Sean Baker’s Anora Sweeps the 2025 Independent Spirit Awards, Setting the Stage for Oscars Glory
Sean Baker’s Anora emerged as the clear standout at the 2025 Independent Spirit Awards, held in a beachside tent in Santa Monica, California. The film, which tells the story of a Brooklyn sex worker and her whirlwind romance with the son of a Russian oligarch, won three major awards: Best Film, Best Director for Baker, and Best Actor for Mikey Madison. This dominance could signal Anora’s momentum heading into the Oscars next week. The Spirit Awards, often seen as the edgier, more unconventional cousin of the Academy Awards, celebrate the best in independent film and television, with a focus on bold, risk-taking storytelling. Host Aidy Bryant set the tone early, jokingly referring to the event as “Hollywood’s third or fourth biggest night.”
In his acceptance speech for Best Director, Baker passionately addressed the challenges of making independent films in an industry increasingly hesitant to fund risky projects. He warned that indies are in danger of becoming “calling card films,” made solely to secure bigger opportunities rather than tell meaningful stories. “The system has to change because this is simply unsustainable,” Baker said to a round of enthusiastic applause. “We shouldn’t be barely getting by.” His words resonated deeply with the audience, many of whom are familiar with the struggles of financing and producing independent cinema.
Anora faced stiff competition in the Best Film category, including Jane Schoenbrun’s psychological horror I Saw the TV Glow, RaMell Ross’ adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s Nickel Boys, Greg Kwedar’s incarceration drama Sing Sing, and Coralie Fargeat’s body horror The Substance. While Anora took home the top prize, I Saw the TV Glow left with one win for producer Sarah Winshall. The Spirit Awards’ gender-neutral acting categories, which include 10 nominees each, saw Madison and Demi Moore competing alongside Oscar nominees like Colman Domingo (Sing Sing) and Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice). Madison’s victory over Moore at the Spirit Awards mirrors her win at the BAFTAs last weekend, further solidifying her status as a front-runner for the Oscars.
Oscar Contenders Shine: Kieran Culkin, Jesse Eisenberg, and No Other Land
The Spirit Awards also highlighted other potential Oscar winners. Kieran Culkin, a strong contender for Best Supporting Actor, won for his role in Jesse Eisenberg’s A Real Pain, a darkly comedic film about two cousins on a Holocaust tour in Poland. Though Culkin was absent due to family obligations—he also missed his BAFTA win the previous weekend—Eisenberg was on hand to accept the Best Screenplay award. In his speech, Eisenberg praised Emma Stone, who produced both of his films, calling her his “fairy godmother” and expressing gratitude for her unwavering support. Stone, who was also in attendance, became emotional as Eisenberg spoke, and the camera captured her teary-eyed reaction in the audience.
In the documentary category, No Other Land, a powerful film by a Palestinian-Israeli collective about the destruction of a West Bank village, took home the top prize. Despite lacking distribution, the film is considered a strong contender for the Oscars in a highly competitive category. Meanwhile, the wordless animated Latvian cat film Flow won Best International Film, positioning it as a strong contender in both the international film and animation categories at the Oscars.
A Night of Celebration and Reflection: Emerging Talent and a Call to Action
Emerging talent was also celebrated at the Spirit Awards. Sean Wang made history by winning both Best First Feature and Best First Screenplay for Dìdi, a film that explores themes of identity and belonging. Wang shared the stage with one of his stars, Joan Chen, who was nominated for the same award 25 years ago for her role in Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl. The Netflix series Baby Reindeer also had a memorable night, with actors Richard Gadd, Jessica Gunning, and Nava Mau taking home prizes. Mau, who is trans, delivered a powerful speech about solidarity and the importance of actors advocating for their rights. “We don’t know what is going to happen, but we do know our power,” Mau said. “We are the people, and our labor is everything.”
The ceremony also took a moment to acknowledge the impact of recent wildfires on Los Angeles. Host Aidy Bryant urged viewers to donate to the Film Independent Emergency Filmmaker Relief Fund, which provides grants to filmmakers affected by the disasters. The event also paid tribute to Josh Welsh, the late president of Film Independent, who passed away earlier this year after a battle with colon cancer. Bryant reflected on the bittersweet nature of the night, calling it “a great year for film and a bad year for human life.”
Television Triumphs: Shōgun and How to Die Alone Take Center Stage
In the television categories, Shōgun was named Best New Scripted Series, while How to Die Alone won Best Ensemble. Natasha Rothwell, the creator and star of How to Die Alone, accepted the award with an emotional speech. She emphasized the importance of visibility for Black stories, saying, “For Black stories, visibility isn’t a privilege—it’s a necessity. We deserve to take up space, to
