LOS ANGELES – Clint Bentley’s “Train Dreams” took the top prize at the 41st annual Film Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday, February 15, 2026, marking a significant win for independent filmmaking. The ceremony, hosted by actress and comedian Ego Nwodim, was broadcast live on Film Independent’s and IMDb’s YouTube channels.
“Train Dreams” secured three awards including Best Feature, Best Director for Bentley, and Best Cinematography for Adolpho Veloso. The film’s success underscored a strong showing for independent storytelling at the event, which Film Independent described as a celebration of diversity, originality, and unique vision.
Rose Byrne was awarded Best Lead Performance for her role in “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You.” Naomi Ackie received the Best Supporting Performance award for “Sorry, Baby,” whereas the film also earned Best Screenplay for Eva Victor. Alex Russell’s “Lurker” was recognized as Best First Feature and Best First Screenplay. Kayo Martin won Best Breakthrough Performance for “The Plague,” and “The Secret Agent” was named Best International Film.
The awards also highlighted documentary filmmaking, with “The Perfect Neighbor” taking the Best Documentary prize. Sofía Subercaseaux was honored with the Best Editing award for her work on “The Testament of Ann Lee.”
The Spirit Awards, Film Independent’s largest annual fundraising gala, supports the organization’s year-round programming for filmmakers and film-loving audiences. The event continues a four-decade tradition of championing independent artists and their work. This year’s ceremony saw “Adolescence” also achieve significant recognition in the television categories, sweeping the TV awards.
Film Independent, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering independence and inclusivity in visual storytelling, presented the awards. The organization has not yet announced details regarding the 42nd annual Spirit Awards.
