As indie filmmakers from around the globe converge on California for the 40th Independent Spirit Awards, IndieWire — the voice of creative independence — is preparing for a groundbreaking day on the arrivals carpet in Santa Monica.
The celebration from Film Independent will air at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 22, but while fans wait for festivities to begin, they can meet IndieWire on the red (technically blue at the Spirits) carpet for informed interviews with many of the event‘s top honorees. Yes, for the first time in our nearly 30-year history, IndieWire is hosting a pre-show! We’ll talk with many of the presenters, nominees, and other artists making fearless magic at this critical time for storytelling, while we blaze a trail of our own.
Powered by LiveU technology, our show will bring IndieWire viewers exclusive conversations with some of Hollywood’s most respected decision-makers and auteurs. We’ll also meet new breakthrough voices as they share the behind-the-scenes stories that were essential to their success — and also get insights into the future of filmmaking from creatives at every experience level.
“It’s going to be quite a special day for so many reasons,” Brenda Robinson, acting President of Film Independent (the nonprofit that presents the show), told IndieWire. She nodded to the wildfires that devastated Los Angeles just last month. “We’re coming together as a community, having endured so many challenges and still we came out on the other side with a sense of resilience.”
That sentiment was echoed by the ceremony’s executive producer, Shawn Davis (another longtime Film Independent member), who said, “We are just a couple miles away from where so much devastation happened. So we make sure that the tone [for our show], it is both playful, fun, irreverent, but also acknowledging what’s been going on in our city.”
Among the visionary storytellers nominated for top awards categories are the creatives behind some of last year’s most captivating independent movies: “The Substance,” “I Saw the TV Glow,” “Nickel Boys,” “Sing Sing,” and “Anora.” On the TV side, the teams behind “Shōgun” and “Baby Reindeer” stand a good chance at accolades — but guests seem guaranteed a good time with “Saturday Night Live” alumna Aidy Bryant back as host.
“She’s someone who really knows how to keep an audience engaged and we are just delighted that she’s returning for a second year,” said Robinson.
The event will also be, for many insiders, a chance to remember the longtime president of Film Independent, Josh Welsh, who passed away on the final day of 2024 after a long battle with cancer. “We knew that he had an enormous impact in this industry,” Robinson said — adding it has been heartening to witness the respect of the broader film community. “To hear from people just from all walks of life expressing that now, the impact that he had has really been inspiring for all of us.”
The anniversary edition of these prestigious awards will also be a salute to the way members of the independent film and television community support each other in uncertain and even tragic times.
“As I am thinking about just the history of the organization and the fact that we’ve existed for 40 years,” Robinson said to IndieWire, “a large part of that is because we have really positioned ourselves to be an ally to the industry and to the creatives and the thought leaders who make up this industry. And what I mean is this organization has really always stood for just providing resources and a platform to lift up voices and to elevate stories.”
He continued, “We’re also a small team. We don’t have all the bells and whistles, but we have really have the team…very creative and very good at their jobs.”
It’s going to be a big night, for viewers of the 2025 Indie Spirits — and IndieWire’s digital pre-show. LiveU video provides immediate access to the action, with key moments appearing on our website and IndieWire’s YouTube channel within minutes. For those already focused on what’s happening once the “real” show starts, you can follow along with our news and awards reporting on IndieWire.com.
The 2025 Film Independent Spirit Awards begin at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 22.
