On Thursday night, “Nomadland” furthered Oscar anticipation with four wins at the virtually held Independent Spirit Awards, taking home trophies for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Editing, and Best Cinematography. At this point, Chloé Zhao should forgo a trophy case and build a separate house for her awards.
Aside from the Spirits, the film has won the Golden Globe for Best Picture, four BAFTA’s, and the coveted Venice Golden Lion, just to name a few. And while the Spirit or any pre-Oscar show are not perfect indicators of Academy Award results, history has shown they’re relatively accurate touchstones.
From 2013-2016, the Best Picture winner at the Independent Spirit Awards has also won Best Picture at the Academy Awards. This includes Steve McQueen’s “12 Years a Slave,” Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s “Birdman,” Tom McCarthy’s “Spotlight” and Barry Jenkin’s “Moonlight.”
Chloé Zhao herself is also the favorite for Best Director at the Academy Awards. It would mark only the second time a female director has taken home the coveted prize. Kathryn Bigelow’s 2008 win for “The Hurt Locker” was the first. Interestingly enough, Bigelow wasn’t even nominated at the Spirit Awards.
Check out below the full list of winners from this year’s Independent Spirit Awards.
BEST FEATURE
“Nomadland”
BEST FEMALE LEAD
Carey Mulligan, “Promising Young Woman“
BEST MALE LEAD
Riz Ahmed, “Sound of Metal“
PRODUCERS AWARD
Gerry Kim
BEST DIRECTOR
Chloé Zhao, “Nomadland”
JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD
“RESIDUE”
Writer/Director: Merawi Gerima
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Joshua James Richards, “Nomadland”
BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM
“QUO VADIS, AIDA?” (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Director: Jasmila Žbanić
BEST EDITING
Chloé Zhao, “Nomadland”
ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD
“ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI”
Director: Regina King
Casting Directors: Kimberly R. Hardin
Ensemble Cast: Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge, Leslie Odom Jr.
BEST SCREENPLAY
Emerald Fennell, “Promising Young Woman”
BEST DOCUMENTARY
“CRIP CAMP”
Directors/Producers: Jim LeBrecht, Nicole Newnham
Producer: Sara Bolder
BEST SUPPORTING MALE
Paul Raci, “Sound of Metal”
TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD
ELEGANCE BRATTON
Director of “Pier Kids”
BEST FIRST FEATURE
“SOUND OF METAL”
Director: Darius Marder
Producers: Bill Benz, Kathy Benz, Bert Hamelinck, Sacha Ben Harroche
BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
Andy Siara, “Palm Springs“
BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE
Yuh-jung Youn, “Minari“
