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Rachel Leishman
Published Feb 15, 2026, 9:23 PM EST
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The Film Independent Spirit Awards remain a meaningful fixture of awards season. While they are not always a definitive predictor of Academy Award outcomes, the ceremony plays a vital role in recognizing distinctive achievements in independent film and television. This year's winners offer a fascinating snapshot of the beautiful landscape of titles in both mediums.
One of the evening’s most notable victories went to Eva Victor's film Sorry, Baby. The A24 release marks Victor’s feature directorial debut, in which they also star as Agnes, a person grappling with unresolved trauma as their friend, Lydie (Naomi Ackie), moves forward with her life and begins a family. The film presents an intimate and affecting portrait of heartbreak and resilience, centering on a protagonist who is copping, yet striving to grow. Although the film was overlooked by the Academy Awards, the Spirit Awards’ recognition of Victor’s work underscores its impact within the independent film community.
Adolpho Veloso's win for cinematography on Train Dreams was another significant moment of the night. In Clint Bentley's film, much of Joel Edgerton’s performance is internal and understated, placing greater emphasis on visual storytelling. Veloso’s cinematography shapes the emotional texture of the film, effectively functioning as a narrative force in its own right. His Spirit Award follows a Critics Choice Award win, further strengthening his standing this awards season. Train Dreams enjoyed a strong showing overall, with Bentley earning Best Director and the film taking home Best Feature among its honors. A complete list of this year’s Spirit Award winners is available below.
The Full List of Winners
You can see the full list of winners below:
Best Feature
Peter Hujar’s Day
The Plague
Sorry, Baby
Train Dreams - WINNER
Twinless
Best Director
Clint Bentley, Train Dreams - WINNER
Mary Bronstein, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
Lloyd Lee Choi, Lucky Lu
Ira Sachs, Peter Hujar’s Day
Eva Victor, Sorry, Baby
Best First Feature
Blue Sun Palace
Dust Bunny
East of Wall
Lurker - WINNER
One of Them Days
Best Lead Performance
Everett Blunck, The Plague
Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You - WINNER
Kathleen Chalfant, Familiar Touch
Chang Chen, Lucky Lu
Joel Edgerton, Train Dreams
Dylan O’Brien, Twinless
Keke Palmer, One of Them Days
Théodore Pellerin, Lurker
Tessa Thompson, Hedda
Ben Whishaw, Peter Hujar’s Day
Best Supporting Performance
Naomi Ackie, Sorry, Baby - WINNER
Zoey Deutch, Nouvelle Vague
Kirsten Dunst, Roofman
Rebecca Hall, Peter Hujar’s Day
Nina Hoss, Hedda
Jane Levy, A Little Prayer
Archie Madekwe, Lurker
Kali Reis, Rebuilding
Jacob Tremblay, Sovereign
Haipeng Xu, Blue Sun Palace
Best Breakthrough Performance
Liz Larsen, The Baltimorons
Kayo Martin, The Plague - WINNER
Misha Osherovich, She’s the He
SZA, One of Them Days
Tabatha Zimiga, East of Wall
Best Screenplay
A Little Prayer
Sorry, Baby - WINNER
Sovereign
Splitsville
Twinless
Best First Screenplay
Blue Sun Palace
Friendship
Lurker - WINNER
One of Them Days
Outerlands
Best Cinematography
Blue Sun Palace
Dust Bunny
Peter Hujar’s Day
Train Dreams - WINNER
Warfare
Best Editing
Eephus
Good Boy
Splitsville
The Testament of Ann Lee - WINNER
Warfare
Best Documentary
Come See Me in the Good Light
Endless Cookie
My Undesirable Friends: Part 1 — Last Air in Moscow
The Perfect Neighbor - WINNER
The Tale of Silyan
Best International Film
All That’s Left of You
On Becoming a Guinea Fowl
A Poet
The Secret Agent - WINNER
Sirāt
Robert Altman Award
The cast, casting director, and director of The Long Walk - WINNER
Someone to Watch Award
Tatti Ribeiro - WINNER
Neo Sora
Annapurna Sriram
Truer Than Fiction Award
Tony Benna
Rajee Samarasinghe - WINNER
Brittany Shyne
John Cassavetes Award
The Baltimorons
Boys Go to Jupiter
Eephus
Esta Isla - WINNER
Familiar Touch
Producers Award
Emma Hannaway
Luca Intili
Tony Yang - WINNER
Television Best New Scripted Series
Adolescence - WINNER
Common Side Effects
Forever
Mr. Loverman
North of North
Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series
Citizen Nation
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Pee-Wee As Himself - WINNER
Seen & Heard: The History of Black Television
Vow of Silence: The Assassination of Annie Mae
Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series
Sydney Chandler, Alien: Earth
Stephen Graham, Adolescence - WINNER
Ethan Hawke, The Lowdown
Lennie James, Mr. Loverman
Anna Lambe, North of North
Lola Petticrew, Say Nothing
Seth Rogen, The Studio
Lovie Simone, Forever
Michelle Williams, Dying for Sex
Noah Wyle, The Pitt
Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series
Ariyon Bakare, Mr. Loverman
Babou Ceesay, Alien: Earth
Sharon D. Clarke, Mr. Loverman
Taylor Dearden, The Pitt
Erin Doherty, Adolescence - WINNER
Stephen McKinley Henderson, A Man on the Inside
Poorna Jagannathan, Deli Boys
Xosha Roquemore, Forever
Jenny Slate, Dying for Sex
Ben Whishaw, Black Doves
Best Breakthrough Performance in a New Scripted Series
Asif Ali, Deli Boys
Wally Baram, Overcompensating
Owen Cooper, Adolescence - WINNER
Michael Cooper Jr., Forever
Ernest Kinglsey Junior, Washington Black
Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series
Chief of War - WINNER
Congrats to all the winners! You can watch Victor's work now in Sorry, Baby.
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Sorry, Baby
Like Follow Followed R Drama Comedy Release Date June 27, 2025 Runtime 103 minutes Director Eva Victor Writers Eva Victor Producers Mark Ceryak, Barry Jenkins, Adele Romanski, Frank ArizaCast
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Eva Victor
Agnes Ward
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Naomi Ackie
Lydie
Sorry, Baby explores the aftermath of a significant event affecting Agnes, focusing on how those around her continue with their lives.
Main Genre Drama Executive Producer(s) Alex Orlovsky, Alex Turtletaub, Carole Baraton, Duncan Montgomery, Jack Selby, Lia Buman, Neil Shah, Rick Covert, Tim Headington, Frank Ariza Powered by
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Train Dreams
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