“Beale Street” Tops List of 2019 Indie Spirit Awards Winners

Trophies were handed out at the latest Independent Spirit Awards just ahead of the Oscars, and If Beale Street Could Talk came out swinging. The moving drama won several major awards, including the biggest honor of the night – best feature.

Barry Jenkins, who helmed this adaptation of James Baldwin’s classic novel, walked away with the best director award. Regina King collected a trophy for the best-supporting actress after a huge awards sweep at several major ceremonies that made her the Oscar favorite.

Jenkins used his acceptance speech to thank all the women who worked on this project, and who forced him to check his directorial ego and learn that he could not make a movie about women without women’s voices at the forefront. He also made a vow that each project he produces in the future will be “50% women”.

Full List of Winners – 2019 Indie Spirit Awards

Best Feature
If Beale Street Could Talk

Best Director
Barry Jenkins, If Beale Street Could Talk

Best Screenplay
Nicole Holofcener & Jeff Whitty, Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Best Female Lead
Glenn Close, The Wife

Best Male Lead
Ethan Hawke, First Reformed

Best Supporting Female
Regina King, If Beale Street Could Talk

Best Supporting Male
Richard E. Grant, Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Producers Award

Shrihari Sathe

Best Cinematography
Sayombhu Mukdeeprom, Suspiria

Best Documentary
Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

Robert Altm Award
Suspiria

Best First Feature
Sorry to Bother You
Best Editing
Joe Bini, You Were Never Really Here

Truer Than Fiction Award
Bing Liu, Director of Minding the Gap

Best International Film
Roma (Mexico)

Bonnie Award
Debra Granik

John Cassavetes Award
En El Septimo Dia

Best First Screenplay
Bo Burnham, Eighth Grade

Someone To Watch Award
Alex Moratto, Director of Sócrates