Zola by Panamanian-American director Janicza Bravo leads the nominations in the 37th annual edition of the Film Independent Spirit Awards, Hollywood's leading indie film honors. Bravo’s acclaimed second feature film nabbed seven nods including for Best Feature, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Female Lead for Taylour Paige and Best Supporting Male for Afro-Latinx actor Colman Domingo.
The film tells the story of Zola, a Detroit waitress, who strikes up a new friendship with a customer, Stefani, who seduces her to join a weekend of dancing and partying in Florida. What at first seems like a glamorous trip full of “hoeism” rapidly transforms into a 48-hour journey involving a nameless pimp, an idiot boyfriend, some Tampa gangsters and other unexpected adventures in this wild, see-it-to-believe-it tale.
Other Latinx and Latin American Spirit Award nominees include Mexican-Ethiopian director Jessica Beshir whose debut documentary feature Faya Dayi was nominated for “The Truer Than Fiction Award” (presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features who has not yet received significant recognition); Mexican-American actor Clifton Collins Jr. for Best Male Lead in Jockey; Brazilian-American editor Affonso Gonçalves for Best Editing for A Chiara; and the Mexican film Prayers for the Stolen / Noche de fuego by Tatiana Huezo for Best International Film.
The winners of the 37th Film Independent Spirit Awards will be announced at a live ceremony on Sunday March 6, 2022.
