Anora Spirit Award Best director winner Sean Baker championed indie cinema in his acceptance speech, exclaiming that it’s “struggling more than ever” with little pay for those who provide a cultural zeithgeist for Hollywood and cinema.

"There's a good chance you're making a film for free or making next to nothing on production or sale," the "Anora" filmmaker said while accepting Best Director

Pornographers and sex workers are cheering for Anora at the Oscars as they feel the Sean Baker film gets their profession right.

"I want to thank Sean Baker. All of this started with you. You are an incredible director, a wonderful friend, incredible chihuahua owner," she said "I'm so grateful that you came

Sean Baker’s “Anora” won best film, best director and best actor for Mikey Madison at the Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday in what could be a preview of next Sunday’s Oscars.

The Spirit Awards are an annual award given in the name of independent film, featuring all of the indie films which deserve honor and recognition - celebrating their 40th year. The 2025 winners of the Spirit Awards were announced Saturday evening,

Sean Baker, whose low-budget movie Anora is the frontrunner for next weekend's Oscars, delivered an impassioned plea to "keep indie film alive" as he won top prize at the Spirit Awards on Saturday.

"We are creating product that creates jobs and revenue for the entire industry. We shouldn't be barely getting by," the "Anora" writer/director said upon accepting his award.

When Sean Baker (Anora) won best director at the Film Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday, he took the opportunity to reflect on the current state of independent film and said the industry needed to change to keep that genre of films alive.