Adolescence

In a smoothly run show peppered with sharp humor but, for the most part, a dearth of pointed political commentary — save for one unscripted expression of anti-ICE sentiment from “The White Lotus” star Natasha Rothwell — the 2026 Film Independent Spirit Awards celebrated its 41st edition on Sunday in Hollywood.

The ceremony has long served as a counterpoint to the Oscars: looser, more unpredictable, typically mounted in a beach tent by the Santa Monica Pier. For over three decades, it was held the Saturday afternoon right before the Academy Awards.

But this year, due to coastal planning for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the Spirit Awards relocated to the Hollywood Palladium (where they were last held in 1994), a venue decked out in the show’s signature blue and pink signage and decor — a pivot that proved effective.

“We don’t have a permit,” cracked host Ego Nwodim, riffing on scrappy independent tactics in her monologue. Her athletic hosting duties had her doing everything from cornering attending celebs such as Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons via a “sexual tension cam” to picking up her falafel order at the main entrance on Sunset Boulevard.

Last year’s event played more like a coronation for a widely favored front-runner, Sean Baker‘s “Anora.” That film would go on to sweep at the Oscars a little over a week later. The mood today was more tenuous, the industry crowd mulling in the lobby with cocktails, discussing the tail end of awards season and the controversy coming out of the Berlin Film Festival concerning politically cautious juror statements.

The movies that would be honored here, by contrast, were bolder than the Spirits usually go, resulting in a truly independent raft of winners. Rose Byrne won the lead actor prize (the Spirits have gone gender-neutral since 2022) for her commanding, ruinous turn in “If I Legs I’d Kick You.” Accepting the award, Byrne half-joked, “This character of Linda really could only exist in an independent film — she’s fierce and she’s gracious and she’s a middle-aged woman.”

Other awardees included the subtly wrought academia drama “Sorry, Baby,” honored for director Eva Victor‘s screenplay and its supporting actor Naomi Ackie; the star-stalking thriller “Lurker,” which took both the first feature and first screenplay awards; and Brazil’s “The Secret Agent,” claiming the prize for international film.

The afternoon’s big winner was “Train Dreams,” the little movie that could, one that emerged 13 months ago at Sundance 2025 and is now proving itself to be one of Netflix’s sturdiest Oscar contenders. It took prizes for best feature, director and cinematography, the kind of haul that suggests real momentum.

A complete list of today’s Spirit winners

FILM CATEGORIES

Best Feature
“Train Dreams” (Netflix)
Producers: Michael Heimler, Will Janowitz, Marissa McMahon, Ashley Schlaifer, Teddy Schwarzman

Director
Clint Bentley, “Train Dreams” (Netflix)

Screenplay
Eva Victor, “Sorry, Baby” (A24)

First Feature
“Lurker” (Mubi)
Director: Alex Russell
Producers: Galen Core, Archie Madekwe, Marc Marrie, Charlie McDowell, Francesco Melzi D’Eril, Duncan Montgomery, Alex Orlovsky, Olmo Schnabel, Jack Selby

First Screenplay
Alex Russell, “Lurker” (Mubi)

John Cassavetes Award
For the best feature made under $1,000,000
“Esta Isla (This Island)”
Writers/Directors/Producers: Cristian Carretero, Lorraine Jones Molina
Writer: Kisha Tikina Burgos

Breakthrough Performance
Kayo Martin, “The Plague” (Independent Film Company)

Supporting Performance
Naomi Ackie, “Sorry, Baby” (A24)

Lead Performance
Rose Byrne, “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” (A24)

Robert Altman Award
For a film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast
“The Long Walk” (Lionsgate)
Director: Francis Lawrence
Casting Director: Rich Delia
Ensemble Cast: Judy Greer, Mark Hamill, Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Tut Nyuot, Joshua Odjick, Charlie Plummer, Ben Wang, Garrett Wareing

Cinematography
Adolpho Veloso, “Train Dreams” (Netflix)

Editing
Sofía Subercaseaux, “The Testament of Ann Lee” (Searchlight Pictures)

International Film
“The Secret Agent” (Neon)
Director: Kleber Mendonça Filho

Documentary
“The Perfect Neighbor” (Netflix)
Director/Producer: Geeta Gandbhir
Producers: Sam Bisbee, Nikon Kwantu, Alisa Payne

