Sean Baker’s “Anora” won best film, best director and best actor for Mikey Madison at the Independent Spirit Awards on ...

The Spirit Awards, held in a beachside tent in Santa Monica, California, is the more irreverent sister to the Academy Awards.

In accepting the directing prize for Anora, Sean Baker spoke passionately about the difficulty of making independent films in an industry that is no longer able to fund riskier projects.

An Oscar win can raise an actor’s industry value, leading to higher salaries, bigger roles, and global recognition.