Kirsten Dunst Scores Film Independent Spirit Award Nomination for Roofman

The 2026 Film Independent Spirit Awards nominations were unveiled Wednesday morning, bringing fresh momentum to several key awards-season contenders — including Kirsten Dunst, who earned a Best Supporting Performance nomination for her work in Roofman.

As awards chatter accelerates ahead of March’s Oscars, the Spirit Awards remain one of the most closely watched indicators in the indie landscape. Dunst’s nomination comes amid growing attention around the film, marking a major highlight of this year’s announcement.

“Across the last five years, the Indie Spirits' top film winner has aligned with the Oscars' Best Picture winner three times,” the organization noted, pointing to Nomadland, Everything Everywhere All at Once, and Anora as recent cross-ceremony standouts — a reminder of the Spirits’ increasing influence in shaping the broader season.

Beyond the film categories, several television titles also made strong showings, with series like Adolescence, Forever, and Mr. Loverman tying for the most TV nominations. On the acting side, Noah Wyle (The Pitt), Seth Rogen (The Studio), and Ethan Hawke (The Lowdown) were among this year’s nominees.

During the ceremony, select special award recipients were also announced. “The Long Walk cast (including Cooper Hoffman, David Johnson, Judy Greer, and Mark Hamill) and filmmaker (Francis Lawrence) will receive the Robert Altman Award,” organizers confirmed, while Chief of War earned Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series.

This year also saw several high-profile films fall outside eligibility due to the Spirit Awards’ $30 million budget cap, including One Battle After Another, Sinners, Frankenstein, and Wicked: For Good. Still, prominent Oscar hopefuls — including Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I'd Kick You) and Joel Edgerton (Train Dreams) — landed spots on the list.

The nominations arrive just one day after the New York Film Critics Circle revealed its winners, with One Battle After Another named Best Film of 2025. Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent), Byrne, Benicio del Toro (One Battle After Another), and Amy Madigan (Weapons) took home acting honors.

Winners of the 41st annual Spirit Awards will be announced on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026.

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