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Moments ago, the nominations for the 2026 Film Independent Spirit Awards were revealed. Leading the way this year was Peter Hujar’s Day with five nominations, Next in line were Blue Sun Palace, Lurker, One of Them Days, Sorry, Baby, and Train Dreams with four each, while Lucky Lu, The Plague, and Twinless each received three. The full lineup can be seen below.
Here now are the Spirit Award nominees:
2026 FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARD NOMINATIONS
BEST FEATURE (Award given to the producer)
Peter Hujar’s Day
Producers: Jonah Disend, Jordan Drake
The Plague
Producers: Derek Dauchy, Joel Edgerton, Roy Lee, Lucy McKendrick, Steven Schneider, Lizzie Shapiro
Sorry, Baby
Producers: Mark Ceryak, Barry Jenkins, Adele Romanski
Train Dreams
Producers: Michael Heimler, Will Janowitz, Marissa McMahon, Ashley Schlaifer, Teddy Schwarzman
Twinless
Producers: David Permut, James Sweeney
BEST FIRST FEATURE (Award given to director and producer)
Blue Sun Palace
Director: Constance Tsang
Producers: Sally Sujin Oh, Eli Raskin, Tony Yang
Dust Bunny
Director/Producer: Bryan Fuller
Producers: Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee
East of Wall
Director/Producer: Kate Beecroft
Producers: Shannon Moss, Melanie Ramsayer, Lila Yacoub
Lurker
Director: Alex Russell
Producers: Galen Core, Archie Madekwe, Marc Marrie, Charlie McDowell, Francesco Melzi D’Eril, Duncan Montgomery, Alex Orlovsky, Olmo Schnabel, Jack Selby
One of Them Days
Director: Lawrence Lamont
Producers: Deniese Davis, Poppy Hanks, James Lopez, Issa Rae, Sara Rastogi
JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD – Given to the best feature made for under $1,000,000. (Award given to the writer, director and producer)
The Baltimorons
Director/Writer/Producer: Jay Duplass
Writer/Producer: Michael Strassner
Producers: David Bonnett Jr., Drew Langer
Boys Go to Jupiter
Director/Writer: Julian Glander
Eephus
Director/Writer/Producer: Carson Lund
Writer/Producer: Michael Basta
Writer: Nate Fisher
Producers: David Entin, Tyler Taormina
Esta Isla (This Island)
Directors/Writers/Producers: Cristian Carretero, Lorraine Jones Molina
Writer: Kisha Tikina Burgos
Familiar Touch
Director/Writer/Producer: Sarah Friedland
Producers: Alexandra Byer, Matthew Thurm
BEST DIRECTOR
Clint Bentley
Train Dreams
Mary Bronstein
If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
Lloyd Lee Choi
Lucky Lu
Ira Sachs
Peter Hujar’s Day
Eva Victor
Sorry, Baby
BEST SCREENPLAY
Michael Angelo Covino, Kyle Marvin
Splitsville
Angus MacLachlan
A Little Prayer
James Sweeney
Twinless
Christian Swegal
Sovereign
Eva Victor
Sorry, Baby
BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
Andrew DeYoung
Friendship
Elena Oxman
Outerlands
Alex Russell
Lurker
Syreeta Singleton
One of Them Days
Constance Tsang
Blue Sun Palace
BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE
Everett Blunck
The Plague
Rose Byrne
If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
Kathleen Chalfant
Familiar Touch
Chang Chen
Lucky Lu
Joel Edgerton
Train Dreams
Dylan O’Brien
Twinless
Keke Palmer
One of Them Days
Théodore Pellerin
Lurker
Tessa Thompson
Hedda
Ben Whishaw
Peter Hujar’s Day
BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE
Naomi Ackie
Sorry, Baby
Zoey Deutch
Nouvelle Vague
Kirsten Dunst
Roofman
Rebecca Hall
Peter Hujar’s Day
Nina Hoss
Hedda
Jane Levy
A Little Prayer
Archie Madekwe
Lurker
Kali Reis
Rebuilding
Jacob Tremblay
Sovereign
Haipeng Xu
Blue Sun Palace
BEST BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE
Liz Larsen
The Baltimorons
Misha Osherovich
She’s the He
Kayo Martin
The Plague
SZA
One of Them Days
Tabatha Zimiga
East of Wall
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Alex Ashe
Peter Hujar’s Day
Norm Li
Blue Sun Palace
David J. Thompson
Warfare
Adolpho Veloso
Train Dreams
Nicole Hirsch Whitaker
Dust Bunny
BEST EDITING
Ben Leonberg
Good Boy
Carson Lund
Eephus
Fin Oates
Warfare
Sara Shaw
Splitsville
Sofía Subercaseaux
The Testament of Ann Lee
ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD (Award given to one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast)
The Long Walk
Director: Francis Lawrence
Casting Director: Rich Delia
Ensemble Cast: Judy Greer, Mark Hamill, Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Tut Nyuot, Joshua Odjick, Charlie Plummer, Ben Wang, Garrett Wareing
BEST DOCUMENTARY (Award given to the director and producer)
