The 40th Film Independent Spirit Awards kicked off in style on Saturday afternoon in Los Angeles.
Demi Moore brought the glamour in a striped sheer dress with a coordinating jacket.
The Substance actress also brought her adorable pup Pilaf with her to the awards show.
Emma Stone chose an olive hued mini skirt with a low-cut black top while she rocked her pixie haircut.
Meanwhile, Amy Adams chose a chic set with a gold and bronze accents along the top, opting to pull back her red locks.
Julianne Moore wore a sleek off-the-shoulder black look, adding vintage inspired sunglasses and statement earrings.
The 40th Film Independent Spirit Awards kicked off in style on Saturday afternoon in Los Angeles; Demi Moore, Emma Stone, Amy Adams and Julianne Moore
Demi, 62, wowed in her see-through black and gray dress, which had a corset upper half and calf-length skirt.
The striped number had a knee-length white underskirt that was visible through the sheer number.
Demi added a coordinating sheer striped jacket that perfectly matched her frock.
The mom of three styled her signature long brunette locks sleek and center parted, opting for rosy lipstick on her pout.
She sweetly held her beloved pup Pilaf in her arms as she walked the red carpet.
Emma looked stylish in a satin green hued skirt that grazed her thighs, paired with a plunging black top with a striking neckline and an open hemline.
She paired her pixie cut hair with pink lipstick and minimal jewelry, opting to showcase her stunning natural beauty.
Emma, 36, was joined by husband Dave McCary, 39, whom she married in 2020; they share daughter Louise Jean, born in March 2021.
Demi Moore brought the glamour in a striped sheer dress with a coordinating jacket, also bringing her adorable pup Pilaf
The Substance star looked incredible in her sheer look
Demi sweetly held her fur baby Pilaf in her arms
Emma Stone chose an olive hued mini skirt with a low-cut black top while she rocked her pixie haircut
Emma posed with her husband Dave McCary, whom she wed in 2020
Amy, 50, showcased her cleavage in her low-cut long-sleeved blouse, which had a gold and bronze hued metal accent along the torso.
The Enchanted star paired the striking top with baggy black trousers and delicate earrings.
Amy styled her red locks center parted and pulled back and minimal makeup.
She arrived with husband Darren Le Gallo, whoms she married in 2015; they share daughter Aviana, 14.
Julianne, 64, wore an off-the-shoulder black gown that had pockets; the frock featured unique cut-out sleeves.
The actress styled the futuristic look with small framed sunglasses and black mules to round out her look.
She wore her red hair center parted in a low updo, adding eye-catching earrings with minimal makeup.
Amy brought husband Darren Le Gallo to the awards show, and the couple shared a sweet moment on the red carpet
Julianne Moore wore a sleek off-the-shoulder black look, adding vintage inspired sunglasses and statement earrings
Julia Fox posed up a storm on awards show red carpet, rocking a striking Adidas fit.
The actress, 35, chose a zip up jacket with a coordinating skirt, adding futuristic sunglasses.
Danielle Deadwyler looked incredible in a black crop top with a matching maxi skirt and gloves.
Ruth Negga, Maisy Stella and Carrie Coon looked incredible in black gowns, with Carrie sporting on with sheer elements.
Mikey Madison wowed in a black and white strapless gown with a unique neckline.
The 25-year-old actress wore black mules and styled her hair into a bun.
Julia Fox posed up a storm on awards show red carpet, rocking a striking Adidas fit
Danielle Deadwyler looked incredible in a black crop top with a matching maxi skirt and gloves
Ruth Negga, Maisy Stella and Carrie Coon looked incredible in black gowns
Mikey Madison wowed in a black and white strapless gown with a unique neckline
Julianne and Mikey shared a sweet moment on the carpet
Elizabeth Olsen wowed in a see-through mint colored lace gown, with a ruffled accent along the skirt.
The Marvel star’s frock had a stunning pink bow on one shoulder of the gown, that cascaded elegantly down to the red carpet.
The movie star wore her brunette hair pulled back with her fringe center parted, opting for mauve hued lipstick on her lips.
Euphoria star Hunter Schafer, 26, looked lovely in a yellow and white floral dress with asymmetrical straps.
Ryan Destiny wowed in a cream hued suede gown with an open back.
Natasha Lyonne chose a sheer burnt orange lace gown with floral elements while Natasha Rothwell opted for a bold orange floral number.
Natalie Morales chose a pink and white frock, adding strappy red heels and Aidy Bryan chose a ombre pink gown with a floral accent along the neckline.
