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Maggie Gyllenhaal accepts the award for best screenplay for "The Lost Daughter" at the 37th Film Independent Spirit Awards on Sunday, March 6, 2022, in Santa Monica, California. Image Credit: AP

Maggie Gyllenhaal’s ‘The Lost Daughter,’ ‘Drive My Car’ and ‘Summer of Soul’ were among the big winners at the 37th Film Independent Spirit Awards Sunday.

The ceremony hosted by Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally was held in a tent by the beach in Santa Monica, broadcast on AMC and IFC. It is the cool, casual counterpart to some of the more traditional film awards shows.

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Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman hosted the awards Image Credit: Reuters

“If you don’t win, you can just walk straight into the ocean,” Offerman said.

Gyllenhaal won best feature, director and best screenplay for her adaptation of the Elena Ferrante novel ‘The Lost Daughter.’

Through tears, Gyllenhaal said that more than anything she believes in love. She was effusive in her praise for her crew.

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Best director, Best screenplay and Best feature winner for "The Lost Daughter" Maggie Gyllenhaal poses in the press room during the 37th Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, California, on March 6, 2022. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) Image Credit: AFP

“You were the first people to tell me I was a director,” she said. “Thank you to Netflix — I can’t even believe this — for your support. Nobody ever makes their first movie and comes out loving their financiers.”

“I love independent film,” Gyllenhaal added. “I grew up making independent film.”

Japan’s ‘Drive My Car,’ which has also been nominated for a best picture Oscar, picked up best international feature.

Taylor Paige won best female lead for ‘Zola,’ which was based on a Twitter thread about a wild trip to Florida.

“Wow, I am in shock. I wrote something because I’m not eloquent and I’m drunk,” Paige said.

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Taylor Paige won best female lead for ‘Zola’ Image Credit: Reuters

She thanked her grandmother who passed away on the day she got word of her nomination and Zola for, “knowing that your story was worth telling.”

Simon Rex won best male lead for playing an ex-adult star in Sean Baker’s ‘Red Rocket.’ Rex said his career was in the dumps before Baker called him for the shoestring film.

“I’m reeling from the whole experience,” Rex said. “This is basically a glorified student film.I’m grateful and humbled.”

Mullally and Offerman got the show off to a lively start, both in three piece suits and vests with no shirt underneath. Sarah Silverman made an appearance in a pre-taped segment offering her services as a backup host because Mullally and Offerman joined Twitter “before 2015.”

The married co-hosts said they’d hoped to be the biggest Hollywood couple in the room and were dismayed that Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard were there to upstage them.

“A-listers and indie stars? Pick a lane you greedy [expletive],” Offerman said.

Kristen Stewart was the show’s honorary chair.

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Kristen Stewart attends the 37th Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, California, U.S., March 6, 2022. REUTERS/Aude Guerrucci Image Credit: REUTERS

Historically, the Spirit Awards are held on the Saturday afternoon before the Oscars, but this year moved up a few weeks.

‘Summer of Soul’ won best documentary. The film brings back to life the largely forgotten Harlem Cultural Festival of 1969.

“I’m not going to cry right now, I’m not, I’m not,” ‘Summer of Soul’ director Questlove said.

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Troy Kostur Image Credit: AFP

Troy Kotsur got another boost before the Oscars, winning best supporting actor for ‘CODA.’ He also won the Screen Actors Guild prize.

“I can feel the spirit of the arts and we can celebrate together,” Kotsur said.

‘Squid Game’s’ Lee Jung-jae also followed up his SAG win with a Spirit Award.

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‘Squid Game’s’ Lee Jung-jae also followed up his SAG win with a Spirit Award. Image Credit: Reuters

Marlee Matlin, who presented the first screenplay award to Michael Sarnoski for ‘Pig,’ implored the screenwriters to think of deaf actors when crafting scripts.

Andrew Garfield made an appearance to present the Robert Altman Award to his friend Fran Kranz, who he acted with in a Mike Nichols play. Kranz’s debut ‘Mass’ is a small ensemble about a mediation in the aftermath of a school shooting between parents of a victim and parents of the perpetrator.

Best supporting female went to Ruth Negga, for her turn in Rebecca Hall’s ‘Passing.’ A technical glitch muted the first part of her virtual speech. The black-and-white Netflix film also won best cinematography, for Edu Grau

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Ruth Negga remotely accepts the award for best supporting female for "Passing" at the 37th Film Independent Spirit Awards on Sunday, March 6, 2022, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) Image Credit: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

The show can sometimes serve as a preview of what will happen on Oscar night. Last year, Chloe Zhao’s ‘Nomadland’ picked up best feature and director at the Spirit Awards before going on to win the top prizes at the Oscars. ‘Moonlight,’ ‘Spotlight,’ ‘Birdman’ and ‘12 Years a Slave’ also all won at the Spirits before taking best picture at the Oscars.

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Andrew Garfield speaks onstage at the 37th Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, California, U.S., March 6, 2022. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni Image Credit: REUTERS

Because of their production budgets, many top awards contenders this year were not eligible, including ‘Belfast,’ ‘King Richard’ and ‘The Power of the Dog.’ To be considered, films must have cost less than $22.5 million to make.