FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Jason Fox Berger, Film Independent
jberger@filmindependent.org

Seanna Hore, Ginsberg/Libby
seanna.hore@ginsberglibby.com
 

LOS ANGELES (February 15, 2026) – Film Independent, the nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering independence and inclusivity in visual storytelling, handed out top honors today at the 2026 Film Independent Spirit Awards. Hosted by acclaimed actress and comedian Ego Nwodim, the awards ceremony was broadcast live on Film Independent’s and IMDb’s YouTube channels. The Spirit Awards are Film Independent’s largest annual celebration, making year-round programming for filmmakers and film loving audiences possible while amplifying the voices of independent storytellers and celebrating their diversity, originality and uniqueness of vision.

The 2026 ceremony, the 41st in Film Independent’s history, continued the organization’s storied tradition of celebrating the best of film and television and supporting independent artists.

For this year’s awards, Train Dreams led the way in the film categories with three wins, including Best Feature, Best Director for Clint Bentley and Best Cinematography for Adolpho Veloso. Among the other films and artists honored, Rose Byrne won Best Lead Performance for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You; Sorry, Baby won Best Supporting Performance for Naomi Ackie and Best Screenplay for Eva Victor; Lurker won Best First Feature and Best First Screenplay for Alex Russell; Kayo Martin won Best Breakthrough Performance for The Plague; The Secret Agent won Best International Film; The Perfect Neighbor won Best Documentary; and Sofía Subercaseaux won Best Editing for The Testament of Ann Lee.

In the television categories, this year’s major winner was Adolescence, which won four awards, the most for any television show since the Spirit Awards began honoring the medium in 2021. Those awards included Best New Scripted Series, Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series for Stephen Graham, Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series for Erin Doherty and Best Breakthrough Performance in a New Scripted Series for Owen Cooper. The other television winners included Pee-wee as Himself, which won Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series, and Chief of War, which won Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series.

The 18th annual Robert Altman Award, which was created in 2008 in honor of legendary film director Robert Altman, who was known for creating extraordinary ensemble casts, was awarded to The Long Walk director Francis Lawrence, alongside casting director Rich Delia, as well as ensemble cast members Judy Greer, Mark Hamill, Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Tut Nyuot, Joshua Odjick, Charlie Plummer, Ben Wang and Garrett Wareing.

Esta Isla (This Island) was honored with the John Cassavetes Award, given to the best feature made for under $1,000,000. Also celebrated were the previously announced honors including Tatti Ribeiro of Valentina with the Someone to Watch Award, recognizing a filmmaker of singular vision who has not yet received appropriate recognition; Rajee Samarasinghe of Your Touch Makes Others Invisible with the Truer Than Fiction Award, presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features who has yet to receive significant recognition; and Tony Yang with the Producers Award, sponsored by Producers United, honoring emerging producers who demonstrate the creativity, tenacity and vision required to produce quality independent films with limited resources.

The winners of the Film Independent Spirit Awards are voted on by Film Independent Members. Membership is open to the public.

Film Independent Spirit Awards are supported by Premier Sponsor Lavazza Coffee, Principal Sponsor IMDbPro and Official Sponsor FIJI Water, with additional support from PEPSI. Easterseals Disability Services is the accessibility partner. The London West Hollywood and W Hollywood are the Official Hotels. Pentagram is the Visual Branding Partner. Getty Images is the Official Photographer. Vision Media is the exclusive screening partner. eTech Rentals and Town and Country Event Rentals are Official Providers.
 