Sonequa Martin-Green wore a shimmery pink and green floral off-the-shoulder number.
Lily Gladstone chose a burgundy gown with a gold element along her torso.
Cristin Milioti chose a ruched chocolate brown strapless number.
Anora won multiple top awards, including best feature and best director, and star Mikey Madison took home the award the best lead performance
Earlier, the ceremony solidified Jesse Eisenberg’s awards-season campaign with his win for best screenplay
Demi and her fur baby Pilaf posed with Chloe Guidry inside the awards show
Elizabeth Olsen looked ethereal in a mint hued floral lace number, featuring a pink bow train
The stunning movie star added cream pointed heels and wore her brunette locks back with her fringe center parted
Hunter Schafer looked lovely in a yellow and white floral dress with asymmetrical straps
Ryan Destiny wowed in a cream hued suede gown with an open back
Natasha Lyonne chose a sheer burnt orange lace gown with floral elements while Natasha Rothwell opted for a bold orange floral number
Natalie Morales chose a pink and white frock, adding strappy red heels and Aidy Bryan chose a ombre pink gown with a floral accent along the neckline. Sonequa Martin-Green wore a shimmery pink and green floral off-the-shoulder number
Lily Gladstone chose a burgundy gown with a gold element along her torso
Cristin Milioti chose a ruched chocolate brown strapless number
Martine wore a bodysuit with nude leggings and a bouqet of flowers while June Squibb chose a black and white look and Carol Kane chose a chic black button-up dress
Rachael Harris, Chloe Guidry and Marianne Jean-Baptiste wore silver frocks
SNL alum Aidy Bryant hosted the star-studded ceremony for the second year in a row.
The 40th Independent Spirit Awards were held in Santa Monica on Saturday, February 22.
The Indie Spirits have gender-neutral acting categories, unlike the Oscars, Emmys, or Golden Globes.
The ceremony celebrated film and television talent with both standard and unique categories like Best First Screenplay and the John Cassavetes Award (best feature under $1M).
Anora won multiple top awards, including best feature and best director, and star Mikey Madison took home the award the best lead performance.
The gender-neutral category had pitched her against a bevy of acclaimed performers, including the current Oscars favorite Demi Moore for her satirical horror-comedy The Substance.
But Demi’s odds at the upcoming Academy Awards were thrown into question by the upstart win by Mikey, who stars in Anora as the title character, a sex worker who dreams of leaving her career as an adult dancer behind after she gets hitched to the son of a Russian oligarch after their professional relationship turns romantic.
Mikey looked misty-eyed as she made her acceptance speech, though she managed to keep it together while thanking her costars and her director, whom she joked was not just a great director and friend, but also an ‘incredible Chihuahua owner.’
Andrew Scott wore a pink button up shirt with a red floral accent, paired with black slacks
Sebastian Stan and Richard Gadd looked handsome on the red carpet
Walton Goggins showed off his chiseled arms in a sleeveless black shirt with matching trousers
Mark Duplass and Joe Locke looked sharp in their striking red carpet looks
Julio Torres wore a unique gray suit with bold accessories
‘Anora’ and ‘I Saw the TV Glow’ dominated the Independent Spirit Awards nominations, with each film picking up six nods; Mark Eydelshteyn and Mikey Madison seen in a still from Anora
Demi Moore seen in a still from ‘The Substance’
The win was a shocking upset over awards-season favorite Demi Moore, though the gender-neutral nature of the category may have shifted the dynamic.
Director Sean Baker was also on hand to accept the top prize of the night and his individual award for helming the acclaimed movie.
Baby Reindeer was one of the biggest winners in the TV categories.
It swept the acting categories with series creator and star Richard Gadd winning best lead performance, while Nava Mau won in the supporting category and Jessica Gunning won the breakout performance award.
Earlier, the ceremony solidified Jesse Eisenberg’s awards-season campaign with his win for best screenplay.
The 41-year-old actor, writer and director was honored for his dramedy A Real Pain, which he stars in with Kieran Culkin.
Maisy Stella was the first winner of the evening for her romantic dramedy My Old Ass, which costarred Aubrey Plaza as a future version of herself trying to guide her toward a better future.
The presenters included Michelle Yeoh, Carrie Coon, Walton Goggins, Kathryn Hahn, Melanie Lynskey, Natasha Lyonne, Questlove, Edgar Ramirez, Hunter Schafer, and more.
This Spirit Awards considered films with budgets from $112,000 to $28 million this year.
