The Knockturnal attended the 41st Film Independent Spirit Awards on February 15th, hosted by Ego Nwodim. After 32 years in Santa Monica, the awards moved to Hollywood to celebrate the best talent and filmmakers in independent film.
In this video, we interviewed nominees and winners including Kayo Martin and Everett Blunck (The Plague), Lorraine Jones Molina and Cristian Carretero (Esta Isla), Garrett Wareing (The Long Walk), Babou Ceesay (Alien Earth), Sarah Friedland, Carolyn Michelle Smith, Alexandra Byer and Matthew Thurm (Familiar Touch), Francesca Scorcese (Lavazza Ambassador and daughter of Martin Scorcese), Geeta Gandbhir, Nikon Kwantu, Alisa Payne (The Perfect Neighbor), Lennie James and Ariyon Bakare (Mr. Loverman), Cherien Dabis (All That’s Left of You) and Tessa Thompson (Hedda).
The biggest film winner of the night went to the film Train Dreams, racking up three wins, including Best Feature, Best Director, and Best Cinematography. Lurker, written and directed by Alex Russell, won for Best First Feature and Best First Screenplay. The biggest overall winner of the night was Netflix’s Adolescence, which won four awards for Best New Scripted Series, co-creator/-co-writer/co-exectuive producer/actor Stephen Graham for Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series, Erin Doherty for Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series, and Owen Cooper for Best Breakthrough Performance in a New Scripted Series.
The Robert Altman Award, presented to the ensemble cast, director, and casting director of a singular film, went to the remarkable talents and team of the Francis Lawrence adaptation of the Stephen King novel, The Long Walk. As well as the timely and tragic tale of The Perfect Neighbor, taking home Best Documentary. The Puerto Rican love story Esta Isla won the John Cassavetes Award for best feature made under $1,000,000. Kayo Martin won the Best Breakthrough Performance award of the night for his performance in The Plague.
For the list of all winners, see below.
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