Spirit Awards: Aubrey Plaza Takes Jab at Oscars for Lack of Female Director Nominees

Laura Dern found herself to be the recipient of an unexpected, but hilarious, musical tribute at the 2020 Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, Calif., Saturday night (Feb. 8).

The 35th Annual Film Independent Spirit Awards took place on Saturday afternoon in Santa Monica, with stars like Jennifer Lopez, Nicolas Cage and Robert De Niro on hand to honor the best in this year's independent filmmaking.The ceremony was hosted by Aubrey Plaza and aired live on IFC, and there was plenty of splashy moments on the telecast— from Plaza's impersonation of Robert Pattinson's Lighthouse character to the Los Angeles Gay Men's Choir tribute to Laura Dern, there were some things the

Lulu Wang‘s “The Farewell,” a film snubbed by the Academy Awards, won Best Feature at the Film Independent Spirit Awards (Image courtesy A24)

The Farewellwon the Spirit Award for best feature at Saturday's Film Independent Spirit Awards.The film's director, Lulu Wang, accepted the award and gave an impassioned acceptance speech, speaking about the importance of those with power on Hollywood to hire more female filmmakers."There's been a lot of conversation this year about how to encourage more women to be in film or get more women into the conversation," Wang said. "And I just have to that we don't have to encourage women.

Renée Zellweger took home her first Spirit Award at Saturday's Film Independent Spirit Awards. Zellweger was honored for her portrayal of the late Judy Garland in the biopic Judy.In her acceptance speech, Zellweger — who had been nominated for a Spirit Award twice before winning — reflected back on her first time at the awards ceremony, which famously takes place inside of a tent on the beach in Santa Monica."I gotta say, what was it, March 25, 1995?" Zellweger said.

LOS ANGELES — Chinese-American director Lulu Wang’s movie “The Farewell” won the top prize at the Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday, while Adam Sandler was named best actor and made fun of his exclusion from Sunday’s Oscars.

Marriage Storywas honored withthe Robert Altman Award at the 2020 Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica on Saturday afternoon.Writer-director Noah Baumbach, casting directors Douglas Aibel and Francine Maisler, and ensemble cast Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, Laura Dern, Azhy Robertson, Julie Hagerty, Alan Alda, Ray Liotta and Merritt Wever accepted the award.

Noah Baumbach’s divorce dramaMarriage Story won for best screenplay at the 35th annual Film Independent Spirit Awards.After taking to the Santa Monica beach stage Sunday to accept his first ever Spirit Awards win, the writer, director and producer "concurred" with sentiments shared by category presenters Nick Kroll and Mindy Kaling, noting the labor and stress of being a Hollywood scribe."I kind of hate writing," Baumbach said to crowd laughter.

South Korean dark comedy Parasite has been named international film of the year at the 35th Independent Spirit Awards.

The Farewell took the top prize at the 35th Film Independent Spirit Awards, while crime drama Uncut Gems was also recognised.

The 2020 Film Independent Spirit Awards have arrived as a myriad of A-list stars will spend their Saturday in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica honoring the year's best in indie film.The Spirt Awards will air live at 2 p.m. PT Saturday on IFC.

Aubrey Plaza returned to host the 2020 Film Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday, kicking off the awards show with a Judy-inspired sketch and onstage musical number.After Jon Hamm interrupted Plaza hallucinating herself transformed into Judy Garland in a pre-taped segment — "Why host an awards show for film when film is fucking dead? What even is film anymore?" Plaza cried mid-breakdown. "No one goes to the theaters.

The 35th Independent Spirit Awards are underway on the Santa Monica beach this Saturday, and the spirit of the show’s independence from the Academy Awards — and the Hollywood studio system at large — was on ready and, at times, anxious display in the press room backstage.

Awards season is in full swing and we're almost at its peak (aka 2020 Oscars). But first, let's honor the best in independent film.

The 2020 Film Independent Spirit Awards kicks off Oscars weekend with a laid-back celebration of movies being broadcast live from Santa Monica on Saturday, February 8.

The 2020 Film Independent Spirit Awards almost here!