EXCLUSIVE: The Film Independent Spirit Awards are moving from the Santa Monica beach as soon as next year. We hear that it’s due to the buildout for
EXCLUSIVE: The Film Independent Spirit Awards are moving from the Santa Monica beach as soon as next year. We hear that it’s due to the buildout for the 2028 Summer Olympics and that the cycling events could be stationed at the beach.
The relocation is effective as soon as next year for the 41st ceremony. The Spirits are in discussions for other venues, but we hear that there is every intention to return to that Santa Monica Beach location as soon as the org is able. A rep for the Spirits did not return Deadline’s request for comment.
There was that time when the Spirits shifted the 25th ceremony in 2010 to downtown Los Angeles. Attendees missed the largely shining beach vibes of the tented lunch-and-cocktail affair. In fact, in the past, such nominees such as 2000’s Best Actress winner Hilary Swank would bike to the awards show.
The 40th edition saw Neon’s Anora sweep over the weekend with wins for Best Picture, Lead Performer Mikey Madison and Director Sean Baker.
IFC previously aired the awards show for years until 2023, when it was live-streamed on YouTube.
For the 36th Independent Spirit Awards in 2020 — just before the Covid lockdown — the org added awards categories for TV with Best New Scripted Series, New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series, Male Performance, Female Performance and Ensemble Cast.
In 2022, the Spirits switched up the gendered film categories of Male and Female Leads and Supporting roles to gender-neutral acting categories called Best Lead Performance and Best Supporting Performance. Each would feature 10 nominees. Other recent categories added included Best Breakthrough Performance and Best Lead and Supporting Performance in the TV section.
COMMENTS