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2021 Film Independent Spirit Awards Predictions: Who Will Win and Who Should Win?

Later tonight, the 2021 Film Independent Spirit Awards will be broadcast exclusively on IFC and AMC+ at 10:00 pm ET and 7:00 pm PT.

Before the show, I thought I'd share my predictions for who will and who should win. Also, embedded in the article are links to reviews for the nominated films.

Best Feature

Image courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

  • First Cow (Should win)
  • Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
  • Minari
  • Never Rarely Sometimes Always
  • Nomadland (Will win)

Best First Feature

Image courtesy of Amazon Studios

John Cassavettes Award – Given to the best feature made for under $500,000

Image courtesy of Neon

  • The Killing of Two Lovers (Will win)
  • La Leyenda Negra
  • Lingua Franca
  • Residue
  • Saint Frances (Should win)

Best Director

Image courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

  • Lee Isaac Chung - Minari
  • Emerald Fennell - Promising Young Woman (Should win)
  • Eliza Hittman - Never Rarely Sometimes Always
  • Kelly Reichardt - First Cow
  • Chloé Zhao - Nomadland (Will win)

Best Female Lead

Image courtesy of Focus Features

  • Nicole Beharie - Miss Juneteenth
  • Viola Davis - Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
  • Sidney Flanigan - Never Rarely Sometimes Always
  • Julia Garner - The Assistant
  • Frances McDormand - Nomadland
  • Carey Mulligan - Promising Young Woman (Will & should win)

Best Male Lead

Image courtesy of Netflix

  • Riz Ahmed - Sound of Metal (Should win)
  • Chadwick Boseman - Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Will win)
  • Adarsh Gourav - The White Tiger
  • Rob Morgan - Bull
  • Steven Yeun - Minari

Best Supporting Female

Image courtesy of A24

  • Alexis Chikaeze - Miss Juneteenth
  • Yeri Han - Minari
  • Valerie Mahaffey - French Exit
  • Talia Ryder - Never Rarely Sometimes Always
  • Yuh-jung Youn - Minari (Will & should win)

Best Supporting Male

Image courtesy of Amazon Studios

  • Colman Domingo - Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
  • Orion Lee - First Cow
  • Paul Raci - Sound of Metal (Will & Should win)
  • Glynn Turman - Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
  • Benedict Wong - Nine Days

Best Screenplay

Image courtesy of Focus Features

  • Lee Isaac Chung - Minari
  • Emerald Fennell - Promising Young Woman (Will & should win)
  • Eliza Hittman - Never Rarely Sometimes Always
  • Mike Makowsky - Bad Education
  • Alice Wu - The Half of It

Best First Screenplay

Palm Springs -- When carefree Nyles (Andy Samberg) and reluctant maid of honor Sarah (Cristin Milioti) have a chance encounter at a Palm Springs wedding, things get complicated when they find themselves unable to escape the venue, themselves, or each other. Sarah (Cristin Milioti) and Nyles (Andy Samberg), shown. (Photo by: Jessica Perez/Hulu)

Kitty Green - The Assistant
Noah Hutton - Lapsis
Channing Godfrey Peoples - Miss Juneteenth
Andy Siara - Palm Springs (Will & should win)
James Sweeney - Straight Up

Best Documentary

Image courtesy of Amazon Studios

  • Collective (Should win)
  • Crip Camp
  • Dick Johnson is Dead
  • The Mole Agent
  • Time (Will win)

Best International Film (Award given to the director)

Image courtesy of Super LTD

  • Bacurau
  • The Disciple
  • Night of the Kings (Should win)
  • Preparations to be Together for an Unknown Period of Time
  • Quo Vadis, Aida? (Will win)

Best Cinematography

Image courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

Jay Keitel - She Dies Tomorrow
Shabier Kirchner - Bull
Michael Latham - The Assistant
Hélène Louvart - Never Rarely Sometimes Always
Joshua James Richards - Nomadland (Will & should win)

Best Editing

Image courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

Andy Canny - The Invisible Man
Scott Cummings - Never Rarely Sometimes Always
Merawi Gerima - Residue
Enat Sidi - I Carry You With Me
Chloé Zhao - Nomadland (Will & should win)

Enjoy the 2021 Film Independent Spirit Awards and check back later tonight for a list of the winners.

Thanks to Thomas Stoneham-Judge from Movies For Reel for supporting Austin B Media on Patreon!

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