“Everything Everywhere All At Once” won best feature film at the recently concluded Spirit Awards, one of the last major ceremonies before next weekend’s highly anticipated Academy Awards.
The surreal sci-fi film swept all the categories in which it was nominated, winning a total of seven awards at the ceremony held in a giant tent on the beach in Santa Monica, Los Angeles. Independent film studio A24 had a production budget of about $25 million, and the film has grossed more than $100 million worldwide.
Co-director Daniel Sche Inert gave thanks in his final acceptance speech of the night, saying: “It’s too much. We are so lucky!” . Meanwhile, Michelle Yeoh and Stefanie Xu were named Best lead actress and Best Breakthrough actress respectively.
This year’s Spirit Awards marks the first time a gender-neutral acting category has been implemented. Final voting is currently underway for the high-profile Academy Awards ceremony, which is scheduled for next Sunday.
Several films that won at the Spirit Awards, including best documentary for “All Beauty” and “The Killer,” best First Film for “Sunset” and best Cinematography for “Tar,” could improve their Oscar chances.
“Women Speak” won the Robert Altman Award, which honors a film’s director, casting director and overall cast. However, Everything Everywhere All At Once dominated the night, further cementing its status as a frontrunner for the upcoming Academy Awards. Featuring quirky characters such as hot dog fingers, a trophy shaped like a sex toy and a talking rock, the film overcame the initial skepticism of some critics that it would not resonate with mainstream audiences and voters. With 11 nominations, it leads the list of Oscar nominees.
