Spirit Awards: Melissa Villasenor Says Pandemic Marked "Tough Year" to "Watch Independent Movies"

When the 2021 Independent Spirit Awards nominations were announced at the end of January, Focus Features' abortion drama Never Rarely Sometimes Always seemed like it was picking up some awards season heat when it led the Spirit Awards field with seven nominations, more than any other film, including nods for best feature and best director.

There were many highlights during the 2021 Independent Spirit Awards on Thursday, which celebrated the best in indie filmmaking from the past year and took place in a virtual format hosted by Saturday Night Live castmember MelissaVillaseñor.

Nomadland won best feature at the 2021 Independent Spirit Awards on Thursday. "We are so honored to be recognized with our tribe," said producer Mollye Asher, acknowledging the community of Film Independent.

same contenders overlapped this year, including “Minari,” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” “Promising Young Woman” and “Sound of Metal.”And “Nomadland” has been on a steady march to the Oscars. The film’s Spirit win follows others at the Golden Globes, the BAFTAs, the producers guild and the directors guild.

Promising Young Woman at the Film Independent Spirit Awards 2021, dedicating the award to the late Helen McCrory as she accepted the gong.Mulligan won the award for Best Actress at the virtual ceremony today (April 23), and she dedicated it to McCrory, who died last week at 52 after a private battle with cancer.“I want to dedicate this award to a true independent spirit and an actress that I have looked up to and will continue to look up to for the rest of my career,” Mulligan said.“Helen

Clayton Davis In this strange year of the global pandemic, the Independent Spirit Awards seemed to fall in line with what the upcoming Academy Awards are predicted to reward this Sunday, including showing love to frontrunners like “Nomadland” and “Promising Young Woman.”Hosted by “Saturday Night Live” cast member Melissa Villaseñor, the virtual ceremony, with some winners producing pre-recording acceptance speeches, was as good as you could hope to see in the pandemic.Chloé Zhao picked up three

Virtual awards ceremonies will soon (we hope) be a thing of the past, but, sadly, the 2021 Independent Spirit Awards are still firmly in the pandemic era. The traditional Saturday afternoon pre-Oscar day drinking telecast moved to a Thursday night Prime Time slot on IFC with Melissa Villaseñor admirably taking the reigns.

Academy Awards. “Moonlight,” “Spotlight,” “Birdman” and “12 Years a Slave” all won at the Spirits before taking best picture at the Oscars the next day, though top winners ("The Farewell" won the Spirits' top prize in 2020) have diverged the last few years.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeHeading into Thursday’s Spirit Awards, Film Independent’s inaugural foray into recognizing television had already passed the so-called “smell test.” That’s because, at the very least, HBO’s “I May Destroy You” had already been recognized as best ensemble cast in a new scripted series.And if there was any TV show that embraces the independent spirit, it’s absolutely “I May Destroy You,” the deeply personal series created by and starring Michaela Coel.“I

The winners of the 2021 Film Independent Spirit Awards were announced on Thursday night (April 22) and you can check out the full list here!

Oscars and the Film Independent Spirit Awards is essentially a circle this year, as films like, and dominate both awards shows.Ahead of Sunday's Academy Awards, the 36th Independent Spirit Awards honored the best in indie filmmaking and, for the first time, television during Thursday's live primetime ceremony on IFC.

Antonio Ferme editorThe 36th annual Film Independent Spirit Awards, which recognizes the best work in the independent space, is kicking off on Thursday night.Hosted by “Saturday Night Live” cast member Melissa Villaseñor, the fully immersive virtual ceremony is streaming live on IFC and AMC Plus. Celebrities such as Adam Sandler, Renee Zellweger, Daveed Diggs, Julia Garner, Kathryn Hahn, Annie Murphy and Lulu Wang will serve as presenters during the ceremony.

Virtual awards ceremonies will soon (we hope) be a thing of the past, but, sadly, the 2021 Independent Spirit Awards are still firmly in the pandemic era. The traditional Saturday afternoon pre-Oscar day drinking telecast has moved to a Thursday night Prime Time slot on IFC with Melissa Villaseñor taking the reigns.

The 36th annual Film Independent Spirit Awards are underway Thursday night, with the final big awards show ahead of the Oscars taking on a different look for its virtual edition airing live on IFC and AMC+ and hosted by SNL‘s Melissa Villaseñor. The marquee indie-focused awards show was forced by the pandemic to move to a virtual ceremony from its usual spot on the beach in Santa Monica, and away from its traditional day-before-the-Oscars date.

The 2021 Spirit Awards are happening tonight and SNL‘s Melissa Villasenor is hosting for the first time!

Antonio Ferme editorThe 36th annual Independent Spirit Awards are set to air live on the IFC Channel on Thursday beginning at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m.

Todd Gilchrist Since 1984, the Film Independent Spirit Awards have provided a counterpoint to the Hollywood establishment’s back-patting: a scrappy celebration staged in a tent on the beach, anointing future visionaries rather than formalizing the status of industry titans.

Joan Rivers’ daughter is setting the record straight about the iconic late comedian.