Film Independent revealed the winners of its three Emerging Filmmaker Awards during the annual Spirit Awards Nominee Brunch held on Saturday. The remaining category winners will be announced on Feb. 22. Brenda Robinson, the chair of the board at Film Independent, delivered the opening remarks, paying tribute to the late president Josh Welsh in her speech.
Welsh, who battled colon cancer for five years, passed away on Dec. 31. Robinson expressed gratitude for the support and shared, “We’re handing out a lot of free hugs this week… This has been a week of introspection for me and so many of us.”
Among the attendees were stars such as Mikey Madison and Mark Eidelstein from “Anora,” Demi Moore from “The Substance,” and RaMell Ross, whose film “Nickel Boys” was crowned as the best picture by the National Society of Film Critics. Robinson asked the audience to honor Welsh with a round of applause, and the room joined in, celebrating his memory.
Following this moving tribute, the Emerging Filmmaker Awards were presented by Karen Pittman, known for her role in “The Morning Show.” Sarah Friedland received the Someone to Watch Award for her exceptional work on “Familiar Touch.” The finalists in this category included Nicholas Colia for “Griffin in Summer” and Pham Thien An for “Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell.”
Rachel Elizabeth Seed was named the Truer Than Fiction Award winner for her film “Photographic Memory.” Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie were recognized as finalists for “Sugarcane,” along with Carla Gutiérrez for “Frida.”
Sarah Winshall was honored with the Producers Award, while Alex Coco and Zoë Worth were finalists in the same category. The 40th annual Film Independent Spirit Awards will be hosted by former “Saturday Night Live” star Aidy Bryant.
In additional industry news, Music Box has acquired the award-winning film “Familiar Touch” directed by emerging filmmaker Sarah Friedland. The film has garnered praise for its poignant exploration of living with dementia and its unique perspective. Another recent release, “A Photographic Memory,” has been highly regarded for its innovative approach to documenting a vibrant life, tracing the legacy of a late mother.
For all the latest updates and entertainment news, be sure to sign up for Variety’s Newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