The budgetary restrictions applied to film nominations did not extend to television series recognized by the Spirit Awards, exemplified by Shōgun, a large-scale historical epic that garnered five nominations, including Best New Scripted Series.
The Indie Spirit Awards do not categorize performers by gender.
Brian Jordan Alvarez’s (English Teacher) nomination comes after he was accused of sexual assault by former co-star Jon Ebeling two months prior.
Ebeling alleges that Alvarez sexually assaulted him while they worked together on the digital series The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo, which aired on YouTube back in 2016.
Shōgun, a large-scale historical epic series adapted from James Clavell’s 1975 historical novel, garnered five nominations, including Best New Scripted Series; Hiroyuki Sanada seen in a still
Brian Jordan Alvarez’s (English Teacher) nomination comes after he was accused of sexual assault by former co-star Jon Ebeling two months prior
They starred alongside Stephanie Koenig, who also co-stars with Alvarez in The English Teacher.
Alvarez has denied the allegations.
Another nominated star currently embroiled in a controversy is The Apprentice director Ali Abbasi, who’s up for the Best Director award.
Abbasi has been accused of groping an A-list star at a Golden Globes afterparty last month, leading to a split from his high profile talent representatives at CAA and Entertainment360.
He has not addressed the accusations at this time.
While the Oscars and Spirit Awards sometimes diverge in their selections, as evidenced by last year’s differing top film choices, they have also overlapped in prior years, with films like Everything Everywhere All at Once, Nomadland, and Moonlight winning their top film prizes.
‘What I love about the Spirit Awards is I feel like they have a looseness and a bit more personality, and I think we’re just trying to lean into that,’ Bryant told Entertainment Weekly about the show.
‘I think the Spirits are going to be extremely fun. I feel like this has been such an intense year that I really hope that this is just a place where people can blow off some steam and we can celebrate some really great small movies.’
The 40th Film Independent Spirit Awards streamed live on Saturday, Feb. 22, at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT on the IMDb and Film Independent YouTube and X channels.
Independent Spirit Awards 2025 winners
MOVIES
Best Lead Performance
Amy Adams – Nightbitch
Ryan Destiny – The Fire Inside
Colman Domingo – Sing Sing
Keith Kupferer – Ghostlight
Mikey Madison – Anora — WINNER
Demi Moore – The Substance
Hunter Schafer – Cuckoo
Justice Smith – I Saw The TV Glow
June Squibb – Thelma
Sebastian Stan – The Apprentice
Demi Moore had a shock loss when Mikey Madison won best actress for Anora
Best Supporting Performance
Yura Borisov – Anora
Joan Chen – Dìdi
Kieran Culkin – A Real Pain — WINNER
Danielle Deadwyler – The Piano Lesson
Carol Kane – Between The Temples
Karren Karagulian – Anora
Kani Kusruti – Girls Will Be Girls
Jack Haven – I Saw The TV Glow
Clarence ‘Divine Eye’ Maclin – Sing Sing
Adam Pearson – A Different Man
Kieran Culkin won for his role in the dark comedy A Real Pain
Best Breakthrough Performance
Isaac Krasner – Big Boys
Katy O’brian – Love Lies Bleeding
Mason Alexander Park – National Anthem
René Pérez Joglar – In The Summers
Maisy Stella – My Old Ass — WINNER
Maisy Stella won Best Breakthrough Performance in a feature for her role in the coming-of-age dramedy My Old Ass
Best Feature
Anora – Sean Baker, Alex Coco, Samantha Quan — WINNER
I Saw The TV Glow – Ali Herting, Luca Intili, Dave Mccary, Emma Stone, Sarah Winshall
Nickel Boys – Joslyn Barnes, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, David Levine
Sing Sing – Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Monique Walton
The Substance – Tim Bevan, Coralie Fargeat, Eric Fellner
Anora, which follows a young sex worker from Brooklyn, won for Best Feature
Best Documentary
Gaucho Gaucho
Hummingbirds
No Other Land — WINNER
Patrice: The Movie
Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat
