Legion star Aubrey Plaza has been tapped to host the 34th Film Independent Spirit Awards. The 2019 awards show will take place on Saturday, February 23rd and will honor the best in independent films released in 2018. The Spirit Awards will air on IFC at 2pm PT/5pm ET.
Nominees for the 2019 Film Independent Spirit Awards were announced on November 16th, with We the Animals earning five nominations including Best First Feature, Best Cinematography, and Best Editing. Eighth Grade, You Were Never Really Here, and First Reformed snagged four nominations each.
“I am truly honored and delighted to host the Spirits Awards this year,” stated Aubrey Plaza. “It is a dream come true to host a show that celebrates my greatest loves… independent film, the people that make them possible and live television!”
Previous Spirit Awards hosts include Nick Kroll, John Mulaney, Kate McKinnon, Kumail Nanjiani, Fred Armisen, Kristen Bell, Patton Oswalt, Andy Samberg, Joel McHale, Sarah Silverman, Samuel L. Jackson, Eddie Izzard, Queen Latifah, and John Waters.
“The search for a great Spirit Awards host is never easy,” said Film Independent President Josh Welsh. “This year we said, let’s find someone funny, smart, a cinephile, being a great actor wouldn’t hurt, and it would be an added bonus if they’ve previously won a Spirit Award. Then we realized, oh wait, that’s Aubrey Plaza! So thank you Aubrey, for hosting the Spirits!”
The annual Film Independent Spirit Awards will once again be held in a tent set up on the Santa Monica beach. In keeping with the indie film vibe, the awards are always distributed the day prior to the Oscars in a much less formal setting.
The 34th Film Independent Spirit Awards will be executive produced by Joel Gallen. Gallen will also handle directing duties, and Shawn Davis will return for his 17th year as producer.