Come See Me in the Good Light
Director/Producer: Ryan White
Producers: Jessica Hargrave, Tig Notaro, Stef Willen
Endless Cookie
Director: Peter Scriver
Director/Producer: Seth Scriver
Producers: Dan Bekerman, Alex Ordanis, Jason Ryle, Chris Yurkovich
My Undesirable Friends: Part I – Last Air in Moscow
Director/Producer: Julia Loktev
The Perfect Neighbor
Director/Producer: Geeta Gandbhir
Producers: Sam Bisbee, Nikon Kwantu, Alisa Payne
The Tale of Silyan
Director/Producer: Tamara Kotevska
Producers: Jean Dakar, Anna Hashmi, Jordanco Petkovski
BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM (Award given to the director)
All That’s Left of You
Palestine, Jordan, Germany, Cyprus
Director: Cherien Dabis
On Becoming a Guinea Fowl
Zambia, UK, Ireland
Director: Rungano Nyoni
A Poet
Colombia
Director: Simón Mesa Soto
The Secret Agent
Brazil
Director: Kleber Mendonça Filho
Sirāt
Spain
Director: Oliver Laxe
PRODUCERS AWARD – The Producers Award, now in its 29th year, honors an emerging producer who, despite highly limited resources, demonstrates the creativity, tenacity and vision required to produce quality independent films. This award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant.
Emma Hannaway
Luca Intili
Tony Yang
SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD – The Someone to Watch Award, now in its 32nd year, recognizes a talented filmmaker of singular vision who has not yet received appropriate recognition. This award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant.
Tatti Ribeiro
Director of Valentina
Neo Sora
Director of Happyend
Annapurna Sriram
Director of Fucktoys
TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD – The Truer Than Fiction Award, now in its 31st year, is presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features who has not yet received significant recognition. This award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant.
Tony Benna
Director of André is an Idiot
Rajee Samarasinghe
Director of Your Touch Makes Others Invisible
Brittany Shyne
Director of Seeds
BEST NEW NON-SCRIPTED OR DOCUMENTARY SERIES (Award given to the Creator, Executive Producer and Co-Executive Producer)
Citizen Nation
Creator: Bret Sigler
Executive Producers: Christopher Buck, Kyra Darnton
Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time
Executive Producers: Jonathan Chinn, Simon Chinn, Ryan Coogler, Myles Estey, Ted Skillman, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Peter Nicks, Kalia King, Carolyn Payne, Sean David Johnson
Co-Executive Producer: Kelli Buchanan
Pee-wee as Himself
Executive Producers: Matt Wolf, Emma Tillinger Koskoff, Ronald Bronstein, Eli Bush, Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie, Paul Reubens, Candace Tomarken, Kyle Martin, Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, Sara Rodriguez
Seen & Heard: The History of Black Television
Executive Producers: Issa Rae, Montrel McKay, John Maggio, Rachel Dretzin, John Ealer, Jonathan Berry, Dave Becky, Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, Sara Rodriguez
Co-Executive Producers: Esther Dere, Zachary Herrmann
Vow of Silence: The Assassination of Annie Mae
Executive Producers: Ezra Edelman, Caroline Waterlow, Amy Kaufman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Riva Marker
Co-Executive Producer: Mark Becker
BEST NEW SCRIPTED SERIES (Award given to the Creator, Executive Producer and Co-Executive Producer)
Adolescence
Creators/Executive Producers: Jack Thorne, Stephen Graham
Executive Producers: Philip Barantini, Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Nina Wolarsky, Hannah Walters, Mark Herbert, Emily Feller
Co-Executive Producers: Carina Sposato, Niall Shamma, Peter Balm
Common Side Effects
Creators/Executive Producers: Joe Bennett, Steve Hely
Executive Producers: Mike Judge, Greg Daniels, Dustin Davis, James Merrill, Sean Buckelew, Benjy Brooke, Kelly Crews, Suzanna Makkos
Co-Executive Producer: Dave King
Forever
Creator/Executive Producer: Mara Brock Akil
Executive Producers: Regina King, Susie Fitzgerald, Shana C. Waterman, Reina King, Anthony Hemingway, Judy Blume, Erika Harrison, Sara E. White
Co-Executive Producer: Jerron Horton
Mr Loverman
Executive Producers: Lennie James, Hong Khaou, Jo McClellan, Faye Ward, Hannah Farrell, Hannah Price
North of North
Creators/Executive Producers: Stacey Aglok MacDonald, Alethea Arnaquq-Baril
Executive Producers: Garry Campbell, Anya Adams, Susan Coyne, Miranda de Pencier
