This was the first show to announce nominations and the last to announce its winners.
It’s always a nice show, because its heart is in the right place and it celebrates all the right things. But since it doesn’t remotely help at the Oscars, it’s not really something I put much effort into looking at. Which is a shame.
But anyway, here are your Spirit Award winners:
BEST FEATURE
American Honey
Chronic
Jackie
Manchester by the Sea
Moonlight
Winner: Moonlight
Not even remotely surprised. What else could it have been?
BEST DIRECTOR
Andrea Arnold, American Honey
Barry Jenkins, Moonlight
Pablo Larrain, Jackie
Jeff Nichols, Loving
Kelly Reichardt, Certain Women
Winner: Barry Jenkins, Moonlight
Of course. Deserving, but of course.
BEST FEMALE LEAD
Annette Bening, 20th Century Women
Isabelle Huppert, Elle
Sasha Lane, American Honey
Ruth Negga, Loving
Natalie Portman, Jackie
Winner: Isabelle Huppert, Elle
They always vote the likely Oscar contenders. Always.
BEST MALE LEAD
Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea
David Harewood, Free In Deed
Viggo Mortensen, Captain Fantastic
Jesse Plemons, Other People
Tim Roth, Chronic
Winner: Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea
I mean, yeah.
BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE
Edwina Findley, Free In Deed
Paulina Garcia, Little Men
Lily Gladstone, Certain Women
Riley Keough, American Honey
Molly Shannon, Other People
Winner: Molly Shannon, Other People
This made the most sense. Good for her.
BEST SUPPORTING MALE
Ralph Fiennes, A Bigger Splash
Ben Foster, Hell or High Water
Lucas Hedges, Manchester by the Sea
Shia LaBeouf, American Honey
Craig Robinson, Morris from America
Winner: Ben Foster, Hell or High Water
You know, I’m perfectly happy with this. It’s a hell of a category. This legitimately could have been the category I voted for if I nominated for the Oscars. Maybe not LaBeouf, but I’m fine with him being here. I really like this category a lot. Fine with whatever they chose.
BEST SCREENPLAY
Moonlight
Manchester by the Sea
20th Century Women
Little Men
Hell or High Water
Winner: Moonlight
Absolutely.
BEST EDITING
Swiss Army Man
Manchester by the Sea
Moonlight
Hell or High Water
Jackie
Winner: Moonlight
Okay. It seems worthy.
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Free In Deed
The Childhood of a Leader
The Eyes of My Mother
Moonlight
American Honey
Winner: Moonlight
Oh, so they’re just giving it every award. I’m not opposed to that, but they are.
BEST DOCUMENTARY
13th
Cameraperson
I Am Not Your Negro
O.J.: Made in America
Sonita
Under the Sun
Winner: O.J.: Made in America
I mean, yeah.
BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM
Aquarius
Chevalier
My Golden Days
Toni Erdmann
Under the Shadow
Winner: Toni Erdmann
BEST FIRST FEATURE
The Childhood of a Leader
The Fits
Other People
Swiss Army Man
The Witch
Winner: The Witch
This was the choice. He did such a great job with this. It’s still weird to me since I saw this movie two years and it came out a year ago. It feels like forever. But it’s deserving no matter when it counts for.
All hail Black Phillip.
BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
The Witch
Other People
Barry
Jean of the Joneses
Christine
Winner: The Witch
Was hoping for Christine, but I’m fine with this. Other People also was really well done.
JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD
Free In Deed
Hunter Gatherer
Lovesong
Nakom
Spa Night
Winner: Spa Night
No idea. Good for them.
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