Spirit Awards Embrace Intimacy as Indie Winners Steal the Spotlight
The 2026 Independent Spirit Awards staged a scaled-down ceremony at the Hollywood Palladium, hosted by Ego Nwodim, with winners leaning indie rather than Oscar frontrunners. Train Dreams won Best Feature and Best Director (Clint Bentley) but isn’t lined up as an Oscar frontrunner; several winners were absent and the show finished on time. The night highlighted Brazilian cinema (including The Secret Agent and cinematographer Adolpho Veloso) and featured Kate Hudson presenting Best Lead Actress to Rose Byrne, underscoring a festival-like vibe that blended film and TV for a more intimate awards moment.
