SANTA MONICA, Calif., March 11, 2026 — Sean Penn and Amy Madigan claimed the supporting actor trophies at the Film Independent Spirit Awards on Tuesday, as Hollywood’s celebration of independent cinema kicked off an evening that could see Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” dominate the proceedings .
Madigan took the first award of the night, winning Best Supporting Female for her unhinged turn as Aunt Gladys in Zach Cregger’s mystery horror film “Weapons.” The performance has become so iconic that host Conan O’Brien kicked off the ceremony with a parody of her character, underscoring the cultural footprint of the breakout role .
Sean Penn won Best Supporting Male in absentia for his creepy portrayal of Col. Lockjaw in Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another.” The kinetic film, which has generated significant awards buzz, also picked up a second award early in the evening: Cassandra Kulukundis won Best Casting for her work on the project .
The Race Ahead
Going into tonight’s show at the beachfront tent in Santa Monica, Ryan Coogler’s vampire thriller “Sinners” led the pack with 16 nominations, followed closely by “One Battle After Another” with 13 nods .
The competitive Best Male Lead race is being closely watched, with industry insiders looking for clues about potential Oscar momentum. The complete list of nominations is available on the Film Independent website .
Performances to Come
Two of the Best Original Song nominees are scheduled to be performed during the ceremony: “Golden” from “K-Pop Demon Hunters” and “I Lied to You” from “Sinners.” The live performances are a highlight of the Spirit Awards, which typically feature a more relaxed, informal atmosphere than other awards shows .
About the Spirit Awards
The Film Independent Spirit Awards honor films made with unique vision and original, provocative subject matter. The 2026 ceremony, hosted by Conan O’Brien, is being held live on the beach in Santa Monica and streamed on multiple platforms .