Co-Executive Producers: Teresa M. Ho, Michael Goldbach, Kathryn Borel Jr., JP Larocque
BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A NEW SCRIPTED SERIES
Sydney Chandler
Alien: Earth
Stephen Graham
Adolescence
Ethan Hawke
The Lowdown
Lennie James
Mr Loverman
Anna Lambe
North of North
Lola Petticrew
Say Nothing
Seth Rogen
The Studio
Lovie Simone
Forever
Michelle Williams
Dying for Sex
Noah Wyle
The Pitt
BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE IN A NEW SCRIPTED SERIES
Ariyon Bakare
Mr Loverman
Babou Ceesay
Alien: Earth
Sharon D. Clarke
Mr Loverman
Taylor Dearden
The Pitt
Erin Doherty
Adolescence
Stephen McKinley Henderson
A Man on the Inside
Poorna Jagannathan
Deli Boys
Xosha Roquemore
Forever
Jenny Slate
Dying for Sex
Ben Whishaw
Black Doves
BEST BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE IN A NEW SCRIPTED SERIES
Asif Ali
Deli Boys
Wally Baram
Overcompensating
Owen Cooper
Adolescence
Michael Cooper Jr.
Forever
Ernest Kingsley Junior
Washington Black
BEST ENSEMBLE CAST IN A NEW SCRIPTED SERIES
Chief of War
Ensemble Cast: Charlie Brumbly, Luciane Buchanan, Cliff Curtis, Brandon Finn, Moses Goods, Te Ao o Hinepehinga, Benjamin Hoetjes, Siua Ikale’o, Keala Kahuanui-Paleka, Mainei Kinimaka, Kaina Makua, Jason Momoa, Temuera Morrison, Te Kohe Tuhaka, James Udom
NOMINATIONS BY DISTRIBUTOR
| DISTRIBUTOR | TITLE | # |
| 1-2 Special | A Poet, Best International | 1 |
| A24 | Friendship, Best First ScreenplayIf I Had Legs I’d Kick You, Best DirectorIf I Had Legs I’d Kick You, Best Lead PerformanceOn Becoming a Guinea Fowl, Best InternationalSorry, Baby, Best FeatureSorry, Baby, Best DirectorSorry, Baby, Best ScreenplaySorry, Baby, Best Supporting PerformanceWarfare, Best CinematographyWarfare, Best Editing | 10 |
| Amazon MGM Studios | Hedda, Best Lead PerformanceHedda, Best Supporting Performance | 2 |
| Apple TV | Chief of War, Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted SeriesCome See Me in the Good Light, Best DocumentaryThe Studio, Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series | 3 |
| Bleecker Street | Rebuilding, Best Supporting Performance | 1 |
| Briarcliff Entertainment | Sovereign, Best ScreenplaySovereign, Best Supporting Performance | 2 |
| BritBox | Mr Loverman, Best New Scripted SeriesMr Loverman, Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted SeriesMr Loverman, Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted SeriesMr Loverman, Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series | 4 |
| Cartuna & Irony Point | Boys Go to Jupiter, John Cassavetes Award | 1 |
| Dekanalog | Blue Sun Palace, Best First FeatureBlue Sun Palace, Best First ScreenplayBlue Sun Palace, Best CinematographyBlue Sun Palace, Best Supporting Performance | 4 |
| Film Movement | Happyend, Someone to Watch Award | 1 |
| FX | Alien: Earth, Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted SeriesAlien: Earth, Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted SeriesDying for Sex, Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted SeriesDying for Sex, Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted SeriesThe Lowdown, Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted SeriesSay Nothing, Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series | 6 |
| HBO Max | Common Side Effects, Best New Scripted SeriesPee-wee as Himself, Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary SeriesThe Pitt, Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted SeriesThe Pitt, Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted SeriesSeen & Heard: The History of Black Television, Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series | 5 |
| Hulu | Deli Boys, Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted SeriesDeli Boys, Best Breakthrough Performance in a New Scripted SeriesWashington Black, Best Breakthrough Performance in a New Scripted Series | 3 |
| Hulu / Onyx Collective | Vow of Silence: The Assassination of Annie Mae, Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series | 1 |
| Independent Film Company | The Baltimorons, John Cassavetes AwardThe Baltimorons, Best Breakthrough PerformanceThe Plague, Best FeatureThe Plague, Best Lead PerformanceThe Plague, Best Breakthrough Performance | 5 |
| Independent Film Company & Shudder | Good Boy, Best Editing | 1 |
| Janus Films | Peter Hujar’s Day, Best FeaturePeter Hujar’s Day, Best DirectorPeter Hujar’s Day, Best CinematographyPeter Hujar’s Day, Best Lead PerformancePeter Hujar’s Day, Best Supporting Performance | 5 |
