Against an ocean breeze and LA’s golden-hour magic, the 2025 Film Independent Spirit Awards once again turned the Santa Monica into a playground for Hollywood’s most daring creatives.
Sean Baker’s Anora took home Best Feature, another high for a director who has become synonymous with indie excellence. Ever the advocate for boundary-pushing filmmaking, Baker reminded the industry that independent cinema needs industry-wide support—and free rein—to thrive in his acceptance speech for his Best Director win. “We don’t need permission to tell stories,” he declared, earning raucous applause.
Elsewhere, Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin reveled in their respective wins for Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Performance in A Real Pain, while indie darling Mikey Madison took Best Lead Performance for Anora. Host Aidy Bryant brought her signature charm, keeping the room laughing as the evening’s tequila-fueled energy made one thing clear: This is where film’s true rebels gather.
As the credits rolled on another unforgettable edition of the Spirit Awards, the day was far from over. CULTURED, the official media sponsor of the afterparty alongside IFC Films, kept the momentum going with an electric celebration at Santa Monica's The Victorian, where guests including actors Julio Torres and Julia Fox; winner Nava Mau; the Art & Film issue's Natasha Rothwell and Cristin Milioti; Adam Pearson; and Bryant toasted the night’s biggest moments.
Spirits remained high—literally—thanks to craft cocktails from Bulleit Frontier Whiskey and Miraval Rosé, while dazzling drag performances channeling The Substance, I Saw the TV Glow, and Agatha All Along kept the energy soaring. With DJs spinning on every floor, the party never lost steam. Glasses clinked, conversations stretched, and the energy in the room pulsed with the kind of momentum only an awards-season celebration can bring.
If the Spirit Awards proved anything, it’s that the future of film isn’t just bright—it’s unfiltered, fearless, and filled with storytellers who refuse to compromise.
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