The following is a complete list of the winners:

 
FILM CATEGORIES

Best Feature

Train Dreams (Netflix)
Producers: Michael Heimler, Will Janowitz, Marissa McMahon, Ashley Schlaifer, Teddy Schwarzman

Best Director

Clint Bentley, Train Dreams (Netflix)

Best Screenplay

Eva Victor, Sorry, Baby (A24)

Best First Feature

Lurker (MUBI)
Director: Alex Russell
Producers: Galen Core, Archie Madekwe, Marc Marrie, Charlie McDowell, Francesco Melzi D’Eril, Duncan Montgomery, Alex Orlovsky, Olmo Schnabel, Jack Selby

Best First Screenplay

Alex Russell, Lurker (MUBI)

John Cassavetes Award

(for best feature made under $1,000,000)
Esta Isla (This Island)
Writers/Directors/Producers: Cristian Carretero, Lorraine Jones Molina
Writer: Kisha Tikina Burgos

Best Breakthrough Performance

Kayo Martin, The Plague (Independent Film Company)

Best Supporting Performance

Naomi Ackie, Sorry, Baby (A24)

Best Lead Performance

Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (A24)

Robert Altman Award

The Long Walk (Lionsgate)
Director: Francis Lawrence
Casting Director: Rich Delia
Ensemble Cast: Judy Greer, Mark Hamill, Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Tut Nyuot, Joshua Odjick, Charlie Plummer, Ben Wang, Garrett Wareing

Best Cinematography

Adolpho Veloso, Train Dreams (Netflix)

Best Editing

Sofía Subercaseaux, The Testament of Ann Lee (Searchlight Pictures)

Best International Film

The Secret Agent (NEON)
Director: Kleber Mendonça Filho

Best Documentary

The Perfect Neighbor (Netflix)
Director/Producer: Geeta Gandbhir
Producers: Sam Bisbee, Nikon Kwantu, Alisa Payne

Someone to Watch Award

Tatti Ribeiro, Valentina

Truer Than Fiction Award

Rajee Samarasinghe, Your Touch Makes Others Invisible

Producers Award presented by Producers United

Tony Yang
 
 
TELEVISON CATEGORIES

Best New Scripted Series

Adolescence (Netflix)
Creators/Executive Producers: Jack Thorne, Stephen Graham
Executive Producers: Philip Barantini, Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Nina Wolarsky, Hannah Walters, Mark Herbert, Emily Feller
Co-Executive Producers: Carina Sposato, Niall Shamma, Peter Balm

Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series

Pee-wee as Himself (HBO Max)
Executive Producers: Matt Wolf, Emma Tillinger Koskoff, Ronald Bronstein, Eli Bush, Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie, Paul Reubens, Candace Tomarken, Kyle Martin, Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, Sara Rodriguez

Best Breakthrough Performance in a New Scripted Series

Owen Cooper, Adolescence (Netflix)

Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series

Erin Doherty, Adolescence (Netflix)

Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series

Stephen Graham, Adolescence (Netflix)

Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series

Chief of War (Apple TV)
Ensemble Cast: Charlie Brumbly, Luciane Buchanan, Cliff Curtis, Brandon Finn, Moses Goods, Te Ao o Hinepehinga, Benjamin Hoetjes, Siua Ikale’o, Keala Kahuanui-Paleka, Mainei Kinimaka, Kaina Makua, Jason Momoa, Temuera Morrison, Te Kohe Tuhaka, James Udom
 
Please note: For a specific listing of Spirit Award winners by distributor, click the ‘Download’ button below to view a PDF of this release.
 

ABOUT FILM INDEPENDENT

For over 40 years, Film Independent has helped filmmakers get their projects made and seen. The nonprofit organization’s core mission is to champion creative independence in visual storytelling in all its forms and foster a culture of inclusion, in support of a global community of artists and audiences who embody diversity, innovation, curiosity and uniqueness of vision.

In addition to producing the Film Independent Spirit Awards, the organization supports creative professionals with Artist Development programs, grants and labs. Signature mentorship program Project Involve fosters the careers of talented filmmakers from underrepresented communities. Weekly Education events and workshops equip filmmakers of all ages and experience levels with tools and resources. International programs provide cultural exchanges and career-building opportunities for film professionals around the world. And year-round screening series Film Independent Presents offers a robust program of unique cinematic experiences, including screenings, conversations, Live Reads and Bring the Noise musical events.

For more information or to become a Member, visit filmindependent.org.