Someone to Watch
Given to a talented filmmaker not yet widely recognized
Tatti Ribeiro, “Valentina”

Truer Than Fiction
Given to an emerging director of nonfiction features
Rajee Samarasinghe, “Your Touch Makes Others Invisible”

Producers Award
For an emerging producer of quality independent films with limited resources
Tony Yang

TELEVISION CATEGORIES

New Scripted Series
“Adolescence” (Netflix)
Creators/Executive Producers: Jack Thorne, Stephen Graham
Executive Producers: Philip Barantini, Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Nina Wolarsky, Hannah Walters, Mark Herbert, Emily Feller
Co-Executive Producers: Carina Sposato, Niall Shamma, Peter Balm

New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series
“Pee-wee as Himself” (HBO Max)
Executive Producers: Matt Wolf, Emma Tillinger Koskoff, Ronald Bronstein, Eli Bush, Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie, Paul Reubens, Candace Tomarken, Kyle Martin, Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, Sara Rodriguez

Breakthrough Performance in a New Scripted Series
Owen Cooper, “Adolescence” (Netflix)

Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series
Erin Doherty, “Adolescence” (Netflix)

Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series
Stephen Graham, “Adolescence” (Netflix)

Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series
“Chief of War” (Apple TV)
Ensemble Cast: Charlie Brumbly, Luciane Buchanan, Cliff Curtis, Brandon Finn, Moses Goods, Te Ao o Hinepehinga, Benjamin Hoetjes, Siua Ikale’o, Keala Kahuanui-Paleka, Mainei Kinimaka, Kaina Makua, Jason Momoa, Temuera Morrison, Te Kohe Tuhaka, James Udom

The BBC has dropped a chilling first-look trailer for its new drama which is set to hit screens next month.

The BBC has unveiled a haunting first glimpse of its new adaptation of William Golding’s Lord of the Flies.

The iconic novel is being reimagined by Adolescence screenwriter Jack Thorne, and is scheduled to arrive on screens next month.

Featured in an ensemble of 30 boys are Winston Sawyers as Ralph, Lox Pratt as Jack, David McKenna as Piggy, and Ike Talbut as Simon. Joining them are additional castaways, including Thomas Connor as Roger, Noah and Cassius Flemyng as twins Sam and Eric, Cornelius Brandreth as Maurice, and Tom Page-Turner as Bill.

The series, marking the first television adaptation of Lord of the Flies, chronicles the terrifying tale of schoolboys marooned on a tropical island without adult supervision following a catastrophic plane crash.

Whilst battling to stay alive and as hostilities mount, they turn against one another with deadly results, reports the Express.

In a bid to maintain order, they establish a hierarchy under Ralph’s leadership and Piggy’s cleverness.

Yet as Jack grows increasingly obsessed with hunting and competing for control, he lures the other boys away, leading to devastating outcomes.

The BBC production will stay true to the source material, positioned in the early 1950s on an unidentified Pacific island, though Thorne’s version will explore more profoundly the novel’s key themes: mankind’s nature, the erosion of innocence, and masculine boyhood.

Each of the four instalments bears the name of a protagonist central to the narrative – Ralph, Piggy, Simon, and Jack – presenting their individual viewpoints in their fight for survival.

In a spine-tingling first glimpse trailer, the lads start learning to survive independently on the island, scavenging for sustenance and seeking refuge.

As one declares, “We need to help each other, and we need to be good campmates,” another responds, “We’re going to hunt pigs and get meat for everybody.”

Their politeness descends into chaos as they clash with one another, with fires blazing ominously in the backdrop of certain sequences, whilst the youngsters resort to brutality and even killing.

The BBC revealed: “A classic reborn for television – Lord of the Flies is the story of a group of young schoolchildren who find themselves stranded on a tropical island with no adults, and where civilisation turns to violence and chaos.”

The riveting preview has already captivated audiences, with one commenting: “This looks incredible, I can’t wait!”

Another remarked: “Still traumatised from reading this,” whilst a third penned: “Looking forward to it.”

During a recent chat with The Times, Jack discussed the adaptation, revealing: “The world in which Golding was writing and the pain he was observing – I think we’re living in a very similar age now.”

“I find the ending of the book bleak and I find the journey of the book bleak, but I find the portrait of children not to be bleak,” he continued.

Lord of the Flies will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer from February 8.