| Joint Venture | André is an Idiot, Truer Than Fiction Award | 1 |
| Lionsgate | The Long Walk, Robert Altman Award | 1 |
| Magnolia Pictures | Maddie’s Secret, Producers Award | 1 |
| MUBI | Lurker, Best First FeatureLurker, Best First ScreenplayLurker, Best Lead PerformanceLurker, Best Supporting Performance | 4 |
| Music Box Films | Eephus, John Cassavetes AwardEephus, Best EditingFamiliar Touch, John Cassavetes AwardFamiliar Touch, Best Lead PerformanceA Little Prayer, Best ScreenplayA Little Prayer, Best Supporting Performance | 6 |
| National Geographic | Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time, Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary SeriesThe Tale of Silyan, Best Documentary | 2 |
| NEON | The Secret Agent, Best InternationalSirāt, Best InternationalSplitsville, Best ScreenplaySplitsville, Best Editing | 4 |
| Netflix | Adolescence, Best New Scripted SeriesAdolescence, Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted SeriesAdolescence, Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted SeriesAdolescence, Best Breakthrough Performance in a New Scripted SeriesBlack Doves, Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted SeriesForever, Best New Scripted SeriesForever, Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted SeriesForever, Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted SeriesForever, Best Breakthrough Performance in a New Scripted SeriesA Man on the Inside, Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted SeriesNorth of North, Best New Scripted SeriesNorth of North, Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted SeriesNouvelle Vague, Best Supporting PerformanceThe Perfect Neighbor, Best DocumentaryTrain Dreams, Best FeatureTrain Dreams, Best DirectorTrain Dreams, Best CinematographyTrain Dreams, Best Lead Performance | 18 |
| Obscured Releasing | Endless Cookie, Best Documentary | 1 |
| Oscilloscope | OBEX, Producers Award | 1 |
| PBS | Citizen Nation, Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series | 1 |
| Prime Video | Overcompensating, Best Breakthrough Performance in a New Scripted Series | 1 |
| Roadside Attractions | Dust Bunny, Best First FeatureDust Bunny, Best CinematographyTwinless, Best FeatureTwinless, Best ScreenplayTwinless, Best Lead Performance | 5 |
| Searchlight Pictures | The Testament of Ann Lee, Best Editing | 1 |
| Sony Pictures Classics | East of Wall, Best First FeatureEast of Wall, Best Breakthrough Performance | 2 |
| Sony Pictures Releasing | One of Them Days, Best First FeatureOne of Them Days, Best First ScreenplayOne of Them Days, Best Lead PerformanceOne of Them Days, Best Breakthrough Performance | 4 |
| Visibility Films / Watermelon Pictures | All That’s Left of You, Best International | 1 |
| Wolfe Video | Outerlands, Best First Screenplay | 1 |
| Nominees without distribution | Esta Isla (This Island), John Cassavetes AwardLucky Lu, Best DirectorLucky Lu, Best Lead PerformanceLucky Lu, Producers AwardShe’s the He, Best Breakthrough PerformanceFucktoys, Someone to Watch AwardMy Undesirable Friends: Part I – Last Air in Moscow, Best DocumentarySeeds, Truer Than Fiction AwardValentina, Someone to Watch AwardYour Touch Makes Others Invisible, Truer Than Fiction Award | 10 |
NOMINATIONS BY TITLE
| TITLE | CATEGORY | # |
| Adolescence | Best New Scripted SeriesBest Lead Performance in a New Scripted SeriesBest Supporting Performance in a New Scripted SeriesBest Breakthrough Performance in a New Scripted Series | 4 |
| Alien: Earth | Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted SeriesBest Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series | 2 |
| All That’s Left of You | Best International | 1 |
| André is an Idiot | Truer Than Fiction Award | 1 |
| The Baltimorons | John Cassavetes AwardBest Breakthrough Performance | 2 |
| Black Doves | Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series | 1 |
| Blue Sun Palace | Best First FeatureBest First ScreenplayBest CinematographyBest Supporting Performance | 4 |
| Boys Go to Jupiter | John Cassavetes Award | 1 |
| Chief of War | Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series | 1 |
| Citizen Nation | Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series | 1 |
| Come See Me in the Good Light | Best Documentary | 1 |
| Common Side Effects | Best New Scripted Series | 1 |
