‘Everything Everywhere’ wins at Spirit Awards

LOS ANGELES (CNS) — The time-bending adventure "Everything Everywhere All at Once" continued its winning ways ahead of Oscar night, winning seven of its eight nominations at Saturday's 2023 Film Independent Spirit Awards ceremony, honoring independent films from the past year.

The film, which has already claimed top honors from the Producers Guild of America, Directors Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild, earned the Spirit Award for best feature, beating out "Bones and All," "Our Father, the Devil," "Tár" and "Women Talking."

It also won directing and screenplay awards for the team of Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, a breakthrough performance nod for Stephanie Hsu, along with a leading performer prize for Michelle Yeoh and a supporting performance award for Ke Huy Quan, who was up against co-star Jamie Lee Curtis, the only nomination that didn't result in a win because the two performers were competing in the same category.

Film Independent adjusted its awards process this year, switching to gender-neutral acting honors in the lead and supporting performance categories. Each of those categories had a total of 10 nominees.

Nominated along with Yeoh in the leading performance category were Cate Blanchett for "Tár," Dale Dickey for "A Love Song," Mia Goth for "Pearl," Regina Hall for "Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul," Paul Mescal for "Aftersun," Aubrey Plaza for "Emily the Criminal," Jeremy Pope for "The Inspection," Andrea Riseborough for "To Leslie" and Taylor Russell for "Bones and All."

Joining Curtis and Quan in the supporting performance category were Brian Tyree Henry for "Causeway," Nina Hoss for "Tár," Brian d'Arcy James for "The Cathedral," Trevante Rhodes for "Bruiser," Theo Rossi for "Emily the Criminal," Mark Rylance for "Bones and All," Jonathan Tucker for "Palm Trees and Power Lines" and Gabrielle Union for "The Inspection."

Competing for best director were Todd Field for "Tár," Kogonada for "After Yang," Kwan and Scheinert for "Everything Everywhere All at Once," Sarah Polley for "Women Talking" and Halina Reijn for "Bodies Bodies Bodies."

On the small screen, FX's "The Bear," earned top honors. And "Abbott Elementary" creator/star Quinta Brunson won for best lead performance in a new scripted series.

The Spirit Awards ceremony was held on a tent on the beach in Santa Monica, hosted by comedian Hasan Minhaj.

Presenters during the ceremony included Troy Kotsur, Austin Butler, Melanie Lynskey, Beatrice Granno, Sharon Horgan, Michaela Jae Rodriguez, Haley Lu Richardson, Taylour Paige and Jenny Slate. Event co-chairs Chloé Zhao and Sian Heder also presented.

Here is a complete list of winners:

Best Feature

Award given to the producer.

"Everything Everywhere All At Once"; Producers: Daniel Kwan, Mike Larocca, Anthony Russo, Joe Russo, Daniel Scheinert, Jonathan Wang

Best First Feature

Award given to director and producer.

"Aftersun"; Director: Charlotte Wells, Producers: Mark Ceryak, Amy Jackson, Barry Jenkins, Adele Romanski

John Cassavetes Award

Given to the best feature made for under $1,000,000. Award given to the writer, director and producer.

"The Cathedral"; Writer/Director: Ricky D'Ambrose, Producer: Graham Swon

Best Director

Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert, "Everything Everywhere All At Once"

Best Screenplay

Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert, "Everything Everywhere All At Once"

Best First Screenplay

John Patton Ford, "Emily the Criminal"

Best Lead Performance

Michelle Yeoh, "Everything Everywhere All At Once"

Michelle Yeoh accepts the award for best lead performance for "Everything Everywhere All at Once" at the Film Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday, March 4, 2023, in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Best Supporting Performance

Ke Huy Quan, "Everything Everywhere All At Once"

Best Breakthrough Performance

New Award.

Stephanie Hsu, "Everything Everywhere All At Once"

Best Cinematography

Florian Hoffmeister, "Tár"

Best Editing

Paul Rogers, "Everything Everywhere All At Once"

Robert Altman Award

Given to one film's director, casting director and ensemble cast.

"Women Talking"
Director: Sarah Polley
Casting Directors: John Buchan, Jason Knight
Ensemble Cast: Shayla Brown, Jessie Buckley, Claire Foy, Kira Guloien, Kate Hallett, Judith Ivey, Rooney Mara, Sheila McCarthy, Frances McDormand, Michelle McLeod, Liv McNeil, Ben Whishaw, August Winter

Shelia McCarthy, from left, Jessie Buckley, Claire Foy, Judith Ivey, Rooney Mara, Sarah Polley, Kate Hallett, and John Buchan accept the Robert Altman award for "Women Talking" at the Film Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday, March 4, 2023, in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Best Documentary

Award given to the director and producer.

"All the Beauty and the Bloodshed"; Director/Producer: Laura Poitras, Producers: Howard Gertler, Nan Goldin, Yoni Golijov, John Lyons

Best International Film

Award given to the director.

"Joyland"; Pakistan/USA, Director: Saim Sadiq

Producers Award

It is presented by Bulleit Frontier Whiskey. The Producers Award, now in its 26th year, honors emerging producers who, despite highly limited resources, demonstrate the creativity, tenacity and vision required to produce quality independent films.

Tory Lenosky

Someone to Watch Award

The Someone to Watch Award, now in its 29th year, recognizes a talented filmmaker of singular vision who has not yet received appropriate recognition.

Nikyatu Jusu, "Nanny"

Truer than Fiction Award

The Truer Than Fiction Award, now in its 28th year, is presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features who has not yet received significant recognition.

Reid Davenport, "I Didn't See You There"

Television Nominees

Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary

Award given to the Creator, Executive Producer, Co-Executive Producer.

"The Rehearsal," Creator/Executive Producer: Nathan Fielder; Executive Producers: Dave Paige, Dan McManus, Christie Smith; Co-Executive Producers: Carrie Kemper, Eric Notarnicola

Best New Scripted Series