The 37th Film Independent Spirit Awards was hosted on Sunday. Image Source: The Local Report

The 37th Film Independent Spirit Awards was hosted on Sunday i.e., 6th March 2022 in Santa Monica. The Independent Spirit Awards are held to honor independent filmmakers and it was founded in 1984. Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman hosted the evening and the ceremony was aired on IFC and AMC+.

The host Nick Offerman joked at the beginning of the ceremony that if someone does not win today, they can straightaway walk into the ocean right here. Megan Mullally had a strong message for Russia in the wake of invasion in Ukraine as she said, ‘Fuck off and go home, Putin’.

Here are the winners of Film Independent Spirit Awards 2022

Best Feature- The Lost Daughter

Best Male Lead- Simon Rex, ‘Red Rocket’

Best Female Lead- Taylour Paige, ‘Zola’

Best International Film- Drive My Car

Best Director- Maggie Gyllenhaal – The Lost Daughter

Best Female Performance in a Scripted Series- Thuso Mbedu, ‘The Underground Railroad’

Best Male Performance in a Scripted Series- Lee Jung-jae, ‘Squid Games’

Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series- Black and Missing

Best New Scripted Series- Reservation Dogs

Best Documentary- Summer of Soul

Best Supporting Female- Ruth Negga, ‘Passing’

Best Supporting Male- Troy Kotsur, ‘CODA’

Best Screenplay- The Lost Daughter

Best First Feature- 7 Days

Best First Screenplay- Pig

Best Cinematography- Passing

Best Editing- Zola

Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series- Reservation Dogs

John Cassavetes Award- Shiva Baby

Robert Altman Award- Director, Cast and Casting Director of ‘Mass’

Someone to Watch Award- Alex Camilleri, ‘Luzzu’

Truer Than Fiction Award- Faya Dayi

Producers Award- Lizzie Shapiro

With winning Best Supporting Male at the 37th Independent Spirit Awards, Troy Kotsur has created another historic moment by being the first deaf actor to win the award at the Independent Spirit Awards. In CODA, Troy plays the character of deaf fisherman Frank Rossi and was highly appreciated for his performance.

The actor recently won Screen Actors Guild Award 2022 for his performance. During the acceptance speech of his Independent Spirit Award, with the help of an interpreter on stage, Troy thanked everyone in the audience along with mentioning that he was grateful to be in a room with such incredible artists. The actor who played a fisherman in a remarkable movie said that he is grateful to the entire fishing community in Gloucester who believed in their project and supported with their true hearts.

Troy after thanking everyone who was involved in the project went ahead to thank his family for always being there for him. Backstage, the actor went ahead to explain that he had worked hard to be here and it almost feels like he had earned an honorary Ph.D. He mentioned that it was the choices he had made in life has helped him to be where he is today and he just really needed to trust his instinct, gut, and heart.

Troy went ahead to thank his CODA family and added that the industry (filmmakers) are finally able to see the deaf community and the change they can bring in. The actor is grateful that the industry has accepted them with open arms and hearts and is ready to work with them, give their community opportunities to bring in the desired change not only in filmmaking but society and the way society views the deaf community.

Maggie Gyllenhaal whose The Lost Daughter won three Independent Spirit Awards said while accepting the award for Best Screenplay that she is glad that there is a real conscious effort being made and steps being taken to give space and opportunities to different visions and voices. She added that her movie is not just for women but also everyone.

Congratulations to the winners!