenders. It took prizes for champion feature, head and cinematography, nan benignant of haul that suggests existent momentum.

A complete database of today’s Spirit winners

FILM CATEGORIES

Best Feature
“Train Dreams” (Netflix)
Producers: Michael Heimler, Will Janowitz, Marissa McMahon, Ashley Schlaifer, Teddy Schwarzman

Director
Clint Bentley, “Train Dreams” (Netflix)

Screenplay
Eva Victor, “Sorry, Baby” (A24)

First Feature
“Lurker” (Mubi)
Director: Alex Russell
Producers: Galen Core, Archie Madekwe, Marc Marrie, Charlie McDowell, Francesco Melzi D’Eril, Duncan Montgomery, Alex Orlovsky, Olmo Schnabel, Jack Selby

First Screenplay
Alex Russell, “Lurker” (Mubi)

John Cassavetes Award
For nan champion characteristic made nether $1,000,000
“Esta Isla (This Island)”
Writers/Directors/Producers: Cristian Carretero, Lorraine Jones Molina
Writer: Kisha Tikina Burgos

Breakthrough Performance
Kayo Martin, “The Plague” (Independent Film Company)

Supporting Performance
Naomi Ackie, “Sorry, Baby” (A24)

Lead Performance
Rose Byrne, “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” (A24)

Robert Altman Award
For a film’s director, casting head and ensemble cast
“The Long Walk” (Lionsgate)
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

Cinematography
Adolpho Veloso, “Train Dreams” (Netflix)

Editing
Sofía Subercaseaux, “The Testament of Ann Lee” (Searchlight Pictures)

International Film
“The Secret Agent” (Neon)
Director: Kleber Mendonça Filho

Documentary
“The Perfect Neighbor” (Netflix)
Director/Producer: Geeta Gandbhir
Producers: Sam Bisbee, Nikon Kwantu, Alisa Payne

Someone to Watch
Given to a talented filmmaker not yet wide recognized
Tatti Ribeiro, “Valentina”

Truer Than Fiction
Given to an emerging head of nonfiction features
Rajee Samarasinghe, “Your Touch Makes Others Invisible”

Producers Award
For an emerging shaper of value independent films pinch constricted resources
Tony Yang

TELEVISION CATEGORIES

New Scripted Series
“Adolescence” (Netflix)
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

New Non-Scripted aliases Documentary Series
“Pee-wee arsenic Himself” (HBO Max)
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

Breakthrough Performance successful a New Scripted Series
Owen Cooper, “Adolescence” (Netflix)

Supporting Performance successful a New Scripted Series
Erin Doherty, “Adolescence” (Netflix)

Lead Performance successful a New Scripted Series
Stephen Graham, “Adolescence” (Netflix)

Ensemble Cast successful a New Scripted Series
“Chief of War” (Apple TV)
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