'Zola,' 'The Novice' lead Independent Spirit Awards nominations for 2022
The Film Independent Spirit Awards, Hollywood's leading indie film honors, stayed true to its name this year, bestowing a leading seven nominations to Janicza Bravo's wild road-trip saga "Zola," including best feature, director and female lead for Taylour Paige. "The Novice," a sports drama and psychological thriller, followed with five, including best feature, director and female lead for Isabelle Fuhrman.
Nominations for the 37th edition of the awards were announced Tuesday morning by Naomi Watts, Regina Hall and Beanie Feldstein.
"Zola," based on a viral twitter thread, was nominated for best feature alongside "The Novice," "A Chiara," Mike Mills' "C'mon C'mon" and Maggie Gyllenhaal's Elena Ferrante adaptation "The Lost Daughter," which picked up four nods, including director, screenplay and supporting female actor for Jessie Buckley.
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Paige and Fuhrman were joined in female lead by Brittany S. Hall ("Test Pattern"), Patti Harrison ("Together Together") and Kali Reis ("Catch the Fair One"). Best male lead nominees include Clifton Collins Jr. ("Jockey"), Frankie Faison ("The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain"), Michael Greyeyes ("Wild Indian"), Udo Kier ("Swan Song") and Simon Rex ("Red Rocket").
Historically, the Spirit Awards are held the day before the Academy Awards, but this year will take place several weeks ahead of the Oscars, which are March 27. After going virtual earlier this year, the show is returning to an in-person event, beachside in Santa Monica.
The show can sometimes serve as a preview of what will happen on Oscar night. Earlier this year, Chloé Zhao's "Nomadland" picked up best feature and director at the Spirit Awards before going on to win the top prizes at the Oscars. "Moonlight," "Spotlight," "Birdman" and "12 Years a Slave" also all won at the awards before taking best picture at the Oscars.
Because of their production budgets, many top awards contenders this year were not eligible, including "Belfast," "King Richard" and "The Power of the Dog." To be considered, films must have cost less than $22.5 million to make.
The Spirit Awards air March 6 (8 p.m. ET/5 PT) on IFC.
Contributing: Kim Willis, USA TODAY
