'Anora' Triumphs at Film Independent Spirit Awards – Comprehensive Winner's Lineup
The indie romantic comedy sensation Anora continued its award-winning streak during the 2025 Film Independent Spirit Awards. It took home three major awards at this year's ceremony, held in Santa Monica, California.
Winning the coveted Best Feature award, Anora also saw director Sean Baker take home the trophy for Best Director, while lead actress Mikey Madison received her first Best Lead Performance statuette. The comedic-drama A Real Pain also snagged a couple of awards, with Jesse Eisenberg winning Best Screenplay and Kieran Culkin taking home Best Supporting Performance.
With these awards, Anora has earned recognition from the Critics Choice Awards, the Producers Guild Awards, the Directors Guild of America Awards, and now the Film Independent Spirit Awards. Lead actress Mikey Madison has even been nominated for Outstanding Female Actor in a Lead Role at both the SAG Awards and the Oscars.
The TV side of the awards presented notable nods to Shōgun, which won Best New Scripted Series, and Baby Reindeer, which saw Richard Gadd take the Best Lead Performance award. Hollywood Black was crowned the winner in the Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series category.
In addition, this year's Film Independent Spirit Awards honored emerging filmmakers with the Someone to Watch Award (Sarah Friedland for "Familiar Touch") and the Truer Than Fiction Award (Rachel Elizabeth Seed for "A Photographic Memory").
Check out the full list of winners below:
Film Independent Spirit Awards Winners - Film
Best Feature
- Anora
Best First Feature
- Dìdi
Best Lead Performance
- Mikey Madison, Anora
Best Supporting Performance
- Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain
Best Breakthrough Performance
- Maisy Stella, My Old Ass
Best Director
- Sean Baker, Anora
Best Screenplay
- Jesse Eisenberg, A Real Pain
Best First Screenplay
- Sean Wang, Dìdi
Best Cinematography
- Jomo Fray, Nickel Boys
Best Editing
- Hansjörg Weissbrich, September 5
Best International Feature
- Flow (Latvia, France, Belgium)
Best Documentary
- No Other Land (Directors/Producers: Yuval Abraham, Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Rachel Szor; Producers: Fabien Greenberg and Bård Kjøge Rønning)
Producers Award
- Sarah Winshall
John Cassavetes Award
- Girls Will Be Girls (Writer/Director/Producer: Shuchi Talati; Producers: Richa Chadha, Claire Chassagne)
Robert Altman Award
- His Three Daughters (Director: Azazel Jacobs; Casting Director: Nicole Arbusto; Ensemble Cast: Jovan Adepo, Jasmine Bracey, Carrie Coon, Jose Febus, Rudy Galvan, Natasha Lyonne, Elizabeth Olsen, Randy Ramos Jr., and Jay O. Sanders)
Film Independent Spirit Awards Winners - Television
Best New Scripted Series
- Shōgun
Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series
- Richard Gadd, Baby Reindeer
Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series
- Nava Mau, Baby Reindeer
Best Breakthrough Performance in a New Scripted Series
- Jessica Gunning, Baby Reindeer
Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series
- How to Die Alone
Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series
- Hollywood Black
Someone to Watch Award
- Sarah Friedland (Director of Familiar Touch)
Truer Than Fiction Award
- Rachel Elizabeth Seed (Director of A Photographic Memory)
The indie romantic comedy 'Anora' continued its award-winning journey at the 2025 Film Independent Spirit Awards, claiming three prestigious awards. Sean Baker, the director of 'Anora', was recognized with the Best Director award, while lead actress Mikey Madison added the Best Lead Performance accolade to her collection. Additionally, 'Anora' was honored with the Best Feature award.
In the television category, 'Shōgun' emerged victorious as Best New Scripted Series, and Richard Gadd received the Best Lead Performance award for 'Baby Reindeer'. The series also saw Nava Mau and Jessica Gunning win Best Supporting Performance and Best Breakthrough Performance, respectively.
The ceremony also recognized emerging filmmakers with the Someone to Watch Award going to Sarah Friedland for 'Familiar Touch', and the Truer Than Fiction Award was awarded to Rachel Elizabeth Seed for 'A Photographic Memory'.
The critically acclaimed 'A Real Pain' secured Jesse Eisenberg the Best Screenplay award, while Kieran Culkin was recognized for his performance in the film, clinching the Best Supporting Performance award.
Inside the list of Film Independent Spirit Awards winners, 'Dìdi' was crowned Best First Feature, and Sean Wang was awarded Best First Screenplay for 'Dìdi'. Jomo Fray secured the Best Cinematography award for 'Nickel Boys', and Hansjörg Weissbrich took home the Best Editing award for 'September 5'.
'Flow' was bestowed the Best International Feature award, and 'No Other Land' was honored with the Best Documentary award. The Producers Award was granted to Sarah Winshall, and 'Girls Will Be Girls' received the John Cassavetes Award. Lastly, 'His Three Daughters' bagged the Robert Altman Award.
The Television section of the awards also recognized 'How to Die Alone' as Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series, while 'Hollywood Black' claimed the Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series award.
