“Train Dreams” and “Adolescence” Triumph at the 2026 Film Independent Spirit Awards

The 2026 Film Independent Spirit Awards, celebrating the best in independent film and television, concluded on Sunday, February 15, 2026, with Clint Bentley’s Train Dreams taking the top prize. The ceremony, hosted by Ego Nwodim, marked a change of venue from the traditional Santa Monica Pier to the Hollywood Palladium due to renovations.

Key Winners

Train Dreams, a Netflix film, secured the Best Feature award, along with recognition for Clint Bentley as Best Director and for its cinematography. In the television categories, Netflix’s Adolescence dominated, winning in all four categories for which it was nominated.

Film Awards

• Best Feature: Train Dreams
• Best Director: Clint Bentley, Train Dreams
• Best First Feature: Lurker
• Best Lead Performance: Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
• Best Supporting Performance: Naomi Ackie, Sorry, Baby
• Best Breakthrough Performance: Kayo Martin, The Plague
• Best Screenplay: Sorry, Baby
• Best First Screenplay: Lurker
• Best Cinematography: Train Dreams
• Best Editing: The Testament of Ann Lee
• Best Documentary: The Perfect Neighbor
• Best International Film: The Secret Agent
• Robert Altman Award: The Long Walk
• Someone to Watch Award: Tatti Ribeiro
• Truer Than Fiction Award: Rajee Samarasinghe
• John Cassavetes Award: Esta Isla
• Producers Award: Tony Yang

Television Awards

• Best New Scripted Series: Adolescence
• Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series: Pee-Wee As Himself
• Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series: Stephen Graham, Adolescence
• Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series: Erin Doherty, Adolescence
• Best Breakthrough Performance in a New Scripted Series: Owen Cooper, Adolescence
• Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series: Chief of War

About the Spirit Awards

To be eligible for the Spirit Awards, a film’s budget cannot exceed $30 million after tax incentives. The awards have a history of recognizing films that go on to achieve success at the Academy Awards, including recent winners like Nomadland, Everything Everywhere All at Once, and Anora.

The 41st Film Independent Spirit Awards were available to stream live on YouTube via both the IMDb and Film Independent channels, as well as across the organization’s social platforms.