Kieran Culkin Wins Best Supporting Actor at 2025 Spirit Awards

Santa Monica, California — Kieran Culkin triumphed at the 2025 Film Independent Spirit Awards, winning Best Supporting Performance for his role in Jesse Eisenberg’s film, A Real Pain, this past Saturday. Presented by Kathryn Hahn, it marked Culkin’s first Spirit Award.

Although Culkin was unable to attend the ceremony held in Santa Monica, Hahn accepted the award on his behalf. Culkin is currently starring in a Broadway production of Glengarry Glen Ross, which is set to open on March 10.

Culkin’s victory at the Spirit Awards follows a successful awards season, having recently won Best Supporting Actor at the 2025 Golden Globes and receiving an Oscar nomination for the same role in A Real Pain.

During the Spirit Awards, Culkin stood out among a competitive field that included nominees such as Yura Borisov (Anora), Joan Chen (Dìdi), and Carol Kane (Between the Temples). The ceremony highlighted a diverse array of talent across both film and television.

The 40th Spirit Awards, hosted by Aidy Bryant, celebrated works of independent filmmaking and featured several industry honors. Notable winners included Maisy Stella, who took home the Breakthrough Performance Award for her role in My Old Ass, and Shogun, which was awarded Best New Scripted Series.

Three awards were distributed prior to the ceremony in January, including the Producers Award, which was presented to Sarah Winshall, and the Truer Than Fiction Award awarded to Rachel Elizabeth Seed for her documentary, A Photographic Memory.

In her opening monologue, Bryant addressed the unique atmosphere surrounding the event, stating, “I do want to acknowledge that I know it feels a little silly to have an awards show now, but your films are important to people. Independent film is passionate people working together to build something better.”

In response to the recent wildfires in Los Angeles, she encouraged attendees to support a fund aimed at assisting filmmakers affected by the disaster, emphasizing the resilience of the independent film community.

Sean Baker, who won for Best Director for A Real Pain, delivered a passionate speech about the challenges facing independent films. “Some of us want to make personal films that are intended for theatrical release with subject matter that would never be greenlit by the big studios,” he asserted.

Though the ceremony was largely celebratory, it included moments of reflection on social issues and community support. In an emotional segment, filmmaker Shuchi Talati acknowledged the significance of indie films during challenging times, stating, “Honestly, these are dark times and we’re culture makers.”

With Culkin’s win at the Spirit Awards, the pathway to the Oscars appears increasingly promising. The Spirit Award winners have historically gained traction during the Oscars, particularly in the Best Picture category. In the past decade, the Spirit Award for Best Feature has correlated with the Oscar for Best Picture in four instances.