‘Nomadland’ Sweeps 2021 Independent Spirit Awards, First TV Awards Handed To ‘I May Destroy You,’ ‘Unorthodox’
See you down the road at the Oscars,Nomadland. Chloé Zhao’s Western road drama became the unexpected front-runner during this year’s awards season, sweeping not only the independent circuit but every single major award. And in its last stop before Academy Awards this season,Nomadlandwas awarded by the independent film community it hails from, taking the top honors at the 2021 Spirit Awards.
The 36th annual Film Independent Spirit Awards, which recognizes the best work in the independent space, awardedNomadlandwith the top honor of Best Feature — along with three other trophies — at its virtual awards show on April 22 hosted bySaturday Night Live’s Melissa Villaseñor. It seems like a fitting final stop forNomadland, which is possibly the most indie Oscar front-runner you could imagine.
For the first time in the Spirit Awards history, television was also celebrated. Taking home the first TV Spirit Awards were critical darlings like HBO’s sorely overlookedI May Destroy Youand Netflix’s incredible limited seriesUnorthodox.
See the full list of winners below.
Best FeatureNomadland
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Never Rarely Sometimes Always
Best Female LeadCarey Mulligan (Promising Young Woman)
Nicole Beharie (Miss Juneteenth)
Viola Davis (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom)
Sidney Flanigan (Never Rarely Sometimes Always)
Julia Garner (The Assistant)
Frances McDormand (Nomadland)
Someone to Watch AwardEkwa Msangi (Farewell Amor)
David Midell (The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain)
Annie Silverstein (Bull)
Best Male LeadRiz Ahmed (The Sound of Metal)
Chadwick Boseman (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom)
Rob Morgan (Bull)
Steven Yeun (Minari)
Adarsh Gourav (The White Tiger)
Piaget Producers AwardGerry Kim
Kara Durrett
Lucas Joaquin
Best DirectorChloé Zhao (Nomadland)
Lee Isaac Chung (Minari)
Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman)
Eliza Hittman (Never Rarely Sometimes Always)
Kelly Reichardt (First Cow)
Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary SeriesImmigration Nation
Atlanta’s Missing and Murdered: The Lost Children
City So Real
Love Fraud
We’re Here
John Cassavetes AwardResidue
The Killing of Two Lovers
La Leyenda Negra
Lingua Franca
Saint Frances
Best CinematographyJoshua James Richards (Nomadland)
Jay Keitel (She Dies Tomorrow)
Shabier Kirchner (Bull)
Michael Latham (The Assistant)
Hélène Louvart (Never Rarely Sometimes Always)
Best International FilmQuo Vadis, Aida?
The Disciple
Night of the Kings
Preparations to be Together for an Unknown Period of Time
Best EditingNomadland
I Carry You With Me
The Invisible Man
Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted SeriesI May Destroy YouBest Male Performance in a New Scripted SeriesAmit Rahav (Unorthodox)