| Deli Boys | Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted SeriesBest Breakthrough Performance in a New Scripted Series | 2 |
| Dust Bunny | Best First FeatureBest Cinematography | 2 |
| Dying for Sex | Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted SeriesBest Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series | 2 |
| East of Wall | Best First FeatureBest Breakthrough Performance | 2 |
| Eephus | John Cassavetes AwardBest Editing | 2 |
| Endless Cookie | Best Documentary | 1 |
| Esta Isla (This Island) | John Cassavetes Award | 1 |
| Familiar Touch | John Cassavetes AwardBest Lead Performance | 2 |
| Forever | Best New Scripted SeriesBest Lead Performance in a New Scripted SeriesBest Supporting Performance in a New Scripted SeriesBest Breakthrough Performance in a New Scripted Series | 4 |
| Friendship | Best First Screenplay | 1 |
| Fucktoys | Someone to Watch Award | 1 |
| Good Boy | Best Editing | 1 |
| Happyend | Someone to Watch Award | 1 |
| Hedda | Best Lead PerformanceBest Supporting Performance | 2 |
| Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time | Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series | 1 |
| If I Had Legs I’d Kick You | Best DirectorBest Lead Performance | 2 |
| A Little Prayer | Best ScreenplayBest Supporting Performance | 2 |
| The Long Walk | Robert Altman Award | 1 |
| The Lowdown | Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series | 1 |
| Lucky Lu | Best DirectorBest Lead PerformanceProducers Award | 3 |
| Lurker | Best First FeatureBest First ScreenplayBest Lead PerformanceBest Supporting Performance | 4 |
| Maddie’s Secret | Producers Award | 1 |
| A Man on the Inside | Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series | 1 |
| Mr Loverman | Best New Scripted SeriesBest Lead Performance in a New Scripted SeriesBest Supporting Performance in a New Scripted SeriesBest Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series | 4 |
| My Undesirable Friends: Part I – Last Air in Moscow | Best Documentary | 1 |
| North of North | Best New Scripted SeriesBest Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series | 2 |
| Nouvelle Vague | Best Supporting Performance | 1 |
| Obex | Producers Award | 1 |
| On Becoming a Guinea Fowl | Best International | 1 |
| One of Them Days | Best First FeatureBest First ScreenplayBest Lead PerformanceBest Breakthrough Performance | 4 |
| Outerlands | Best First Screenplay | 1 |
| Overcompensating | Best Breakthrough Performance in a New Scripted Series | 1 |
| Pee-wee as Himself | Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series | 1 |
| The Perfect Neighbor | Best Documentary | 1 |
| Peter Hujar’s Day | Best FeatureBest DirectorBest CinematographyBest Lead PerformanceBest Supporting Performance | 5 |
| The Pitt | Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted SeriesBest Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series | 2 |
| The Plague | Best FeatureBest Lead PerformanceBest Breakthrough Performance | 3 |
| A Poet | Best International | 1 |
| Rebuilding | Best Supporting Performance | 1 |
| Roofman | Best Supporting Performance | 1 |
| Say Nothing | Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series | 1 |
| The Secret Agent | Best International | 1 |
| Seeds | Truer Than Fiction Award | 1 |
| Seen & Heard: The History of Black Television | Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series | 1 |
| She’s the He | Best Breakthrough Performance | 1 |
| Sirāt | Best International | 1 |
| Sorry, Baby | Best FeatureBest DirectorBest ScreenplayBest Supporting Performance | 4 |
| Sovereign | Best ScreenplayBest Supporting Performance | 2 |
| Splitsville | Best ScreenplayBest Editing | 2 |
| The Studio | Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series | 1 |
| The Tale of Silyan | Best Documentary | 1 |
| The Testament of Ann Lee | Best Editing | 1 |
| Train Dreams | Best FeatureBest DirectorBest CinematographyBest Lead Performance | 4 |
| Twinless | Best FeatureBest ScreenplayBest Lead Performance | 3 |
| Valentina | Someone to Watch Award | 1 |
| Vow of Silence: The Assassination of Annie Mae | Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series | 1 |
| Warfare | Best CinematographyBest Editing | 2 |
| Washington Black | Best Breakthrough Performance in a New Scripted Series | 1 |
| Your Touch Makes Others Invisible | Truer Than Fiction Award | 1 |
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