Outside the 2024 Spirit Awards
Chris Delmas/AFP via Getty Images
At Sunday afternoon’s awards ceremony, the voices of people protesting the Israel-Hamas war outside the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards could be heard throughout the ceremony.
Outside a tent set up on a Santa Monica beach, several demonstrators played pre-recorded chants through megaphones, including “Liberate Palestine,” “Long live Palestine,” and “Ceasefire now.” The chants continued while the awards were presented indoors and could be heard as they arrived on the red carpet earlier in the day.
What the people involved said hollywood reporter The chants were “very audible” inside the tent where the ceremony was being held. These audios can also be heard on the live stream of the event on his YouTube channel on Film Independent and IMDB. At one point, as actor and comedian Jim Gaffigan was presenting, he appeared to be having trouble speaking over the chants.
At one point, a bus appeared to be intentionally placed in front of demonstrators outside to block some of the sound, sources said.
Later in the ceremony, host Aidy Bryant acknowledged the protests, saying, “We’re on the beach and people are practicing their freedom of speech.” Loud music then started playing as Bryant was introducing the categories. And when Jimmy O. Yang took the stage, he mentioned the “hecklers” outside.
Director and screenwriter Babak Jalali said upon accepting the John Cassavetes Award: I’m so inspired by what they’re saying out there that I can’t think of what I’m going to say. ”
four daughters Film director Kauser Ben Hania later said: THR As for the protests outside the show, she said, “Every day, every day, people are dying, and we’re watching it on our phones. Here’s a guy who’s reminding us of reality. It’s sad. , and there are heroes here.”
The film is directed by Kelly Reichardt, who won the Robert Altman Award for A24. appearsaid she last saw Altman in 2003 at a lifetime achievement event honoring the director. “The United States was dropping bombs on Iraq at the time, and he was furious,” Reichardt said. “And he’s going to have a lot to say, just this weird thing that we’re here and celebrating each other and our work. Life goes on outside the tent. ”
Filmmaker Set Hernandez Ronquillo also wore a traditional Arab headdress when it was announced that he had won the Truer Than Fiction Award, which is given to emerging directors of non-fiction features. A picture of him holding up a keffiyeh was also shown on the screen. Important recognition.
Since the busy awards season began earlier this year, the Spirit Awards are the first awards ceremony of the season to be noticeably disrupted by protests.
People have protested at major events and ceremonies across the U.S., including last month’s 2024 Sundance Film Festival, since war broke out when Hamas terrorists led an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. continues to gather.
The 39th Annual Spirit Awards, hosted by Bryant, was held on February 25th. Click here for the complete list of winners.