Best Director
Ali Abbasi – The Apprentice
Sean Baker – Anora — WINNER
Brady Corbet – The Brutalist
Alonso Ruizpalacios – La Cocina
Jane Schoenbrun – I Saw The TV Glow
Sean Baker won best director for his film Anora
Best Screenplay
Scott Beck, Bryan Woods – Heretic
Jesse Eisenberg – A Real Pain — WINNER
Megan Park – My Old Ass
Aaron Schimberg – A Different Man
Jane Schoenbrun – I Saw The TV Glow
Actor and writer Jesse Eisenberg won Best Screenplay for A Real Pain
Best First Feature
Dìdi — WINNER
In the Summers
Janet Planet
The Piano Lesson
Problemista
Best International Film
All We Imagine as Light
Black Dog
Flow — WINNER
Green Border
Hard Truths
John Cassavetes Award
Big Boys
Ghostlight
Girls Will Be Girls — WINNER
Jazzy
The People’s Joker
Best Cinematography
Đinh Duy Hưng – Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell
Jomo Fray – Nickel Boys — WINNER
Maria von Hausswolff – Janet Planet
Juan Pablo Ramírez – La Cocina
Rina Yang – The Fire Inside
Best Editing
Laura Colwell and Vanara Taing – Jazzy
Olivier Bugge Coutté and Olivia Neergaard-Holm – The Apprentice
Anne McCabe – Nightbitch
Hansjörg Weißbrich – September 5 — WINNER
Arielle Zakowski – Dìdi
Someone to Watch Award
Nicholas Colia – Griffin in Summer
Sarah Friedland – Familiar Touch — WINNER
Phan Thien An – Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell
Truer than Fiction Award
Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie – Sugarcane
Carla Gutiérrez – Frida
Rachel Elizabeth Seed – A Photographic Memory — WINNER
Producers Award
Alex Coco – Anora
Sarah Winshall – I Saw The TV Glow — WINNER
Zoë Worth – Thelma
Robert Altman Award
His Three Daughters — WINNER
TELEVISION
Best Lead Performance In A New Scripted Series
Brian Jordan Alvarez – English Teacher
Richard Gadd – Baby Reindeer — WINNER
Lily Gladstone – Under The Bridge
Kathryn Hahn – Agatha All Along
Cristin Milioti – The Penguin
Julianne Moore – Mary & George
Hiroyuki Sanada – Shōgun
Anna Sawai – Shōgun
Andrew Scott – Ripley
Julio Torres – Fantasmas
Baby Reindeer creator Richard Gadd won for his lead role in the hit Netflix series
Best Supporting Performance In A New Scripted Series
Tadanobu Asano – Shōgun
Enrico Colantoni – English Teacher
Betty Gilpin – Three Women
Chloe Guidry – Under The Bridge
Moeka Hoshi – Shōgun
Stephanie Koenig – English Teacher
Patti Lupone – Agatha All Along
Nava Mau – Baby Reindeer — WINNER
Ruth Negga – Presumed Innocent
Brian Tee – Expats
Ruth Negga was nominated for her role in the Apple TV + series Presumed Innocent, but lost to Bay Reindeer’s Nava Mau
Best Breakthrough Performance In A New Scripted Series
Jessica Gunning – Baby Reindeer — WINNER
Diarra Kilpatrick – Diarra From Detroit
Joe Locke – Agatha All Along
Megan Stott – Penelope
Hoa Xuande – The Sympathizer
Jessica Gunning won Best Breakthrough Performance in a New Scripted Series for her portrayal of a stalker in Netflix series Baby Reindeer
Best New Scripted Series
Baby Reindeer – Creator/Exec Producer: Richard Gadd. Exec Producers: Wim De Greef, Petra Fried, Matt Jarvis, Ed Macdonald
Diarra From Detroit – Creator/Exec Producer: Diarra Kilpatrick. Exec Producers: Kenya Barris, Miles Orion Feldsott, Darren Goldberg. Co-Exec Producers: Ester Lou, Mark Ganek
English Teacher – Creators/Exec Producer: Brian Jordan Alvarez. Exec Producers: Paul Simms, Jonathan Krisel, Dave King. Co-Exec Producers: Kathryn Dean, Jake Bender, Zach Dunn
Fantasmas – Creator/Exec Producer: Julio Torres. Exec Producers: Emma Stone, Dave Mccary, Olivia Gerke, Alex Bach, Daniel Powell. Co-Exec Producer: Ali Herting
Shōgun – Creators/Exec Producers: Rachel Kondo, Justin Marks. Exec Producers: Edward L. Mcdonnell, Michael De Luca, Michaela Clavell. Co-Exec Producers: Shannon Goss, Andrew Macdonald, Allon Reich, Jamie Vega Wheeler — WINNER
Shōgun won for Best New Scripted Series
Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series
How To Die Alone — WINNER
Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series
Erased: WW2’s Heroes of Color
Hollywood Black — WINNER
Photographer
Ren Faire
Social Studies
